Q&A With Dr. J: Periods, Pain, Sex, TikTok Myths and Everything In Between

Why Would We Need Horny Women? A Conversation About The Pink Pill Film With Cindy Eckert and Joanna Griffiths

In this episode of Hysterical Women, we dive into the story behind the documentary The Pink Pill: Sex, Drugs & Who Has Control [https://www.thepinkpillfilm.com/]— a film that exposes the decade-long fight to bring the first medication for low sexual desire in women to market. Joining us are two incredible women behind the story: * Cindy Eckert, founder of Sprout Pharmaceuticals [https://www.sproutpharmaceuticals.com/] and the driving force behind Addyi [https://addyi.com/] * Joanna Griffiths, founder of Knix [https://knix.ca/], women’s health advocate, and executive producer of the film Together we unpack the staggering bias that shaped how women’s sexual health has been studied, regulated, and dismissed — and why the road to approval for a women’s drug looked nothing like the path that led to the little blue pill. From shocking quotes inside FDA hearings to the women who bravely shared their stories in public, this episode explores what happens when systems designed around men attempt to define women’s health. We also talk about resilience, advocacy, the power of getting angry, and what it actually takes to push change forward in women’s health. Spoiler: sometimes it requires women who are willing to be a little mad. In this episode, we’re talking about: * The documentary The Pink Pill: Sex, Drugs & Who Has Control * The fight to bring Addyi, the first medication for low sexual desire in women, to market * The shocking statements made during the FDA approval process * Why women’s sexual health has historically been dismissed or trivialized * The double standard between drugs for men’s sexual function and women’s desire * How bias in medicine and regulation can delay progress for decades * What it felt like for women to publicly share their most personal health struggles * How advocacy movements are often fueled by anger, injustice, and purpose * The role of resilience when fighting systems that resist change * Why women’s health conversations have historically been rooted in shame and stigma * How simply sharing our stories can drive cultural and medical change Let’s Connect: If this resonated, leave a review or share it with someone who needs to hear it. Follow us and find more information about Coven at @covenhealth [https://www.instagram.com/covenhealth/] or visit www.covenhealth.com [http://www.covenhealth.com/] * Follow Cindy at @cindypinkceo [https://www.instagram.com/cindypinkceo] * Follow Joanna at @joannaknix [https://www.instagram.com/joannaknix] * Follow the film at @thepinkpillfilm [https://www.instagram.com/thepinkpillfilm/?hl=en]

Wide Awake at 3 am? Let’s Fix Your Perimenopause Sleep Cycle with Dominique Williams

Sleep problems are common in perimenopause and menopause — but what makes them feel especially brutal is the no end in sight part. One bad night turns into worry about the next night… which makes it even harder to sleep… and suddenly you’re stuck in a cycle of anxiety + exhaustion. In this episode, Dr. Michelle is joined again by Coven Women’s Health Registered Social Worker, Dominique Williams, to talk about why sleep gets disrupted in midlife, what “best practice” support actually looks like, and what to do when you wake up in the middle of the night with a blank mind and still can’t fall back asleep. This conversation is part education, part validation, and part “okay but what do I do at 3 a.m. when I’m wide awake?” In this episode, we’re talking about: * Why perimenopause and menopause sleep disruption can become a self-perpetuating anxiety cycle * The most common sleep patterns Michelle sees in clinic: trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, waking too early, and “wake after sleep onset (WASO)” * Why disrupted sleep isn’t always caused by night sweats (and why identifying the actual trigger matters) * How a sleep diary, stimulus control, and structured wind-down routines help retrain your brain for sleep * What to do when you wake up and can’t fall back asleep: the “15-minute rule” and why getting out of bed matters * Nervous system tools that can help your body downshift (breath work + progressive muscle relaxation) * The small things that make a big difference: room temperature, darkness, fans, night sweats strategies, and minimizing clock-watching * Progesterone and sleep: why feeling sedated doesn’t always mean better quality sleep * Sleep medications vs. sleep architecture: what’s changing in perimenopause and why newer options are emerging * The daytime habits that quietly impact sleep at night (caffeine, movement, late eating, alcohol — and the “be an adult, accept the consequences” approach) Let’s Connect: If this resonated, leave a review or share it with someone who needs to hear it. Follow us and find more information about Coven at https://www.instagram.com/covenwomenshealth@covenhealth [https://www.instagram.com/covenhealth/] or visit www.covenhealth.com [http://www.covenhealth.com]

Not Here to F*ck Spiders: Mental Health, Menopause & Feeling Like Yourself Again with Dominique Williams

In this episode, Dr. Michelle is joined by Dominique Williams [https://www.instagram.com/menopausenoworries/], a Registered Social Worker at Coven Women’s Health, for a deeply honest and empowering conversation about mental health in perimenopause/menopause, and why so many women feel dismissed, invisible, or like they’re “losing it” during this transition. Dominique shares her personal journey through perimenopause, a breast cancer diagnosis, and the moment she was told by a healthcare provider that there was “nothing” that could help her symptoms - an experience that shaped her work supporting other women today. Together, they unpack the emotional, psychological, and neurological changes that can happen during hormonal transitions, the role therapy (especially CBT) can play in symptom relief, and why addressing mental health is not optional care, it’s essential. In this episode, we’re talking about: * Dominique’s personal experience with perimenopause, breast cancer, and medical dismissal * Why so many women feel invisible or minimized when they raise menopause concerns * The most common mental health symptoms in perimenopause and menopause * Anxiety, low mood, irritability, rage, and why your “bullshit tolerance” suddenly drops * Brain fog, memory lapses, and why they don’t mean you’re developing dementia * How hormonal changes impact the brain, including the amygdala * Why therapy, especially Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), is evidence-based care for menopause * How CBT can help with hot flashes, sleep disruption, anxiety, and mood changes * A simple, practical CBT grounding exercise you can try when your mind won’t stop racing * Why thoughts can intensify physical symptoms and how to interrupt that cycle * What it really means to say “I don’t feel like myself” and why that feeling is valid If you’ve ever wondered whether what you’re feeling in perimenopause or menopause is “normal,” or if mental health support actually belongs in menopause care - this conversation is for you. Let’s Connect If this resonated, leave a review or share it with someone who needs to hear it. Follow us and find more information about Coven at https://www.instagram.com/covenwomenshealth@covenhealth [https://www.instagram.com/covenhealth/] or visit www.covenhealth.com [http://www.covenhealth.com]

Nosh with Nish: Cutting Through Protein Hype, Creatine & Nutrition Noise

In this episode, Jenn is joined once again by Coven’s Registered Dietitian Nishta Saxena to answer the nutrition questions the Coven keeps asking - from protein overload and creatine hype to whether the latest fitness trends are actually worth your time. Together, they unpack why nutrition advice feels so overwhelming during perimenopause and menopause, how desperation and misinformation fuel fads, and what actually matters when it comes to supporting muscle, bone, energy, and metabolic health as hormones shift. This conversation blends practical education with real talk, helping you cut through the noise and focus on nutrition choices that are evidence-based, realistic, and tailored to your body - not trends or algorithms. In this episode, we’re talking about: * Why nutrition fads feel especially tempting when you’re struggling with symptoms * Weighted vests: what they actually do, who they may help, and when to skip them * What truly supports bone density and muscle mass in perimenopause and menopause * Creatine 101: what it is, how it works, and why consistency matters * Why creatine isn’t a magic fix and how to use it safely * The truth about protein needs for women as hormones change * Why “more protein” isn’t always better (and can sometimes backfire) * How to think about protein intake in a way that’s individualized, not extreme * Whole food protein sources versus protein-fortified everything * How to build meals that support energy, blood sugar, and hormones without overthinking it This episode is equal parts myth-busting, education, and reassurance. If you’ve ever felt confused, overwhelmed, or behind when it comes to nutrition during perimenopause or menopause — this one’s for you. Let’s Connect If this resonated, leave a review or share it with someone who needs to hear it. Follow us and find more information about Coven Women’s Health at https://www.instagram.com/covenwomenshealth@covenhealth [https://www.instagram.com/covenhealth/] or visit www.covenhealth.com [http://www.covenhealth.com/]

Q&A With Dr. J: Periods, Pain, Sex, TikTok Myths and Everything In Between

In this end-of-year episode, Dr. Michelle and Jenn answer the Coven and the Internet’s most Googled (and sometimes unhinged) women’s-health questions – from coffee-ground period blood to butthole zingers, vaginal dryness, TikTok sex rumors, “menopause psychosis,” and whether diarrhea during your period is actually normal (spoiler: yes). This episode blends laugh-out-loud moments with real medical explanations, helping you understand what’s normal, what isn’t, and what your body is trying to tell you without shame, fear, or Dr. Google at 2 a.m. In this episode, we’re talking about: * Why period blood sometimes looks black, brown or like coffee grounds * The real reason so many women get diarrhea during their periods * What causes the sharp “lighting bolt” pains in your butt (and why you’re not alone) * Lighting crotch during pregnancy: what it is and why it happens * Why sex can feel like sandpaper even when you’re aroused * The difference between lubricants, moisturizers and vaginal hormone therapy * Pelvic floor tension and why your brain may be bracing for pain * Whether sex actually helps period cramps or if TikTok lied again * “Menopause psychosis”: what’s real, what’s not and why this TikTok term is misleading This episode is equal parts myth-busting, education, and “OMG I thought it was just me.” If you’ve ever wondered whether something happening in your body is normal — this is your episode. Let’s Connect If this resonated, leave a review or share it with someone who needs to hear it. Follow us and find more information about Coven Women’s Health at https://www.instagram.com/covenwomenshealth@covenhealth [https://www.instagram.com/covenhealth/] or visit www.covenhealth.com [http://www.covenhealth.com/]