Tales from the Stirrups

Vaginal atrophy is a common, often under-discussed change across the lifespan where declining estrogen can shift vaginal tissue from “pink, healthy, lubricated, and elastic” to thin, grey, dry and won’t stretch, making intercourse painful and sometimes impossible. This podcast explains the biology behind these changes and why symptoms like dryness, discomfort, and pain with sex are so common yet frequently overlooked. We also cover effective non-hormonal options and the evidence supporting vaginal estrogen, including its safety in women with a history of estrogen-sensitive breast cancer.   * Remember, a podcast is not medical advice. It is simply education.  I hope that this podcast will inform and encourage your conversations with your providers about your health and care. *

Before there were deliveries, surgeries, menopause care, and conversations about life's challenges, there was a vocal music major tending bar and trying to figure out what came next. In this episode of “Tales From the Stirrups”, Dr. Adashek shares his journey into medicine and the experiences that shaped his approach to patient care. Drawing on more than four decades of practice—and the lessons his patients have taught him—he explores the principles of listening, empathy, purpose, and partnership that now guide both his care of patients and his teaching of the next generation of physicians. Because the best lessons in medicine don't always come from textbooks—they often come from patients.   * Remember, a podcast is not medical advice. It is simply education.  I hope that this podcast will inform and encourage your conversations with your providers about your health and care. *

In this episode, we unpack when stress hormones help, when they hurt, and simple mind–body tools you can use to help turn the volume back down.   * Remember, a podcast is not medical advice. It is simply education.  I hope that this podcast will inform and encourage your conversations with your providers about your health and care. *

This episode takes a step back to explore how we’ve defined terms like anxiety, depression, and ADD—useful labels we’ve created to describe complex human experiences, not fixed truths. It also balances both worlds of care: evidence-based medications and therapy, and practical mind–body approaches that can support mental health.   * Remember, a podcast is not medical advice. It is simply education.  I hope that this podcast will inform and encourage your conversations with your providers about your health and care. *

In this episode of Tales from the Stirrups, Dr. Adashek and his wife, Aimée, unpack what a gynecologic exam is actually supposed to feel like—and what happens when it goes wrong. Through one deeply personal story, they explore consent, communication, anxiety, and the simple truth that every patient deserves to feel informed, respected, and in control during their care.   * Remember, a podcast is not medical advice. It is simply education.  I hope that this podcast will inform and encourage your conversations with your providers about your health and care. *

Despite the provocative title, this 3-part series takes a thoughtful look at menopause and hormone therapy—starting with the history of hormone replacement and its benefits, then breaking down what “bio-identical” hormones actually means, and finishing with a deep dive into testosterone in women. It’s a straight-talking, patient-friendly exploration of hormones, misconceptions, and what modern science really says. Enjoy part 3 of this series all about the incredibly impact of testosterone on menopausal women.  * Remember, a podcast is not medical advice. It is simply education.  I hope that this podcast will inform and encourage your conversations with your providers about your health and care. *

Despite the provocative title, this 3-part series takes a thoughtful look at menopause and hormone therapy—starting with the history of hormone replacement and its benefits, then breaking down what “bio-identical” hormones actually means, and finishing with a deep dive into testosterone in women. It’s a straight-talking, patient-friendly exploration of hormones, misconceptions, and what modern science really says. Enjoy part 2 of this series all about the use of estrogen and progesterone as part of hormone replacement therapy.    * Remember, a podcast is not medical advice. It is simply education.  I hope that this podcast will inform and encourage your conversations with your providers about your health and care. *

Despite the provocative title, this 3-part series takes a thoughtful look at menopause and hormone therapy—starting with the history of hormone replacement and its benefits, then breaking down what “bio-identical” hormones actually means, and finishing with a deep dive into testosterone in women. It’s a straight-talking, patient-friendly exploration of hormones, misconceptions, and what modern science really says. Enjoy part 1 of this series, with guest star (and wife of Dr. Steven Adashek) Aimee Adashek!    ---   Remember, a podcast is not medical advice. It is simply education.  I hope that this podcast will inform and encourage your conversations with your providers about your health and care.  

Tales from the Stirrups, coming soon wherever you get your podcasts.  Please share and leave a star rating or review! Want to send feedback? Email: [email protected]