When the Doctor Says “It’s Fine” and You Know It’s Not

There’s a particular kind of frustration that many women know well…the experience of going to a doctor with a real concern and being met with a casual dismissal.“Just take Tylenol.”“That’s normal.”“It’s probably stress. Come back if it gets worse.”In this episode of The Reinvention By Design Podcast, I sat down with Alison Patchett, known as The Vag Hormone Naturopath, whose entire career change began with that moment — the moment she realized no one else was going to find the answers for her.As a teenager, Alison experienced chronic headaches and was told to simply keep taking painkillers. Years later, in her 20s, her period stopped completely after coming off the contraceptive pill. Once again, she was met with shrugs and non-answers.But instead of accepting that, she did what so many women quietly do when the healthcare system fails them: she went looking for her own answers.From Burnout to AdvocacyAlison spent nearly 20 years in corporate and non-profit roles, witnessing firsthand how stress and burnout shape the body, especially for women. When her own health finally reached a breaking point, she made a decision — she wasn’t going to normalize suffering as a part of womanhood.She retrained, moved into naturopathy, and built The Vag Hormone Naturopath with a clear mission:👉 to help women who feel dismissed, stuck, and tired of being told to just “manage” their symptoms.Especially in areas that are still brushed aside as too personal, too messy, or too uncomfortable to talk about — vaginal health, perimenopause, hormones, thrush, stress, sexual health, and the emotional load women carry behind closed doors.Having her first child at 41, while in perimenopause, further shaped her work. Her experience navigating postpartum recovery and hormonal shifts without the standard script reinforced what she already knew:Women deserve real answers not dismissal in a prescription pad.A Voice for the Things Women Are Told Not to Talk AboutWhat I appreciated most in our conversation was Alison’s directness. She brings language to the unspoken, making room for women to ask questions they’ve been carrying quietly for years.Her work is about educating, validating, and equipping women to advocate for themselves in rooms where their concerns may not be taken seriously the first time.Because for many women, it’s not just about symptoms. It’s about being heard, taken seriously, and given full access to their own health story.🎙 The full conversation with Alison Patchett is now live on The Reinvention By Design Podcast.Connect with Alison Patchett — The Vag Hormone NaturopathTo learn more about Alison’s work or inquire about support around hormones, perimenopause, vaginal health, or stress-related burnout, you can connect with her here:* Website: https://thevaghormonenaturopath.com.au* Instagram/Facebook: @the.vag.hormone.naturopath* Free Resource: Alison has a free guide on why over-the-counter thrush treatments often don’t work. You can email her at [email protected] or send a DM if you’d like a copy.“I love supporting women who know something is off. They just haven’t been given the language or answers yet. That’s where we start.” – Alison Get full access to Reinvention by Design at jennycotten.substack.com/subscribe