Women's Healthspan Voices with Dr. Pat McShane

Pain, Dryness, and UTIs: The Truth About Menopause and Vaginal Health

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Christina Enzmann to discuss Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM), a condition that affects far more than vaginal dryness alone. We explore how menopause impacts vaginal and urinary health, the role of vaginal estrogen, common misconceptions about hormone therapy, changes in the vaginal microbiome, pelvic floor dysfunction, and why many women are dismissed or misdiagnosed when seeking care. Together, we highlight practical strategies to help women maintain comfort, confidence, and quality of life throughout menopause. - - - - - Dr. Christina Enzmann, MD, PhD, is a board-certified gynecologist, menopause specialist, and functional medicine practitioner based in Maryland. She holds an MD/PhD from the University of Hamburg and runs a hybrid practice serving women in midlife through both in-person and telemedicine care. Her clinical expertise covers the full spectrum of midlife women’s health — from osteoporosis and sexual health to dyspareunia and vulvovaginal disease. She has particular depth in the cortisol-stress axis and its role in menopausal transition, insulin resistance, and the gut-hormone connection. She is a co-owner of Nobodytoldme, a Germany-based nutrition-focused menopause platform. She serves as Clinical Advisor for Vaginal Microbiome Sciences, where she is also a principal investigator in an active vaginal microbiome study. - - - - - Connect with Our Guest: Website: https://drchristinaenzmann.com/ [https://drchristinaenzmann.com/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrCEnzmann [https://www.facebook.com/DrCEnzmann]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctorchristinaenzmann [https://www.instagram.com/doctorchristinaenzmann]  - - - - -  Dr. Pat McShane, MD LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/]  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.womenshealthspan.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.womenshealthspan.net/] YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303] Substack: ⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@patmcshane⁠⁠⁠ [https://substack.com/@patmcshane] Produced by DrTalks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast/ [https://drtalks.com/podcast/]

Why a Weekend Getaway Leaves You Exhausted—and How to Fix It

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Monisha Bhanote to explore why travel often becomes more challenging as we age. We discuss how travel can reveal underlying issues in energy production, gut health, immunity, circadian rhythm, and recovery. Dr. Bhanote explains the role of mitochondria, inflammation, and the microbiome in healthy aging, while sharing practical strategies to help women build resilience, recover faster, and enjoy travel with greater vitality. - - - - -  Dr. Monisha Bhanote is a board-certified physician, integrative medicine specialist, culinary medicine expert, author of The Anatomy of Well-Being, and founder of Wellkula Institute and Travella Wellness. Drawing from decades of experience in pathology and cellular health, she combines modern longevity science with traditional healing approaches to help individuals optimize energy, gut health, immunity, recovery, and overall well-being. Her work focuses on empowering people to build greater cellular resilience so they can age with vitality and continue living active, fulfilling lives. - - - - - Social Handles: Website: https://www.drbhanote.com/ [https://www.drbhanote.com/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drbhanote/ [https://www.facebook.com/drbhanote/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbhanote/ [https://www.instagram.com/drbhanote/]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drbhanote [https://www.youtube.com/@drbhanote]  - - - - -  Dr. Pat McShane, MD LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/]  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.womenshealthspan.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.womenshealthspan.net/] YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303] Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@patmcshane⁠⁠ [https://substack.com/@patmcshane] Produced by DrTalks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast/ [https://drtalks.com/podcast/]

Rewiring the Body: Applied Neurology for Lifelong Healing

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Laurel Oliver to explore how chronic stress, nervous system dysregulation, and survival patterns can impact a woman’s ability to heal. We discuss applied neurology, neuroplasticity, vagal tone, and practical tools that may help regulate the nervous system. We also examine how menopause can become a powerful opportunity for growth, self-discovery, and creating new patterns of resilience and well-being. - - - - -  Dr. Laurel Oliver is the founder of Rewire Revival and specializes in applied neurology, nervous system regulation, and neuroplasticity. Through her work, she helps women identify chronic survival patterns, improve vagal tone, and develop practical tools that support resilience, emotional regulation, and healing. Her approach combines neuroscience, somatic practices, and personalized nervous system retraining to help women navigate stress, health challenges, and life transitions with greater confidence and well-being. - - - - - Social Handles: Website: https://rewirerevival.com [https://rewirerevival.com] and https://drlaureloliver.com [https://drlaureloliver.com] Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@drlaureloliver [https://www.youtube.com/@drlaureloliver] - - - - -  Dr. Pat McShane, MD LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/]  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.womenshealthspan.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.womenshealthspan.net/] YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303] Substack: ⁠https://substack.com/@patmcshane⁠ [https://substack.com/@patmcshane] Produced by DrTalks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast/ [https://drtalks.com/podcast/]

Navigating the Menopause Transition: Hormones, Health, and Research History

In this episode, I speak with renowned menopause researcher and clinician Dr. Nanette Santoro about the evolving science of menopause hormone therapy. We discuss what we've learned from the SWAN study, how the Women's Health Initiative changed the conversation around hormones, and what current evidence tells us about symptom management, bone health, vaginal estrogen, and long-term risks. We also explore how women can find trustworthy menopause care and make treatment decisions based on their individual needs. - - - - -  Dr. Nanette Santoro is an internationally recognized menopause researcher, clinician, and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Colorado, where she holds the E. Stewart Taylor Chair. She is a member of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She has served as a principal investigator in major NIH-funded studies, including the SWAN study, which has followed women through the menopause transition for more than two decades. - - - - -  Dr. Pat McShane, MD LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/]  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.womenshealthspan.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.womenshealthspan.net/] YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303] Substack: https://substack.com/@patmcshane [https://substack.com/@patmcshane] Produced by DrTalks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast/ [https://drtalks.com/podcast/]

Women’s Healthspan: The Habits That Slow Biological Aging

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Laurie Marbas about the biological processes of aging and the everyday habits that can influence them. We explore why movement is one of the strongest tools for healthy aging, how plant diversity, fiber, time-restricted eating, and blood sugar stability support metabolic health, and why tiny habits can make lifestyle change feel more possible and sustainable. - - - - -  Dr. Laurie Marbas is a physician double board-certified in family medicine and lifestyle medicine. She has been a leader in the Food as Medicine movement and is the founder of Habit Healers, formerly known as The Healing Kitchen. Through her clinical work, podcast, Substack, and educational platforms, she helps people understand how small lifestyle changes in nutrition, movement, sleep, stress, and connection can support better health and long-term vitality. Website: https://www.drmarbas.com/ [https://www.drmarbas.com/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrLaurieMarbas/ [https://www.facebook.com/DrLaurieMarbas/]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauriemarbas/ [https://www.instagram.com/drlauriemarbas/]  Substack: https://substack.com/@lauriemarbasmdmba - - - - -  Dr. Pat McShane, MD LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/]  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.womenshealthspan.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.womenshealthspan.net/] YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303] Substack: https://substack.com/@patmcshane Produced by DrTalks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast/ [https://drtalks.com/podcast/]