About Fempower Health: The Perimenopause and Menopause Channel
Midlife brings more change than most healthcare systems are built to handle, hormonal shifts, yes, but also the mental health impact, the diagnostic gaps, and the disconnect between what women are experiencing and what gets taken seriously in a doctor's office. This podcast, hosted by Georgie Kovacs, looks at midlife through that wider lens.
Each episode features conversations with physicians, researchers, and patient advocates covering the perimenopause and menopause transition, but also the broader picture, symptom management, mental health, and the systemic gaps in diagnosis and care that leave many women navigating this stage without real answers. We look at the latest research alongside the practical realities of a healthcare system that wasn't designed with midlife women in mind.
Georgie Kovacs brings over two decades in healthcare, including work advising NGOs, startups, and investors on systems change in women's health, to every conversation. The goal isn't just information, it's understanding why the system works the way it does, and what it takes to change it.
Learn more and explore additional resources at fempower-health.com.
UTI Symptoms But No Infection? What’s Really Going On with Your Bladder | Dr. Tamra Lewis - Fempower Health | A Women's Health Podcast
Honoring Bladder Health Month! Originally Published September 2024.
In this episode of Fempower Health, Dr. Tamra Lewis, a board-certified urogynecologist, discusses bladder health, UTI misdiagnoses, and how pelvic floor dysfunction, menopause, and the microbiome impact bladder issues in women. Learn how to advocate for better care and understand your symptoms.
Bladder Health Episode Summary
In this episode of Fempower Health, we sit down with Dr. Tamra Lewis, a board-certified urologist specializing in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery (also known as urogynecology). Dr. Lewis shares her expertise on common bladder health issues affecting women, many of which are frequently misdiagnosed as urinary tract infections (UTIs). We explore the importance of accurate diagnoses, the potential causes of bladder issues, and how women can better advocate for themselves in healthcare settings. This episode is essential listening for women seeking clarity on their bladder health and for clinicians looking to improve patient outcomes.
Discussion Points:
Why are so many women misdiagnosing themselves with UTIs?
What are the common symptoms of bladder problems in women?
How can women better describe bladder issues to their healthcare provider?
What are the underlying causes of frequent bladder issues in women?
How can you tell the difference between a UTI and other bladder problems?
Why is it important to have a pelvic exam for bladder issues?
How does pelvic floor dysfunction contribute to bladder symptoms?
What are the most effective treatments for overactive bladder?
How can you prevent recurring urinary tract infections?
What role does menopause play in bladder health?
What is the impact of the microbiome on bladder health and UTIs?
Why should women advocate for more thorough evaluations from their doctors?
"It's easier to treat a small problem than to let a small problem become a bigger problem." - Dr. Tamra Lewis
Related to this Bladder Health episode:
Learn more about Dr. Tamra Lewis (https://compurocare.com/tamra-lewis-md/) and follow her on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamra-lewis-62b46bab/) and Instagram (http://instagram.com/drtamralewis)
Check out Fempower Health resources on Pelvic Health (http://fempower-health.com/pelvic-health)
🎧 Loved the episode? Here's how you can take action:
1. Help others discover Fempower Health:
Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.
2. Stay connected:
Follow us on LinkedIn (https://linkedin.com/company/fempowerhealth), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/fempowerhealth/) and TikTok (https://tiktok/fempowerhealth), YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@fempowerhealth) for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.
Or join our newsletter (https://www.fempower-health.com/newsletter) to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.
**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024 (https://podcast.feedspot.com/health_podcasts/)**
Fempower Health Guest Bio
Dr. Tamra Lewis holds board...
11 Nov 2025
Why Women’s Health Still Gets Dismissed — And How We Can Fix It - Fempower Health | A Women's Health Podcast
Episode Summary
Why does it still feel like women aren’t being heard in the doctor’s office? Dr. Sharon Malone joins Georgie Kovacs to unpack the structural, cultural, and economic forces that have eroded trust between women and their healthcare providers. From the loss of physician autonomy to outdated reimbursement systems and the chronic undervaluation of women’s health fields, this candid conversation reveals how the system got here—and what it will take to fix it. Together, Georgie and Dr. Malone explore solutions ranging from patient empowerment to digital health and the need for systemic reform in research, policy, and payment.
Resources
Malone S. Grown Woman Talk (https://amzn.to/3LpB8SS). 2024.
NIH Data Book (2022): https://report.nih.gov/funding/categorical-spending (https://report.nih.gov/funding/categorical-spending)
March of Dimes. Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts Report, 2023. (https://www.marchofdimes.org/maternity-care-deserts-report)
Fitzgerald J., King L. Price and Prejudice: Reimbursement of Surgical Care on Male Versus Female Anatomies (https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/jwh.2024.0984?doi=10.1089%2Fjwh.2024.0984&journalCode=jwh)
🎧 Loved the episode? Here's how you can take action:
1. Help others discover Fempower Health:
Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.
2. Stay connected:
Follow us on LinkedIn (https://linkedin.com/company/fempowerhealth), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/fempowerhealth/) and TikTok (https://tiktok/fempowerhealth), YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@fempowerhealth) for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.
Or join our newsletter (https://www.fempower-health.com/newsletter) to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.
**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024 (https://podcast.feedspot.com/health_podcasts/)**
**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor. Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.**
**May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**
4 Nov 2025
Metabolism Health and Menopause | Dr. Lara Briden - Fempower Health | A Women's Health Podcast
Originally Published June 2024. It's Diabetes Awareness Month and Metabolic Health is an important proactive measure!
How are metabolism, health, and menopause linked? Listen as Dr. Lara Briden shares insights from her new book, Metabolism Repair for Women.
Episode Summary
In this episode, we hear from Dr. Lara Briden, naturopathic doctor and celebrated author of “Period Repair Manual.” Dr. Briden joins Fempower Heath to discuss metabolic health in light of her newest book, "Metabolism Repair for Women (https://amzn.to/3yYFSIW)." Known for her thorough and research-based approach to women's health, Lara shares her expertise on the often misunderstood topic of metabolic health—particularly its significance during the perimenopausal and menopausal stages of a woman’s life.
Discussed in this episode:
The connection between metabolic health, general health, mental health, and women's hormones
Why metabolism health is not just about weight loss but about overall energy and well-being
How hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause can lead to insulin resistance
How hormonal birth control can have different metabolic effects
Ways to manage and improve metabolic health during perimenopause and menopause
The potential metabolic benefits of a low-carb diet and its role in reducing cravings for carbohydrates
"What's happening metabolically in the brain at menopause is potentially going to have long-term consequences." - Dr. Lara Briden
Related to this episode:
Resources on Perimenopause and Menopause (http://fempower-health.com/perimenopause-menopause)
Check out Dr. Lara Briden’s books: Period Repair Manual (https://amzn.to/4eoOqJ3), Hormone Repair Manual (https://amzn.to/3xqCAxp), and Metabolism Repair for Women (https://amzn.to/3yYFSIW)
Learn more about Dr. Lara Briden (https://www.larabriden.com/) and follow her on Instagram (http://instagram.com/larabriden)
🎧 Loved the episode? Here's how you can take action:
1. Help others discover Fempower Health:
Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.
2. Stay connected:
Follow us on LinkedIn (https://linkedin.com/company/fempowerhealth), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/fempowerhealth/) and TikTok (https://tiktok/fempowerhealth), YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@fempowerhealth) for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.
Or join our newsletter (https://www.fempower-health.com/newsletter) to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.
**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024 (https://podcast.feedspot.com/health_podcasts/)**
Guest Bio
Lara Briden is a naturopathic doctor and the bestselling author of the books Period Repair Manual (https://amzn.to/4eoOqJ3), <a href="https://amzn.to/3xqCAxp"
Inside a recent episode
Ovaries, the Brain, and Aging: A Longevity Connection | Dr. Jennifer Garrison - Fempower Health | A Women's Health Podcast
Published 12 Aug 2025 · Transcript excerpt
[…] So they carry messages either between distant regions in the same organ or between different organs in their body. So you could interchangeably use the word messenger with the word hormone. And hormone is a really broad term from a scientific and medical perspective. So it refers to not just steroids, which is one kind of small molecule chemical. But to literally anything that can carry messages inside your body. So that could be proteins, it could be peptides, it could be lipids, it could be gases, it could be small molecules of different kinds. And so hormone is a really like a catch all term for a messenger. […]
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