Women's Healthspan Voices with Dr. Pat McShane

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/]

Why Menopause Feels Harder for High-Performing Women

In this episode of Women’s Healthspan Voices, I speak with Dr. Hanah Polotsky about why menopause can feel especially disruptive for high-performing women balancing careers, caregiving, and constant demands. We discuss brain fog, sleep disruption, metabolic changes, stress, and why “normal” lab work does not always reflect how women actually feel. Dr. Polotsky also shares practical strategies for building sustainable habits that support strength, performance, and long-term healthspan. - - - - -  Dr. Hanah Polotsky is an endocrinologist, physician executive, and performance-focused menopause specialist who works with professional women navigating perimenopause and menopause. Her work combines metabolic health, lifestyle medicine, behavior change, and systems-based care to help women optimize performance, resilience, and long-term well-being during midlife transitions. - - - - -  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] Produced by DrTalks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast/ [https://drtalks.com/podcast/]

Cholesterol May Not Be the Real Cause of Heart Disease: What We Need to Know

In this episode of Women’s Healthspan Voices, I speak with Diamond Fernandes about a different way of understanding heart disease prevention. We explore why cholesterol may not be the primary driver of cardiovascular disease, how inflammation and artery health play a larger role, and why many standard heart screenings may miss underlying risk. Diamond also shares practical lifestyle strategies that may help women protect long-term cardiovascular health and vitality. - - - - -  Diamond Fernandes is an integrative cardiac health specialist and the founder of Heart Fit Clinic. A deeply personal story drives his work: his father suffered a heart attack at 38 and bypass surgery at 42, sparking his mission to understand how to truly prevent and reverse heart disease. With clinics across major cities in Canada, Diamond focuses on going beyond the traditional ‘plumbing’ model of cholesterol and blocked pipes. He uses extensive testing, advanced cardiac rehab programs, and therapies like external counterpulsation to improve artery health, grow new vessels, and reduce the risk of plaque rupture. His books, Beating Heart Disease and the upcoming Death of the Stress Test, challenge outdated approaches and highlight the roles of lifestyle, infections, autoimmunity, mindset, and emotional health in protecting the ‘love muscle’ at the center of our lives. - - - - -  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] Produced by DrTalks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast/ [https://drtalks.com/podcast/]

How Women Can Reduce Fall Risk and Stay Independent Longer

In this episode of Women’s Healthspan Voices, I discuss why falls are one of the leading causes of injury and loss of independence in older women. I walk through the biggest contributors to fall risk, including medications, poor balance, muscle loss, low bone density, hearing and vision changes, sleep problems, and home hazards. I also share practical, evidence-based ways to reduce fall risk and protect long-term mobility, strength, and quality of life. - - - - -  Dr. McShane is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology as well as reproductive endocrinology and infertility. She earned her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. She then pursued her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Boston Hospital for Women, followed by completing her fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. In addition to Dr. McShane’s extensive experience with treating infertility, she has dedicated decades of her career to educating the next generation of reproductive endocrinologists. Dr. McShane has served as an instructor in OB/GYN at Boston Hospital for Women, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, UMass Medical Center, and University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. After her initial practice with reproductive-aged women, mostly seeking fertility, Dr. McShane became focused on the health of postmenopausal women following her own life journey and founded a video series. She is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). To further pursue her deep interest in women’s health in developing countries, Dr. McShane completed her Certificate in Global Public Health in May 2014 at Colorado School of Public Health. Dr. McShane has authored reports and abstracts on topics such as in vitro fertilization, preimplantation genetic testing, and fertility preservation. - - - - -  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] Produced by DrTalks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast/ [https://drtalks.com/podcast/]