Dr. Streicher’s Inside Information: Menopause, Midlife, and More

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This is my 200th episode! So  I decided to replay a fan favorite. 
Dr. Steven Goldstein's perimenopause episode was among the top 5 most downloaded, with good reason. 

The only thing predictable about perimenopause is that it is …unpredictable. My guest today is Dr. Steven Goldstein, a tenured professor at NYU's Grossman School of Medicine, the past President of the International Menopause Society, Past President of The Menopause Society, and one of the WORLD’S  top experts on the science of perimenopause.  

The problem with the standard definition of menopause. 

Why bleeding and having a period is not the same thing

Why perimenopausal women bleed erratically

Why anxiety and other symptoms occur during 

How to interrupt FSH and estradiol blood levels

The best treatment for perimenopause

Why birth control pills work so well during perimenopause

Myths about birth control pills 

The concept of “suppression and substitution”

How long perimenopause lasts

What triggers perimenopause

Why fibroids often grow during perimenopause

How to know if symptoms are perimenopause hormonal fluctuations or something else

How long someone can stay on a birth control pill

When the 12-month rule doesn’t hold

When perimenopause and menopause hit before the age of 40. 

When perimenopause hits before 40 why it needs to be treated

Options if someone can’t take birth control pills 

When you can ignore irregular bleeding and when it needs to be evaluated

What Black women need to know about perimenopause bleeding

The likelihood of cancer if there is a uterine polyp and you are not bleeding

Link to Steven Goldstein MD
 https://www.goldsteinmd.com/services/gynecologist-perimenopause-specialist/

Link to John Rock’s Error Article

Lauren Streicher, MD is a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, and the founding medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause and a Senior Research Fellow of The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University. She is a certified menopause practitioner of The Menopause Society. 
 
 
Dr. Streicher is the medical correspondent for Chicago’s top-rated news program, the WGN Morning News, and has been seen on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, NPR, Dr. Radio, Nightline, Fox and Friends, The Steve Harvey Show, CBS This Morning, ABC News Now, NBCNightlyNews,20/20, and World News Tonight. She is an expert source for many magazines and serves on the medical advisory board of The Kinsey Institute, Self Magazine, and Prevention Magazine. She writes a regular column for The Ethel by AARP and Prevention Magazine.

As a gynecologist, I help women with the physical, hormonal, and medical aspects of sexual response: eliminate sexual pain, and help women who can’t orgasm due to an SSRI, diabetes or vascular disease. I am not a therapist. I do not treat the psychosocial aspects of sexual difficulties or address the mind-body connection. And that is why the work I do depends on experts like  my guest today, Dr. Lori Brotto
Dr. Lori Brotto is a registered psychologist, researcher, and global leader in women’s sexual health. A Professor at the University of British Columbia and Distinguished University Scholar, she has spent more than two decades developing and validating evidence-based treatments for women’s sexual concerns and is widely recognized for pioneering the use of mindfulness in sexual health. She co-developed eSense to translate this body of research into accessible, evidence-based care beyond traditional clinical settings.  Dr. Brotto has authored more than 280 scientific publications and is also the author of Better Sex Through Mindfulness and its companion workbook. 
 

In this episode:

Why a sex therapist and medical clinician need to collaborate

How mindfulness helps arousal and libido once there is no pain with sexual activity

How well mindfulness works to increase libido

The difference between mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy

Why women avoid sex (besides pain) 

The circular sexual response cycle

If most sex therapists are aware of the impact of menopause symptoms

The role of systemic testosterone and libido

The eSense Health tool for individualized digital access to CBT and mindfulness

Why Dr. Brotto developed eSense Health

What eSense is

How eSense works and how well it works

Who eSense is for

How this tool helps women 
Living with a cancer diagnosis

PTSD

History of trauma

History of sexual abuse

With different cultural and religious backgrounds

What to expect during an eSense session

The cost of eSense

Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-brotto-9974a236/ 
Instagram @drloribrotto 

Information about eSense HEALTH
eSense Health is a digital health company focused on closing the care gap in women’s sexual health. The e-Sense program is based on proven therapeutic approaches, including CBT and mindfulness, and turns them into a structured self-guided experience that women can access privately. It offers support that’s similar to what you might receive in therapy, but in a more accessible and affordable format. 
To learn more and sign up for updates, visit: https://esensehealth.com/contact/ 
IG: https://www.instagram.com/esensehealth/
  YouTube: 

Episode 195 Vulvar Relief with Dr. Andrew Goldstein

COME AGAIN is a 30-part audio series to address the biological, hormonal, and medical issues that can sabotage your sex life. This solution-driven, science-based guide will help get your libido to kick in and your clitoral nerve endings to wake up.

For more information, go to DrStreicher.com/COMEAGAIN

Dr. Streicher is on SUBSTACK      DrStreicher.Substack.com

Articles

Monthly News Flash Reports on recent research 

Monthly Zoom Ask Me Anything Webinar

Lauren Streicher MD is a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, the founding medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause, and a Senior Research Fellow of The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University. She is a certified menopause practitioner of The Menopause Society. 

Dr. Streicher is the medical correspondent for Chicago’s top-rated news program, the WGN Morning News, and has been seen on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, NPR, Dr. Radio, Nightline, Fox and Friends, The Steve Harvey Show, CBS This Morning, ABC News Now, NBCNightlyNews,20/20, and World News Tonight. She is an expert source for many magazines and serves on the medical advisory board of The Kinsey Institute, Self Magazine, and Prevention Magazine. She writes a regular column for The Ethel by AARP and Prevention Magazine. 
 

LINKS

Subscribe To Dr. Streicher’s Substack

Information About COME AGAIN

Dr. Streicher’s CV and additional bio information

To Find a Menopause Clinician and Other Resources

 Glossary Of Medical Terminology

Books by Lauren Streicher, MD
 

 Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina-A gynecologist’s guide to eliminating post-menopause dryness and pain

Hot Flash Hell: A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat

Sex Rx- Hormones, Health, and Your Best Sex Ever

The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy

                                  

 
  Dr. Streicher’s Inside Information podcast is for education and information and is not intended to replace medical advice from your personal healthcare clinician. Dr. Streicher disclaims liability for any medical outcomes that may occur because of applying methods suggested or discussed in this podcast.

Preventing Dementia: Estrogen? Testosterone? Prevogen™?

On November 10, 2025, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr. Marty Markary, along with the head of the FDA, RFK Jr, announced that hormone therapy would “reduce Alzheimer’s by 35%." 
Where does that statistic come from? And should all women take hormone therapy to stave off dementia later in life? 
In this episode, I take a deep dive into the science of hormone therapy and  Prevogen™...and what you can do to decrease the risk of Alzheimer's disease by almost 50%. 

The impact of hormone therapy on cognition in different phases of life

Current scientific studies to determine if it is beneficial to  take hormone therapy to prevent Alzheimers

How best to measure the risk of Alzheimer’s

The “Science” behind  Prevogen

How OTC neutraceuticals get past the FDA

Action steps to decrease the risk of Alzheimers

COME AGAIN is a 30-part audio series to address the biological, hormonal, and medical issues that can sabotage your sex life. This solution-driven, science-based guide will help get your libido to kick in and your clitoral nerve endings to wake up.
For more information, go to DrStreicher.com/COMEAGAIN
Dr. Streicher is on SUBSTACK      DrStreicher.Substack.com

Articles

Monthly News Flash Reports on recent research 

Monthly Zoom Ask Me Anything Webinar

Lauren Streicher MD, is a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, the founding medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause, and a Senior Research Fellow of The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University. She is a certified menopause practitioner of The Menopause Society. 
Dr. Streicher is the medical correspondent for Chicago’s top-rated news program, the WGN Morning News, and has been seen on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, NPR, Dr. Radio, Nightline, Fox and Friends, The Steve Harvey Show, CBS This Morning, ABC News Now, NBCNightlyNews,20/20, and World News Tonight. She is an expert source for many magazines and serves on the medical advisory board of The Kinsey Institute, Self Magazine, and Prevention Magazine. She writes a regular column for The Ethel by AARP and Prevention Magazine. 
 
LINKS

Subscribe To Dr. Streicher’s Substack

Information About COME AGAIN

Dr. Streicher’s CV and additional bio information

To Find a Menopause Clinician and Other Resources

 Glossary Of Medical Terminology

Books by Lauren Streicher, MD

 Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina-A gynecologist’s guide to eliminating post-menopause dryness and pain

Hot Flash Hell: A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat

Sex Rx- Hormones, Health, and Your Best Sex Ever

The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy

                                  
 
  Dr. Streicher’s Inside Information podcast is for education and information and is not intended to replace medical advice from your personal healthcare clinician. Dr. Streicher disclaims liability for any medical outcomes that may occur because of applying methods suggested or discussed in this podcast.

In the world of medical influencers, the only thing crazier than the menopause world is the skin world. There are a lot of people who are making millions selling lotions and potions that promise to make your 50-year-old skin look like it did when you were 20.

Enter Dr. Ellen Gendler- you know her-the New York dermatologist who is the voice of reason, and wildly entertaining, but most importantly, the voice of science in a sea of skin-fluencers. 

I asked for your questions, and you delivered! 
SO strap in for this rapid fire Q and A!

Some of the topics we covered:

Microneedling

Loose skin

Crepey skin

Peptides

Skin brighteners

Hydroquinone

Brown spots

Itchy skin

Plumping earlobes 

Sunscreen

Face injections

Thinning hair

Ketoconazole shampoo

Oral minoxidil

Scalp massage

Nutrafol

Shampoo

Droopy eyes vs droopy brows

Marionette lines

Fillers

And so much more...
Dr. Ellen Gendler is a Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center
Insta: @ellengendlermd

Episode 117 Top Tips for Terrific Skin & Hair with Dr. Ellen Gendler

COME AGAIN is a 30-part audio series to address the biological, hormonal, and medical issues that can sabotage your sex life. This solution-driven, science-based guide will help get your libido to kick in and your clitoral nerve endings to wake up.
For more information, go to DrStreicher.com/COMEAGAIN

Dr. Streicher is on SUBSTACK      DrStreicher.Substack.com

Articles

Monthly News Flash Reports on recent research 

Monthly Zoom Ask Me Anything Webinar

Lauren Streicher MD, is a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, the founding medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause, and a Senior Research Fellow of The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University. She is a certified menopause practitioner of The Menopause Society. 
Dr. Streicher is the medical correspondent for Chicago’s top-rated news program, the WGN Morning News, and has been seen on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, NPR, Dr. Radio, Nightline, Fox and Friends, The Steve Harvey Show, CBS This Morning, ABC News Now, NBCNightlyNews,20/20, and World News Tonight. She is an expert source for many magazines and serves on the medical advisory board of The Kinsey Institute, Self Magazine, and Prevention Magazine. She writes a regular column for The Ethel by AARP and Prevention Magazine. 
 
LINKS

Subscribe To Dr. Streicher’s Substack

Information About COME AGAIN

Dr. Streicher’s CV and additional bio information

To Find a Menopause Clinician and Other Resources

 Glossary Of Medical Terminology

Books by Lauren Streicher, MD
 

 Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina-A gynecologist’s guide to eliminating post-menopause dryness and pain

Hot Flash Hell: A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat

Sex Rx- Hormones, Health, and Your Best Sex Ever

The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy

                                  
 
  Dr. Streicher’s Inside Information podcast is for education and information and is not intended to replace medical advice from your personal healthcare clinician. Dr. Streicher disclaims liability for any medical outcomes that may occur because of applying methods suggested or discussed in this podcast.

In this episode, join me in my living room for a conversation between me, Christie Hefner, and the author of a just released book, Intimate Animal by Justin Garcia, an evolutionary biologist and international authority on the science of sex and relationships and the Executive Director of the world-renowned Kinsey Institute. 

The Intimate Animal explores: Why we love who we love? Why do we stay in unfulfilling relationships and stray from rewarding ones? Is it ever a good idea to open a relationship? How has the digital age affected courtship? And why do some longtime couples crash and burn while others stay madly in love? 

The difference between intimacy and sex

If evolution is driven by sex or intimacy  

Dating in a digital world

If ending a relationship is the same as a failed relationship

The number one thing people are looking for in a partner

..and much more
Dr. Justin Garcia is an evolutionary biologist and international authority on the science of sex and relationships. Since 2019, he has served as the Executive Director of the world-renowned Kinsey Institute, where he is also a Senior Scientist. Dr. Garcia holds a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology and M.S. in biomedical anthropology from Binghamton University and an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from Harvard Kennedy School.
Dr. Garcia is currently the Chief Scientific Advisor to Match where he provides expertise for the annual Singles in America study. He has co-authored over 100 academic articles and book chapters and is co-author of Evolution and Human Sexual Behavior. 
 
https://www.amazon.com/Intimate-Animal-Science-Fidelity-Live/dp/0316594032
The recent article in People Magazine mentioned during the episode:
https://people.com/justin-garcia-the-intimte-animal-essay-exclusive-11894513

To hear more about Dr. Garcia’s work with Match.com: Episode 50 Dating in a Digital World-The Kinsey Report on with Dr. Justin Garcia  

https://www.amazon.com/Intimate-Animal-Science-Fidelity-Live/dp/0316594032

COME AGAIN is a 30-part audio series to address the biological, hormonal, and medical issues that can sabotage your sex life. This solution-driven, science-based guide will help get your libido to kick in and your clitoral nerve endings to wake up.
For more information, go to DrStreicher.com/COMEAGAIN

Dr. Streicher is on SUBSTACK      DrStreicher.Substack.com

Articles

Monthly News Flash Reports on recent research 

Monthly Zoom Ask Me Anything Webinar

Lauren Streicher MD, is a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, the founding medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause, and a Senior Research Fellow of The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University. She is a certified menopause practitioner of The Menopause Society. 
Dr. Streicher is the medical correspondent for Chicago’s top-rated news program, the WGN Morning News, and has been seen on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, NPR, Dr. Radio, Nightline, Fox and Friends, The Steve Harvey Show, CBS This Morning, ABC News Now, NBCNightlyNews,20/20, and World News Tonight. She is an expert source for many magazines and serves on the medical advisory board of The Kinsey Institute, Self Magazine, and Prevention Magazine. She writes a regular column for The Ethel by AARP and Prevention Magazine. 
 
LINKS

Subscribe To Dr. Streicher’s Substack

Information About COME AGAIN

Dr. Streicher’s CV and additional bio information

To Find a Menopause Clinician and Other Resources

 Glossary Of Medical Terminology

Books by Lauren Streicher, MD

 Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina-A gynecologist’s guide to eliminating post-menopause dryness and pain

Hot Flash Hell: A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat

Sex Rx- Hormones, Health, and Your Best Sex Ever

The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy

                                  
 
  Dr. Streicher’s Inside Information podcast is for education and information and is not intended to replace medical advice from your personal healthcare clinician. Dr. Streicher disclaims liability for any medical outcomes that may occur because of applying methods suggested or discussed in this podcast.