107: Ask Dr. Anna Anything: Libido, Vaginal Health, Hormones, and Menopause Unfiltered

107: Ask Dr. Anna Anything: Libido, Vaginal Health, Hormones, and Menopause Unfiltered

In this episode of Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, Dr. Izabella Wentz interviews Dr. Anna Cabeca – triple board-certified OB-GYN, functional medicine practitioner, and women’s hormone expert – for an open and honest conversation about the topics many women are too embarrassed to ask about. They discuss libido, vaginal health, painful intercourse, hormones, fertility, postpartum recovery, perimenopause, and menopause. Dr. Cabeca explains how hormonal changes affect everything from mood and intimacy to the vaginal microbiome and bladder health, while also sharing practical strategies women can explore to support healthy aging, hormone balance, and sexual wellness. This episode helps normalize conversations around women’s health, and reminds listeners that many symptoms commonly dismissed as “just aging” deserve attention and support.  What You’ll Learn in This Episode: * Why libido is about so much more than testosterone. Dr. Anna explains why desire is influenced by hormones, stress, emotional connection, inflammation, adrenal health, and even whether your bedroom feels calming or chaotic. She also shares why many women experience “secondary desire” – meaning they don’t initiate intimacy but enjoy it once they get started. * The surprising connection between vaginal health, bladder health, and the microbiome. As estrogen and hormone levels decline with age, the vaginal microbiome changes too, increasing the risk for bacterial vaginosis, urinary symptoms, HPV, and painful intercourse. Dr. Anna explains why Lactobacillus species are essential for maintaining a healthy vaginal environment. * Why painful intercourse should never be dismissed as “normal aging.” Loss of collagen, elasticity, hormones, and healthy bacteria can all contribute to discomfort during sex, but Dr. Anna emphasizes that pelvic pain always deserves a full workup, including pelvic exams and transvaginal ultrasounds when appropriate. * How pregnancy and postpartum recovery can affect hormones in your 40s. Dr. Anna discusses why women in perimenopause may feel postpartum hormonal shifts more intensely, including the role of progesterone withdrawal, low omega-3 levels, and declining testosterone after pregnancy. * The overlooked ways birth control pills can affect libido and attraction. Dr. Anna explains how hormonal birth control suppresses ovulation, testosterone surges, and natural fertility signaling – potentially impacting sex drive, mood, and even who women are attracted to. * Why vaginal probiotics may support fertility, urinary health, and intimacy. Dr. Anna discusses how the vaginal microbiome can influence sperm survival, conception, urinary symptoms, and vaginal comfort – and why targeted probiotics may be an important tool in women’s health. Tune in to learn more about hormones, intimacy, vaginal health, and how women can support their bodies through every stage of life.  Sign up for the Thyroid Pharmacist Weekly Thyroid Solutions Newsletter here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/gift/ [https://thyroidpharmacist.com/gift/]  For the full list of resources and products mentioned in this episode, and to get the full episode transcript, see complete show notes here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/ [https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

106: Chronic Fatigue, Pain & Fibromyalgia: Healing the Body's Silent Messages With Nicolas Canon

In this episode of the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast, Dr. Izabella Wentz speaks with Nicolas Canon, transformational guide and founder of Ayahuasca Colombia, about the emotional patterns that may influence chronic illness and autoimmune conditions. Together, they explore how stress, self-suppression, and unresolved emotional experiences can affect our relationship with health and healing. Nico shares insights on the connection between emotions, self-expression, and physical wellbeing, along with the powerful story of his mother's recovery from years of chronic pain and fibromyalgia after addressing longstanding emotional patterns. This conversation offers a thought-provoking perspective on the role of awareness, boundaries, and emotional healing in overall wellness. What you'll learn in this episode: * Why symptoms may be messages, not mistakes. Nico shares his perspective that chronic symptoms and autoimmune conditions may be signaling deeper emotional stress, unresolved conflict, or patterns that have fallen out of balance. He explains why becoming curious about what the body is communicating can be an important part of the healing journey. * How people-pleasing, over-functioning, and self-sacrifice can affect health. Many people struggling with chronic illness have spent years putting everyone else's needs before their own. Nico explains how difficulty saying no, weak boundaries, and constantly pushing through exhaustion can create emotional and physical strain over time. * The connection between self-expression, boundaries, and thyroid health. Nico discusses why suppressing emotions, avoiding difficult conversations, and struggling to communicate needs may contribute to chronic stress. Dr. Wentz also shares her personal experience of how speaking her truth helped resolve recurring symptoms. * How childhood experiences can shape lifelong patterns around stress and wellbeing. Nico explains how early relationships with parents and caregivers can influence self-worth, emotional expression, boundaries, and the ways people respond to challenges later in life. * The difference between understanding your patterns and truly healing them. Many people can identify the origins of their struggles but still feel stuck repeating the same cycles. Nico shares why healing often requires moving beyond intellectual awareness and into deeper emotional processing and integration. * The powerful story of one woman's recovery from chronic pain and fibromyalgia. Nico shares his mother's remarkable journey after years of severe pain, disability, and hopelessness. He explains how uncovering longstanding patterns of resentment, over-giving, and self-neglect helped transform her relationship with herself, her body, and her health. Tune in to learn more about the connection between emotional wellbeing and physical health, how childhood experiences can influence adult health patterns, why self-expression matters, and how curiosity may help uncover deeper messages behind chronic symptoms. Be sure to subscribe to the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast so you don’t miss an episode! Sign up for the Thyroid Pharmacist Weekly Thyroid Solutions Newsletter here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/gift/ [https://thyroidpharmacist.com/gift/]  For the full list of resources and products mentioned in this episode, and to get the full episode transcript, see complete show notes here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/ [https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

105: Bacon, Biohacking, and How to Live Your Best Life – With Abel James

In this episode of Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, Dr. Izabella Wentz interviews Abel James, the New York Times bestselling author of The Wild Diet, podcast host, musician, and longtime leader in the ancestral health movement. Together, they discuss how the wellness world has evolved over the past decade, why real food still matters, and how modern health culture can sometimes drift into unhealthy extremes. Abel also shares powerful lessons from coaching on a national weight loss television show, recovering from a serious car accident, and learning how to prioritize sustainability, nervous system healing, muscle preservation, and longevity over perfection. This episode offers a refreshing perspective on what true wellness really looks like – especially as we age. What you’ll learn in this episode: * Why “real food” is still one of the most powerful healing tools we have. Abel explains why so many health trends come and go, but foundational principles like eating nutrient-dense whole foods continue to stand the test of time. He also shares why reclaiming your health starts with removing the foods and habits that disconnect you from your body. * The dangerous problem with modern weight loss culture (especially muscle loss). Abel shares behind-the-scenes insights from coaching on ABC’s weight loss competition show, and how his client lost 87 pounds, improved mobility, and maintained the results  without extreme restriction. * Why wellness can quietly become unhealthy. Abel shares why many people turn health into an obsession, chasing perfection through restrictive diets, overtraining, or extreme fitness goals. He explains why true health should give you more freedom, creativity, and energy for life – not make your world smaller. * How aging changes what your body needs (and why that’s not a bad thing). From marathon running to heavy lifting, Abel talks honestly about the habits that worked in our 20s but no longer support long-term health. He shares how his own recovery journey shifted his focus toward mobility, recovery, strength preservation, and sustainable movement practices. * The surprising connection between neuroplasticity, stress recovery, and healing. After a severe car accident, Abel explored therapies like PRP prolotherapy, ketamine infusions, and medically supervised psilocybin-assisted healing to support nervous system recovery. He also explains  why nervous system healing is becoming such an important part of longevity conversations. * Why AI can never replace human intuition and wisdom. Abel shares why concerns about relying too heavily on AI-generated health advice, especially when it comes to complex medical information, can be dangerous. Critical thinking, mentorship, books, and learning from real human experience are key when it comes to longevity and overall wellness. Tune in to learn more about longevity, sustainable wellness, nervous system healing, and how to create a healthier life that actually feels good to live.  Be sure to subscribe to the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast so you don’t miss an episode! Sign up for the Thyroid Pharmacist Weekly Thyroid Solutions Newsletter here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/gift/ [https://thyroidpharmacist.com/gift/]  For the full list of resources and products mentioned in this episode, and to get the full episode transcript, see complete show notes here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/ [https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

104: Fertility Secrets: What Doctors Don’t Tell You About Baby Making – Dr. Aumatma Simmons

In this episode of Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, Dr. Izabella Wentz interviews Dr. Aumatma Simmons, a double board-certified naturopathic endocrinologist and fertility expert, about the hidden factors that can affect fertility and pregnancy outcomes. Together, they explore why fertility challenges are often a symptom of deeper imbalances – including thyroid autoimmunity, microbiome issues, mold exposure, hormone dysregulation, toxins, and chronic stress. They also discuss why so many women are told to “just keep trying,” why standard testing often misses key root causes, and what holistic fertility support can look like for people who want a more proactive and personalized path. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: * Fertility challenges are often a symptom, not the root issue. Dr. Aumatma explains that infertility is usually not one single condition, but a sign that deeper imbalances may be present. Issues like autoimmunity, mold, gut infections, hormone dysregulation, trauma, and environmental toxins can all send the body the message that it is not safe to reproduce. * Safety matters more than perfection when it comes to fertility. One of the most important takeaways from this episode is the idea that the body needs to feel safe in order to conceive. When the immune system, nervous system, or hormones are stuck in survival mode, reproduction often gets deprioritized – even if lab work looks “normal” on the surface. * Thyroid antibodies can affect fertility even when standard labs appear normal. We talked about how Hashimoto’s and thyroid autoimmunity can interfere with ovulation, pregnancy maintenance, and ovarian reserve, even before a person is diagnosed with overt hypothyroidism. This is one reason why a full thyroid workup – including antibodies – can be so important when fertility issues are present. * The vaginal and uterine microbiome may be an overlooked missing piece. Dr. Aumatma shared how microbiome imbalances can impact conception, implantation, miscarriage risk, and even endometriosis. What’s especially striking is that many women with these imbalances have no obvious symptoms, making this an important area to investigate. * Mold, toxins, and hidden infections can quietly derail fertility. If hormones improve and then crash again, or if someone has experienced recurrent pregnancy loss, Dr. Aumatma often looks deeper for factors like mold exposure, H. pylori, dental infections, or gut dysbiosis. These can keep the body in a stressed, inflammatory state that makes it much harder to conceive. * Taking random fertility supplements is not the same as targeted support. We discussed how people often end up with an entire shelf of supplements based on internet advice, without knowing what their body actually needs. Dr. Aumatma emphasizes the importance of understanding your own root causes so you can focus on the true needle movers instead of guessing. Tune in to learn more about fertility, thyroid health, microbiome balance, and the root causes that may be standing in the way of conception. Be sure to subscribe to the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast so you don’t miss an episode! Sign up for the Thyroid Pharmacist Weekly Thyroid Solutions Newsletter here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/gift/ [https://thyroidpharmacist.com/gift/]  For the full list of resources and products mentioned in this episode, and to get the full episode transcript, see complete show notes here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/ [https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

103: From “Unexplained Infertility” to Pregnant: Root-Cause Fertility With Dr. Jennifer Mercier

In this episode of Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, Dr. Izabella Wentz interviews Dr. Jennifer Mercier, a naturopathic doctor, midwife, and fertility specialist, about the root causes of fertility challenges – especially in women with thyroid and autoimmune conditions. Together, they explore why many cases of infertility are labeled “unexplained” and how conventional approaches often overlook key factors like thyroid health, hormone balance, and pelvic floor function. Dr. Mercier shares her unique approach to restoring fertility through Mercier Therapy, lifestyle changes, and comprehensive testing, while Dr. Wentz reflects on her own journey of overcoming a diagnosis of premature ovarian insufficiency to conceive naturally. This episode offers hope, education, and practical insights for women seeking alternatives or complementary approaches to fertility treatment. What you’ll learn in this episode: * Why “unexplained infertility” often isn’t unexplained at all. Dr. Mercier suggests that some 60% of fertility cases fall into this category, yet underlying issues like thyroid dysfunction, hormone imbalances, endometriosis, and structural problems may go undetected. Identifying root causes can improve fertility outcomes before jumping straight to IVF.  * Why a full thyroid panel matters for fertility. Testing only TSH can miss important thyroid imbalances. Dr. Mercier explains why markers like free T3, free T4, reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies can provide critical insight into conception challenges, miscarriage risk, pregnancy health, and postpartum recovery.  * How pelvic health and blood flow impact fertility. Dr. Mercier explains how scar tissue, restricted mobility, and poor circulation in the pelvic organs may interfere with hormonal signaling and ovarian function. Her targeted Mercier Therapy is designed to restore mobility, circulation, and communication within the reproductive system.  * How long-term hormonal birth control may impact fertility and cycle recovery. Dr. Mercier discusses how prolonged suppression of ovulation may contribute to delayed cycle recovery, weaker ovulation signals, and hormone imbalances in some women after discontinuing birth control.  * The surprising lifestyle factors that impact fertility (for both partners). From stress and environmental toxins to alcohol and THC use, everyday habits can significantly affect egg quality, sperm health, and overall reproductive success. * Why preparing your body for pregnancy matters more than forcing it. Rather than rushing into aggressive interventions, Dr. Mercier emphasizes supporting the body – nutritionally, hormonally, and emotionally – to improve outcomes, whether you conceive naturally or pursue assisted options. Tune in to learn how to take a more holistic, root-cause approach to fertility and reproductive health. Be sure to subscribe to the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast so you don’t miss an episode! Sign up for the Thyroid Pharmacist Weekly Thyroid Solutions Newsletter here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/gift/ [https://thyroidpharmacist.com/gift/]  For the full list of resources and products mentioned in this episode, and to get the full episode transcript, see complete show notes here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/ [https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]