Avsnitt
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You have been told the aches, the leaking, and the exhaustion are just part of getting older.
They are not, and most of it is treatable.
Dr. Arti Thangudu sits down with Dr. Alexis Shoope, board-certified orthopedic and pelvic floor physical therapist and founder of Pioneer Physical Therapy in Houston, on what standard care keeps missing in women's bodies, and what actually helps.
---
## 🔍 This episode explores:
• 🧩 What pelvic floor PT actually is, and the symptoms it treats that no one talks about (leaking, pain with sex, prolapse, constipation)
• 🧩 Why midlife joint pain is often hormonal, and how estrogen shifts show up in your tissues
• 🧩 Why "just do your kegels" is the wrong advice for many women
• 🧩 The two muscle groups that protect your pelvic floor most (glutes and adductors)
• 🧩 How insurance visit limits quietly shape the care you are offered, and what cash-pay really means
---
## 👩 This episode is for you if:
• You have been told your symptoms are normal aging
• You are navigating perimenopause and new aches or changes
• You leak when you run, sneeze, or lift
• You want a real clinical conversation, not wellness theater
---
## ⚖ The bottom line
Most of what women are told to live with is treatable.Strength is medicine, and the right specialist can change your life. Your symptoms are real. The explanation you were sold may not be.
---
## 🎙 About the Host
**Dr. Arti Thangudu** is a board-certified endocrinologist specializing in women's hormonal health, thyroid disease, metabolism, and menopause. She is the founder of Complete Medicine and Hey Healthy and the host of Endocrine Matters. She practices evidence-based medicine and sees the patients who have been told their labs are fine when they do not feel fine.
---
## 🎤 About the Guest
**Dr. Alexis Shoope** is a board-certified orthopedic and pelvic floor physical therapist and the founder of Pioneer Physical Therapy and Wellness in Houston. (pioneerpt.com)
---
## 📚 Resources Mentioned
• Pelvic floor physical therapy: for leaking, pain with sex, prolapse, and constipation
• Glutes and adductors: the muscle groups that support the pelvic floor
• Estrogen and joint pain: the perimenopause connection worth raising with your doctor
• Finding a pelvic floor PT who treats the whole system, not one symptom
---
## 🔗 Learn More / Connect
🩺 Complete Medicine
sacomplete.com
Dr. Thangudu's clinical practice. Evidence-based endocrinology and women's hormonal health.
📩 Newsletter + Blog
subscribe at https://www.sacomplete.com/complete-medicine-blog
Clinical context without the noise. Straight to your inbox.
🎙 Endocrine Matters Podcast
new episodes every Wednesday
Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss a release.
📲 Instagram
@drartithanguduDaily clinical perspective. Real answers. No wellness-influencer energy.
▶ YouTube
Arti Thangudu MD. https://www.youtube.com/@drartithangudu
Deeper dives on perimenopause, thyroid health, metabolic medicine, and more.
🎤 Guest
. Dr. Alexis Shoope, Pioneer Physical Therapy. pioneerpt.com
Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a woman who has been told it's just aging.
---
## 🎙 About Endocrine Matters
*Endocrine Matters* is a weekly podcast hosted by Dr. Arti Thangudu, board-certified
endocrinologist. Each episode brings evidence-based medicine to the questions patients are
actually asking. No hype. No misinformation. No "heal your hormones naturally" shortcuts. Just
the clinical clarity you deserve. New episodes drop every Wednesday.
---
## ⏱ Chapters
00:00 - Intro and meet DrAlexis Shoope
05:00 - The gaps in women's care she kept seeing
11:00 - What pelvic floor PT actually is
22:00 - The diagnoses she sees most
26:00 - Root causes: tightness, stress, and under-training
32:00 - Perimenopause, joint pain, and estrogen
36:00 - Her top three at-home priorities
40:00 - Where to find her
--- -
For years, the answer was no. GLP-1 receptor agonists were considered too risky for type 1 diabetes, and the caution traced back to trials that are now nearly a decade old. In 2026, the full picture finally arrived. In this solo episode, board-certified endocrinologist Dr. Arti Thangudu
walks through what the newest evidence actually shows, who stands to benefit, who should be cautious, and exactly how to bring this conversation to your own care team.
This episode explores🧩 Why type 1 diabetes is not a childhood disease, and why the cardiovascular and kidney risks that drive mortality are largely preventable
🧩 Why the 2016 Adjunct trials raised real safety flags, and why those findings do not generalize to how we practice today
🧩 What the newer, better-designed research shows, including the Adjust-T1D trial and the latest real-world outcome data
🧩 The 2026 analyses linking GLP-1 use in type 1 to fewer cardiovascular events, less kidney disease, and lower hospitalization, without the feared spikes in DKA or low blood sugar
🧩 Who the right candidate is under the ADA 2026 Standards of Care, and who this is not appropriate for
🧩 Why this requires an endocrinologist, continuous glucose monitoring, and shared decision-making, never a five-minute prescription
This episode is for you ifYou live with type 1 diabetes, love someone who does, or care for these patients, and you want a straight, evidence-based answer about GLP-1 medications instead of either blanket fear or wellness-influencer hype.
The bottom lineThe evidence for GLP-1 receptor agonists in type 1 diabetes has crossed a meaningful threshold. These medications remain off-label in type 1 and require endocrinology expertise and close monitoring. But the blanket no is no longer supported by the data, and for the right person, the conversation is worth having now.
About the hostDr. Arti Thangudu is a board-certified endocrinologist, founder of Complete Medicine and Hey Healthy, and host of Endocrine Matters. She focuses on women's metabolic health, type 1 diabetes in midlife, thyroid disease, and evidence-based, patient-first care, with a direct-care model built around the kind of time and attention specialist care actually requires.
Adjunct 1 and Adjunct 2 trials (2016): liraglutide in type 1 diabetesAdjust-T1D trial (New England Journal of Medicine, 2025): semaglutide with automated insulin deliveryTirzepatide in adults with type 1 and BMI over 30Johns Hopkins real-world analysis (Nature Medicine, 2026): cardiovascular and kidney outcomes in type 1Cleveland Clinic propensity-matched analysis (2026): mortality and hospitalization outcomesADA 2026 Standards of Care: GLP-1 use for obesity management in adults with type 1, BMI 30+, via shared decision-making
Resources mentionedLearn more and connect
Complete Medicine (The Woodlands, TX): https://www.sacomplete.comNewsletter and blog: https://www.sacomplete.com/complete-medicine-blogInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/drartithanguduSubscribe to Endocrine Matters wherever you listen, and share this episode with someone who needs it.About Endocrine Matters
Endocrine Matters is a podcast about the science that actually matters for people living with diabetes and hormonal conditions, and the clinicians caring for them. Hosted by Dr. Arti Thangudu, it challenges conventional norms, calls out misinformation, and centers evidence-based, patient-first care. New episodes every Wednesday.
Chapters00:00 Why this conversation matters now
01:00 The questions patients and clinicians keep asking
02:00 Type 1 is not a childhood disease: the real risk picture
03:00 Off-label status and the data gap
04:00 What I see clinically when patients start a GLP-1
04:30 The evidence arc begins: the 2016 Adjunct trials
06:00 Why those early fears don't generalize to how we practice now
07:00 Adjust-T1D and the newer trials
08:00 A lack of evidence is not evidence of no benefit
09:00 The 2026 real-world data: cardiovascular and kidney outcomes
10:30 Who is the right candidate, and who is not
12:00 CGM, titration, and sick-day planning
13:00 The bottom line and how to bring it to your doctor
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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# You Can't Exercise Your Way Thin. | Endocrine Matters Ep.
2.33
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You have been told to move more and eat less for as long as you can remember.
So you did. More cardio. Smaller portions. And somewhere in your 40s, your body stopped cooperating, and started hurting. That is not a willpower problem. It is an advice problem.
In this episode, board-certified endocrinologist Dr. Arti Thangudu sits down with Shannon Ritchey, a former physical therapist and the founder of the strength training app Evlo, to break down what actually changes a woman's body in midlife. Not vague wellness talk. A clear, evidence-based look at fat loss, muscle, and how to train smarter, with a practical framework you can use this week.
---
🔍 This episode explores:
🧩 Why exercise is a surprisingly weak tool for fat loss, and what actually drives it🧩 The “toned” myth, and the 1980s marketing that created it🧩 Why there is no such thing as a “toning” muscle versus a “bulky” muscle🧩 The REPS framework for building muscle: reps, exercise selection, protein, structure🧩 What “training to failure” really means, and the five second rest test to find it🧩 Why you do not have to lift heavy in midlife to build muscle🧩 The real shift in perimenopause: recovery capacity, not rep range🧩 Whether Pilates builds muscle, and how to evaluate any fitness method🧩 Why body composition tells you more than the scale ever will👩 This episode is for you if:
You have added cardio and cut calories and your body still will not changeYour workouts leave you sore and beat up instead of strongerYou have been told midlife women “have to lift heavy” and it does not feel rightYou are in perimenopause or menopause and your old routine has stopped workingYou step on the scale every morning and let it decide how your day goesYou want evidence-based answers from a physician and an exercise scientist, not another influencer workout---⚖ The bottom line
You cannot exercise your way into a smaller body, and you were never supposed to.
Nutrition leads fat loss. Strength training builds the muscle that protects your metabolism, your bones, and how you feel for decades to come.
The goal was never to be smaller.
It is to be stronger. Your effort was never the problem. The plan you were handed simply was not built for your body.
---
🎙 About the Host
Dr. Arti Thangudu is a board-certified endocrinologist specializing in women's hormonal health, thyroid disease, metabolism, and menopause. She is the founder of Complete Medicine and the host of Endocrine Matters. She practices evidence-based medicine and sees the patients who have been told their labs are fine when they do not feel fine.
🏋 About the GuestShannon Ritchey is a former physical therapist and the founder of Evlo, a strength training app built to help women build muscle without unnecessary wear and tear on their bodies. Her work turns exercise science into simple, sustainable training. Find her at evlofitness.com and on Instagram @dr.shannon.dpt.
---
📚 Resources Mentioned
Evlo: Shannon Ritchey's strength training app, with a 14 day free trial at evlofitness.comThe REPS framework: train near failure, choose exercises that isolate one muscle group, hit your protein, and structure recoveryProtein target: roughly 0.7 to 1 gram per pound of body weight per dayCardio guideline: about 150 minutes per week for heart and metabolic healthBody composition tools: a DEXA scan or in-body scan, more useful than the scale---
🔗 Learn More / Connect🩺 Complete Medicine. sacomplete.com. Dr. Thangudu's clinical practice. Evidence-based endocrinology and women's hormonal health.
📩 Newsletter + Blog. Subscribe at sacomplete.com/complete-medicine-blog. Clinical context without the noise, straight to your inbox.
🎙 Endocrine Matters Podcast. New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss a release.
📲 Instagram. @drartithangudu. Daily clinical perspective. Real answers. No wellness-influencer energy.
▶ YouTube. Arti Thangudu MD. Deeper dives on perimenopause, thyroid health, metabolic medicine, and more.
💪 Shannon Ritchey + Evlo. evlofitness.com and @dr.shannon.dpt. Strength training built for women, designed by a physical therapist.
Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with the woman in your life who has been working her hardest and getting nowhere.
---
🎙 About Endocrine Matters
Endocrine Matters is a weekly podcast hosted by Dr. Arti Thangudu, board-certified endocrinologist. Each episode brings evidence-based medicine to the questions patients are actually asking. No hype. No misinformation. No “heal your hormones naturally” shortcuts. Just the clinical clarity you deserve.
New episodes drop every Wednesday.
---
⏱ Chapters
00:01. Introduction: meet Shannon Ritchey and the story behind Evlo
02:00. Burned out and injured at 24: how overtraining backfired
04:30. Exercise as medicine: why type, dose, and frequency matter
05:30. The big unlock: exercise is a weak tool for fat loss
08:30. What actually drives fat loss, and the role of protein
12:00. Body composition over the scale
14:30. The “toned” myth and its 1980s marketing roots
19:00. The REPS framework for building muscle
23:00. What muscular failure really means, and the five second rest test
26:30. Where to start: choosing the right weight
29:00. Perimenopause and midlife: why recovery is the real shift
33:00. Pilates: what it does and does not do39:30. Where to find Shannon and Evlo
---
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You have been doing everything right for everyone except yourself.
You are not burned out because you are weak, ungrateful, or bad at managing stress. You are depleted because your body is carrying a physiological load that no one has actually looked at closely. There is a difference. This episode names it.
Dr. Arti Thangudu, board-certified endocrinologist and mother of two school-aged kids, breaks down what is actually happening inside the bodies of high-achieving women in their late 30s and 40s when the wheels start to feel like they are coming off. Not vague "stress talk." A specific, layered, biological explanation with a real clinical checklist at the end.
---
## 🔍 This episode explores:
• 🧩 Why "it's just stress" is incomplete, not wrong
• 🧩 The perimenopause layer: why it starts earlier than most women expect, and why the timing is brutal
• 🧩 What progesterone withdrawal actually does to your sleep (and why journaling won't fix it)
• 🧩 Chronic cortisol elevation: what it measurably does to your body when stress never fully resolves
• 🧩 The thyroid layer: why hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's get missed or under-treated for years in this group
• 🧩 The iron layer: why a normal CBC is not the same as a normal ferritin, and why this matters
• 🧩 Sleep as a clinical priority, not a lifestyle aspiration
• 🧩 Why the most competent women are often the last to seek care for themselves
• 🧩 A concrete clinical checklist: what Dr. Thangudu looks for when a patient like this walks into her office
---
## 👩 This episode is for you if:
• You are a woman in your late 30s or 40s and you cannot remember the last time you felt genuinely rested
• Your labs keep coming back "normal" but you do not feel normal• You have been told it's stress, it's the season of life, come back if it gets worse
• Your sleep has changed, your mood has changed, your brain feels slower, and no one has used the word perimenopause with you yet
• You have been triaging your own health to next month for longer than you can account for
• You are the person everyone else brings their problems to, and you are quietly running on empty
• You want evidence-based answers, not wellness platitudes
---
## ⚖ The bottom line
What you are experiencing is not a failure of resilience or gratitude.
It is a physiological response to extraordinary demand occurring at a biologically vulnerable window.
Perimenopause, cortisol dysregulation, thyroid disease, iron deficiency, and chronic sleep deprivation do not announce themselves separately. They arrive together, in the same body, in the same decade of life. The sum looks like burnout. But it is not only that.
The question is not why you cannot handle this better.
The question is whether anyone has actually looked.
---
## 🎙 About the Host
**Dr. Arti Thangudu** is a board-certified endocrinologist specializing in women's hormonal health, thyroid disease, metabolism, and menopause. She is the founder of Complete Medicine and the host of Endocrine Matters
She practices evidence-based medicine and sees the patients who have been told their labs are fine when they do not feel fine.
---
## 📚 Resources Mentioned
• CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia): first-line, evidence-based treatment for insomnia with no side effects
• Ferritin: the iron storage marker to ask for specifically, separate from a standard CBC• Thyroid workup: TSH, free T4, free T3, thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO), thyroglobulin antibodies
• Protein target: at least 0.7 grams per pound of body weight daily, more if strength training
• Resistance training: 2 to 3 times per week, progressive, does not require a gym or an hour
---
## 🔗 Learn More / Connect
🩺 **Complete Medicine**
completemedicine.com
Dr. Thangudu's clinical practice. Evidence-based endocrinology and women's hormonal health.
📩 **Newsletter + Blog**subscribe at completemedicine.com
Clinical context without the noise. Straight to your inbox.
🎙 **Endocrine Matters Podcast**
New episodes every Wednesday
Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss a release.
📲 **Instagram**@drartithangudu
Daily clinical perspective. Real answers. No wellness-influencer energy.
▶ **YouTube**Arti Thangudu MD
Deeper dives on perimenopause, thyroid health, metabolic medicine, and more.
Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with the woman in your life who is holding
the most and saying the least about how she feels.
---
## 🎙 About Endocrine Matters
*Endocrine Matters* is a weekly podcast hosted by Dr. Arti Thangudu, board-certified endocrinologist. Each episode brings evidence-based medicine to the questions patients are actually asking. No hype. No misinformation. No "heal your hormones naturally" shortcuts. Just the clinical clarity you deserve.
New episodes drop every Wednesday.
---
## ⏱ Chapters**00:01**
Introduction: This Isn't Burnout, It's Biology
**01:00**
The question nobody is asking: when did you last feel genuinely rested?
**01:17**
What burnout has been standing in for, and what it may actually be
**02:03**
The specific population: professional women in their late 30s and 40s at peak career and peak parenting
**03:11**
Why the most competent women are the least likely to seek care
**03:58**
The perimenopause layer: why timing is the problem
**05:21**
Progesterone, sleep architecture, and why 3 a.m. wakefulness may not be anxiety
**05:21**
The cortisol layer: chronic stress versus acute stress, and what it does to the body
**06:47**
The thyroid layer: why hypothyroid symptoms get attributed to stress and missed for years
**07:46**
The iron layer: ferritin versus hemoglobin, and why this single test matters
**09:12**
The sleep layer: why sleep runs through every other variable on this list
**09:54**
The paradox of high-achieving women and the triage trap
**10:56**
The identity piece: why admitting depletion feels threatening
**11:55**
Something personal from Dr. Thangudu: the knowing does not automatically protect you
**13:19**
The clinical checklist: thyroid workup, ferritin, perimenopause conversation, sleep, resistance training, protein
**17:13**
Closing: your symptoms are a signal. Signals are meant to be read.
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The most dangerous thyroid advice online doesn't sound dangerous. It sounds confident, validating, and like someone finally gets it. That's exactly what makes it so easy to follow. But what sounds right and what keeps you safe are not always the same thing.
In this episode of Endocrine Matters, board-certified endocrinologist Dr. Arti Thangudu breaks down why the most dangerous thyroid misinformation isn't a lie. It's a partial truth, stretched out of context and applied to everyone.
She opens with a patient she calls Sarah, who was told her suppressed TSH was "just a lab value" and ended up having a stroke at 51. Because a suppressed TSH is not just a number, and knowing the difference can protect your heart, your bones, and your life.🔍 This episode explores:
🧠 What the most dangerous health misinformation really is (a partial truth, not a lie)
💊 The real evidence on T3 and desiccated thyroid, and who they may and may not be right for
🧪 Why routine "full panels, " reverse T3, and the free T3 obsession often lead to overtreatment
⚠ What "thyroid support" supplements actually contain, and the accountability gap behind them
🫀 What happens when thyroid disease goes really wrong: myxedema coma, thyroid storm, atrial fibrillation, bone loss
🔎 A 5-question framework for vetting anyone giving you thyroid advice online
🩺 What a thorough, evidence-based thyroid workup should actually include
👩 This episode is for you if:You've been told your TSH is "normal" but you still feel exhausted or foggy You've seen desiccated thyroid, T3 protocols, reverse T3, or "thyroid support" promoted online You have Hashimoto's or hypothyroidism and wonder if you're being treated right You've felt dismissed by
a doctor and aren't sure who to trust You want a straight, evidence-based answer from a board-certified endocrinologist
⚖ The bottom line
Being dismissed by one inadequate system does not make a charismatic alternative the right answer. You deserve care that is both compassionate and competent. Those are the same value, not opposing ones. A suppressed TSH is not a win, and "natural" does not mean safer.
About the Host
Dr. Arti Thangudu is a board-certified endocrinologist specializing in hormone health, metabolism, thyroid disease, and menopause care. She focuses on evidence-based medicine and helping women understand what's actually happening in their bodies.
📚 Resources Mentioned
Related Endocrine Matters episodes:
Compassionate Thyroid Care
Thyroid with Dr. Ruchi Gaba at Baylor College of Medicine
Iodine episode
American Thyroid Association (ATA) and American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE) guidance on treating hypothyroidism
American Geriatrics Society guidance on desiccated thyroid in adults 65 and older
A simple way to vet a provider: board certification, completed residency and fellowship, financial conflicts, and evidence vs. anecdote
🔗 Learn More / Connect ✨Clinic: Complete Medicine | https://www.sacomplete.com/ 💌 Newsletter: Blog |
https://www.sacomplete.com/complete-medicine-blog 📲 Instagram:
instagram.com/drartithangudu 👉 Subscribe for evidence-based conversations on women's health, hormones, and thyroid care.
🎙 About Endocrine MattersEndocrine Matters is a podcast dedicated to women's hormone health, metabolism, thyroid disease, menopause, and evidence-based care. Each episode breaks down complex medical topics so you can make informed decisions about your health.
⏱ Chapters0:00 Sarah's story: a suppressed TSH and a stroke at 51
2:02 Why this keeps happening: misinformation as a partial truth
3:27 T3 and desiccated thyroid: kernel of truth vs. overgeneralization
5:45 The free T3 and reverse T3 obsession
7:10 "Thyroid support" supplements and the accountability gap
8:00 What happens when thyroid disease goes really wrong
11:00 How to vet thyroid advice online: the 5 questions
14:50 Women have been dismissed, and both things can be true
16:00 What good thyroid care actually looks like
18:30 The takeaway and where to go next
#ThyroidHealth #WomensHealth #Hashimotos #HealthMisinformation #EndocrineMatters
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We were told ambition looks like one thing: a ladder, climbed in one direction, without stopping. So what happens when you step off it?
For a lot of women — especially mothers — stepping back from a career feels like stepping down. The guilt is loud. The "are you giving up?" questions start fast. And "stay-at-home mom" still carries baggage it never earned.
In this episode of Endocrine Matters, Dr. Arti Thangudu sits down with Neha Ruch, founder of The Power Pause, to challenge all of it — and to share her own story of pausing a 35-patient-a-day practice when her newborn needed her. Because the decision to pause, pivot, or recalibrate isn't a failure. It's one of the most intentional things a woman can do.🔍 This episode explores:
🧭 What ambition actually means — and why it was never just a ladder ⏸ Why a career pause is not a career ender
💬 How to answer "what do you do?" without shrinking
💰 The financial conversation every couple should have before a pause
😞 Why guilt is a signal to examine your values — not a verdict on them
👶 How the skills of motherhood translate directly into leadership
🤝 Why the "working mom vs. stay-at-home mom" divide hurts everyone
🩺 Arti's own story — leaving the hamster wheel when her newborn needed her
You've ever felt behind for choosing a different pathYou're considering stepping back from work for familyYou've tied your identity tightly to your job titleYou're a mother navigating guilt around work decisionsYou want to rethink what ambition means in midlife
👩 This episode is for you if:
⚖ The bottom lineA career pause is not a career ender. Ambition was never one ladder pointed in one direction. It's the determination to do what you actually care about — and that can be recalibrated again and again across a lifetime of work and family.
If you've ever felt behind for choosing differently, you're not behind. You're choosing. And you're allowed to.
About the HostDr. Arti Thangudu is a board-certified endocrinologist specializing in hormone health, metabolism, and menopause care. She focuses on evidence-based medicine and helping women understand what's actually happening in their bodies.
🎤 About the GuestNeha Ruch is the founder of The Power Pause, a platform reframing the narrative around career pauses and modern motherhood. She helps women approach stepping back from work as an intentional, empowered choice rather than a step down.
The Power Pause by Neha RuchReal Self-Care by Pooja Lakshmin — mentioned in the episode as a recommended readMapping your household budget together before a pauseKeeping professional bridges and relationships warmSetting personal, professional, and family goals during the pauseThe Power Pause membership and free resources at thepowerpause.com
📚 Resources Mentioned If you're navigating a career pause or pivot, consider:🔗 Learn More / Connect ✨ Clinic: Complete Medicine | Endocrinology Care and Education
💌 Newsletter: Blog | Complete Medicine 📲 Instagram: instagram.com/drartithangudu
🎙 About Endocrine Matters
Endocrine Matters is a podcast dedicated to women's hormone health, metabolism, thyroiddisease, menopause, and evidence-based care. Each episode breaks down complex medical
topics so you can make informed decisions about your health.
⏱ Chapters0:00 Introducing Neha Ruch and The Power Pause
2:02 The career escalator — and missing the forest for the trees
3:08 "What do you do?" — why the question feels so loaded
6:04 Language that helps: "right now, I get to…"
7:30 Arti's story — leaving a 35-patient-a-day practice
9:05 Redefining ambition — it was never just a ladder
12:22 Setting yourself up: the financial conversation
18:00 Don't abandon professional goals during a pause
20:27 Financial dignity and having a voice in your marriage
24:53 Handling overwhelm and the myth of the "super mom"
30:13 Rethinking guilt and the gift of childcare
33:39 Your network doesn't dry up — it expands
34:38 Letting yourself be seen as "messy"
37:33 Running on empty — the hormonal shift in your 30s and 40s
44:13 Real self-care and making time that's actually on the calendar
46:05 Re-entry — confidence, resume gaps, and "serious self-study"54:50 The takeaway: working moms and stay-at-home moms aren't so different
57:10 Where to find Neha
#WomensHealth #CareerPause #WorkingMotherhood #Ambition #EndocrineMatters
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You’re working out more.
Eating better.
Doing everything “right.”
And yet — the weight is going up, your sleep is off, your mood feels different, and no one has an explanation.
You’re told it’s stress. Aging. Life.
But for many women, this is actually perimenopause — and no one has connected the dots.
In this episode of Endocrine Matters, Dr. Arti Thangudu explains what perimenopause actually is, why it affects your metabolism, and why so many women are dismissed during this transition.
What perimenopause actually is (and when it starts) Why hormone levels fluctuate — not just decline The real reason weight gain happens in your 40s How estrogen affects insulin resistance and metabolism Changes in cholesterol and cardiovascular risk Why bone loss starts earlier than you think Sleep disruption and its metabolic impact The truth about hormone therapy (MHT) The most effective lifestyle changes for this phase
This episode explores:
This episode is for you if:• You’re in your late 30s or 40s and feel “off”
• You’re gaining weight despite doing everything right
• Your sleep, mood, or cycles have changed
• You’ve been told your labs are “normal” but you don’t feel normal
• You want real answers — not vague reassurance
The bottom linePerimenopause is not just a hormone story.
It’s a metabolic transition — one that affects how your body stores fat, uses insulin, and regulates energy.
And most women are never told what’s happening until they’re already in the middle of it.
This isn’t about willpower.
It’s physiology.
And when you understand it, you can actually do something about it.
About the HostDr. Arti Thangudu is a board-certified endocrinologist specializing in hormone health, metabolism, and menopause care. She focuses on evidence-based medicine and helping women understand what’s actually happening in their bodies.
Resources MentionedIf you think you may be in perimenopause, consider discussing:
• Lipid panel (cholesterol testing)
• Blood sugar and insulin resistance
• Bone health and DEXA screening
• Thyroid function (especially if on medication)
• Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT)
Learn More / ConnectClinic: SacompleteComplete Medicine | Endocrinology Care and Education
Newsletter: SacompleteBlog | Complete Medicine
Instagram: Instagraminstagram.com/drartithangudu
About Endocrine MattersEndocrine Matters is a podcast dedicated to women’s hormone health, metabolism, thyroid disease, menopause, and evidence-based care.
Each episode breaks down complex medical topics so you can make informed decisions about your health.
Chapters0:00 The patient story every woman relates to
2:00 What perimenopause actually is
4:00 Why hormones fluctuate (not just decline)
6:00 Weight gain and insulin resistance explained
9:00 Cholesterol and cardiovascular changes
11:00 Bone density and long-term risk
13:00 Thyroid changes during perimenopause
15:00 Why sleep disruption matters
17:00 What actually helps (lifestyle)
20:00 Hormone therapy explained
24:00 What to ask your doctor
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If you’re taking Armour Thyroid, NP Thyroid, or any compounded thyroid medication — this episode is for you.
Because over the past year, something major has happened:
→ The FDA changed how these medications are regulated.
→ Insurance companies are changing what they cover.
→ And patients are being left confused, frustrated, and in some cases — forced to switch medications.
In this episode of Endocrine Matters, Dr. Arti Thangudu breaks down what’s actually happening, what it means for your care, and what your real options are if you’re still symptomatic on levothyroxine.🔍 This episode explores:
⚖️ What the FDA actually did to desiccated thyroid medications
💊 Why NP Thyroid is being removed from some insurance formularies
📊 The difference between NDT (Armour/NP) and levothyroxine
🧠 Why some patients still feel unwell on standard thyroid treatment
🔬 The truth about T3 therapy and who it may help
⚠️ Risks of excess thyroid hormone (heart, bone, and metabolic health)
🚫 Misinformation around reverse T3, TSH, and “thyroid optimization”
💡 What a real, evidence-based approach to persistent symptoms looks like👩 This episode is for you if:
• You take Armour Thyroid, NP Thyroid, or compounded thyroid meds
• Your medication coverage recently changed
• You still feel tired, foggy, or “off” despite normal labs
• You’ve been told “your labs are fine” but don’t feel fine
• You’re considering T3 therapy or online thyroid programs⚖️ The bottom line
There is no one-size-fits-all thyroid treatment.
Levothyroxine works for many patients — but not all.
Desiccated thyroid isn’t inherently “better” — and comes with real limitations.
And high-dose T3 protocols being sold online are not the same as evidence-based care.
There is a middle ground.
One that’s personalized, monitored, and grounded in real physiology — not extremes.
You deserve that level of care.👩⚕️ About the Host
Dr. Arti Thangudu is a board-certified endocrinologist specializing in thyroid disease, hormone health, and metabolic health. She focuses on evidence-based, patient-centered care and helping women navigate complex health decisions with clarity.📚 Resources Mentioned
If you’re navigating thyroid treatment, consider discussing with your physician:
• Thyroid panel (TSH, Free T4, Free T3 when appropriate)
• Iron studies (ferritin)
• Vitamin D levels
• Insulin resistance and metabolic health
• Whether combination T4/T3 therapy is appropriate🔗 Learn More / Connect
✨ Clinic: SacompleteComplete Medicine | Endocrinology Care and Education
💌 Newsletter: SacompleteBlog | Complete Medicine
📲 Instagram: Instagraminstagram.com/drartithangudu🎙️ About Endocrine Matters
Endocrine Matters is a podcast focused on women’s hormone health, thyroid disease, metabolism, menopause, and evidence-based medicine.
Each episode breaks down complex topics so you can make informed decisions about your health — without misinformation.⏱️ Chapters
0:00 Why this matters right now
1:30 FDA changes explained
4:00 What this means for your medication
6:00 Insurance and formulary changes
8:00 NDT vs levothyroxine
11:00 Why symptoms persist
14:00 T3 therapy explained
18:00 What wellness clinics get wrong
21:00 Risks of overtreatment
24:00 What you should actually do#ThyroidHealth #WomensHealth #HormoneHealth #EndocrineMatters #Hypothyroidism
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One in two women over the age of 50 will have a fracture related to osteoporosis in their lifetime.
Not a rare disease. Not a niche issue. A near certainty for half of women.
And the decisions that determine whether that fracture happens are being made decades earlier — in your 30s and 40s.
In this episode of Endocrine Matters, Dr. Arti Thangudu breaks down what osteoporosis actually is, why it’s called a silent disease, and what women should be doing now to prevent it.
Because by the time a fracture happens, the window for prevention has already narrowed.
🔍 This episode explores:
🦴 What osteoporosis actually is and how it’s diagnosed
📉 Why bone loss accelerates during menopause
⏳ Why your 30s and 40s are critical for prevention
⚠️ Risk factors most women don’t realize they have
🏋️ The most effective way to protect your bones (and it’s not cardio)
🥛 The truth about calcium and vitamin D
💉 GLP-1 medications and their impact on bone health
📊 When you should ask for a DEXA scan
💊 What osteoporosis treatment actually looks like
👩 This episode is for you if:
• You’re in your 30s or 40s and thinking about long-term health
• You’ve never had a conversation about bone health
• You’ve been told to focus on weight, but not strength
• You’re approaching or going through menopause
• You want to prevent disease — not react to it later
⚖️ The bottom lineOsteoporosis doesn’t start when you’re older.
It becomes visible then — but the groundwork is laid decades earlier.
Bone health is not just about aging.
It’s about what you do before the problem shows up.
And for most women, that conversation is happening far too late.
👩⚕️ About the HostDr. Arti Thangudu is a board-certified endocrinologist specializing in hormone health, metabolism, and menopause care. She focuses on evidence-based medicine and helping women understand what’s actually happening in their bodies.
📚 Resources MentionedIf you’re concerned about bone health, consider discussing:
• Bone density testing (DEXA scan)
• Calcium intake (preferably from diet)
• Vitamin D levels
• Strength training and resistance exercise
• Risk factors like early menopause or steroid use
🔗 Learn More / Connect✨ Clinic:
SacompleteComplete Medicine | Endocrinology Care and Education💌 Newsletter: SacompleteBlog | Complete Medicine
📲 Instagram: Instagraminstagram.com/drartithangudu
🎙 About Endocrine Matters
Endocrine Matters is a podcast dedicated to women’s hormone health, metabolism, thyroid disease, menopause, and evidence-based care.
Each episode breaks down complex medical topics so you can make informed decisions about your health.
⏱ Chapters0:00 Why 1 in 2 women will fracture a bone
2:00 What osteoporosis actually is
5:00 Peak bone mass explained
8:30 Why menopause accelerates bone loss
12:00 Hidden risk factors
16:00 Exercise for bone health (most important section)
20:00 Calcium and vitamin D
24:00 GLP-1 medications and bone health
29:00 When to get a DEXA scan
34:00 Treatment options explained
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Hair thinning. Acne in your 30s or 40s. Skin that suddenly feels dry, sensitive, or completely different.
These changes can feel random — but they’re not.
For many women, these are some of the earliest visible signs of hormonal shifts, especially during perimenopause and menopause. And yet, most women are told it’s just “aging” — or handed skincare products without any real explanation.
In this episode of Endocrine Matters, board-certified endocrinologist Dr. Arti Thangudu is joined by dermatologist Dr. Anita Gill to break down what’s actually happening beneath the surface — and why your skin and hair deserve a real medical conversation.
Because these aren’t just cosmetic concerns. They’re signals.
🔍 *What You’ll Learn*
🧠 Why hair thinning increases in women during perimenopause and menopause
📉 How estrogen decline impacts collagen, elasticity, and skin health
⚠️ Why acne can show up in your 30s and 40s (even if you never had it before)
🩺 How thyroid disease, PCOS, and hormonal shifts show up in your skin and hair
💊 The truth about supplements like biotin, collagen, and “hair growth” products
🧴 What dermatologists actually recommend (and what’s just marketing)
🚫 Why using too many skincare “actives” can make your skin worse
💉 What to know about trending treatments like peptides, exosomes, and red light therapy
📊 When hormone therapy can actually improve skin and hair changes*This Episode Is For You If:*
• You’ve noticed hair thinning and don’t know why
• Your skin changed suddenly in your 30s or 40s
• You’re dealing with adult acne, dryness, or sensitivity
• You’ve been told it’s “just aging” but that doesn’t feel like the full answer
• You want real, evidence-based guidance instead of trial-and-error products⚖️ *The Bottom Line*
Your skin and hair are not separate from your health.
They’re often the first place your hormones show up.
And while the skincare and wellness industries offer endless products and promises, the real answer is understanding what’s happening inside your body — and treating that first.👩⚕️ *About the Guest*
Dr. Anita Gill is a board-certified dermatologist with nearly 20 years of experience in medical and cosmetic dermatology. She specializes in treating women through hormonal transitions, focusing on evidence-based care that connects internal health with external changes.*Learn More & Follow Dr. Anita Gill:*
On her website - https://www.thegillcenter.com/about/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thegillcenter/
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/pgill2001👩⚕️ *About the Host:*
Dr. Arti Thangudu is a board-certified endocrinologist specializing in hormone health, metabolism, and menopause care. She focuses on evidence-based medicine and helping women understand what’s actually happening in their bodies.📚 *Resources & Recommendations Mentioned:*
If you’re experiencing hair or skin changes, consider discussing:
• Thyroid function testing
• Iron deficiency and ferritin levels
• Vitamin D levels
• PCOS evaluation
• Perimenopause and menopause assessment🔗 *Connect & Learn More:*
✨ Clinic: https://www.sacomplete.com/
💌 Newsletter: https://www.sacomplete.com/complete-medicine-blog
📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drartithangudu🎙 *About Endocrine Matters:*
Endocrine Matters is a podcast focused on women’s hormone health, metabolism, thyroid disease, and evidence-based care.Each episode helps you understand your body clearly — without misinformation, fear, or oversimplification.
⏱ *Chapters*
00:00 Meet Dr Anita Gill
01:35 Midlife Skin Concerns
02:49 Why Hair Thins
04:33 Hormones and Skin Issues
05:48 Collagen Loss Explained
08:06 HRT and Topical Estrogen
11:30 Supplements Hype vs Evidence
14:58 Biotin Lab Interference
17:05 Derm and Endo Overlap
19:12 Hair Loss Treatments
21:14 LED Masks and Red Light
21:29 Red Light Results
22:17 How Red Light Works
23:21 Too Many Actives
25:02 Skin Barrier Basics
25:44 Simple Routine Essentials
26:50 Exosomes Explained
28:23 Choosing Safe Providers
30:54 Peptides Hype Check
33:47 Evidence Over Trends
39:15 Start Skin Care Early
41:46 Where To Find Them#WomensHealth #HormoneHealth #Perimenopause #HairLossInWomen #EndocrineMatters
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We are living in a time where “adrenal fatigue” is one of the most common explanations given for fatigue, stress, and burnout — and one of the most misleading.
It sounds medical. It sounds validating. But it’s not a real diagnosis.
In this episode of Endocrine Matters, Dr. Arti Thangudu is joined by two fellow endocrinologists to break down what adrenal fatigue actually is (and isn’t), what real cortisol disorders look like, and how patients are being misled by unvalidated testing and supplements.
What We Cover:🔬 How the adrenal glands and cortisol actually work — and why "fatigue" of the glands is physiologically implausible
❌ Why adrenal fatigue is not recognized by endocrinology — and who benefits from the label
⚠ Adrenal insufficiency vs. adrenal fatigue — a critical distinction that affects your safety
💊 Why adrenal supplements can suppress your natural cortisol production (and cause real harm)
🧪 What valid cortisol testing looks like — and why online salivary tests don't qualify
🩺 Real patient cases: money spent, symptoms worsened, and what proper care looked like instead
Dr. Thangudu and her colleagues also walk through real patient scenarios — including patients who spent significant money on testing and supplements, only to feel worse or develop actual medical conditions as a result.This episode is about clarity in a very noisy space.
Because your symptoms are real — but the explanation you’re given needs to be real too.
About the HostDr. Arti Thangudu is a board-certified endocrinologist specializing in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism, with additional certification in Lifestyle Medicine and menopause care. She focuses on evidence-based care, metabolic health, hormone health, and improving transparency in healthcare.
In This Episode You’ll Learn
• Why adrenal fatigue is not a real medical diagnosis
• How cortisol actually works in the body
• The difference between adrenal fatigue and adrenal insufficiency
• The risks of adrenal supplements (including steroid exposure)
• What proper cortisol testing looks like
• How to find credible, evidence-based care
Resources MentionedIf you’ve been told you have adrenal fatigue, consider discussing proper evaluation with a qualified physician, including:
• 8am cortisol testing
• ACTH stimulation testing
• 24-hour urine cortisol (if indicated)
• Thyroid function testing
• Evaluation for anemia, sleep disorders, or hormonal changes
Learn More / Connect✨ See Dr. Thangudu in clinic:
Complete Medicine → https://www.sacomplete.com/
💌 Stay connected:
Newsletter → https://www.sacomplete.com/complete-medicine-blog
📲 Follow Dr. Arti Thangudu
Instagram →
🎧 Listen to the podcast:
Endocrine Matters →
About Endocrine MattersEndocrine Matters is a podcast dedicated to hormone health, metabolic health, thyroid disease, menopause, obesity medicine, and evidence-based healthcare education.
Each episode breaks down complex medical topics so patients can make informed, empowered decisions about their health.
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We are living in a time where supplements are often marketed as essential for “optimal health” especially when it comes to thyroid function.
And iodine is one of the most commonly recommended. It sounds simple. It sounds preventative. But for most women in the U.S., it’s unnecessary — and in some cases, harmful.
In this episode of Endocrine Matters, Dr. Arti Thangudu breaks down what iodine actually does, why most women don’t need supplementation, and how taking too much can lead to real thyroid disease.This episode explores:
🧠 What iodine actually does in the body and thyroid function
📊 Why the United States is considered iodine sufficient
⚠ How iodine supplementation can cause both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism
🔍 Why iodine testing is often misleading and not clinically useful
💊 The risks of high-dose iodine and kelp-based supplements
📈 How excess iodine can trigger or worsen autoimmune thyroid disease
🩺 What to look for on supplement labels and when to avoid them
Dr. Thangudu also shares real patient cases where unnecessary iodine supplementation led to serious thyroid dysfunction — including situations where patients were told they needed surgery for a problem caused entirely by a supplement.
This episode is about understanding risk in a space that is often oversimplified. Because more is not always better — and when it comes to your thyroid, too much iodine can be just as harmful as too little.
About the HostDr. Arti Thangudu is a board-certified endocrinologist specializing in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism, with additional certification in Lifestyle Medicine and menopause care. She focuses on evidence-based care, metabolic health, hormone health, and improving transparency in healthcare.
In This Episode You’ll Learn
• Why most women in the U.S. do not need iodine supplements
• The difference between iodine deficiency and iodine excess
• How excess iodine can cause thyroid dysfunction
• Why iodine testing is not reliable for individuals
• What to look for in thyroid and supplement labels
• When iodine supplementation is actually appropriate (pregnancy)
Resources MentionedIf you’re concerned about your thyroid or iodine intake, consider discussing:
• Thyroid function testing (TSH, Free T4, etc.)
• Evaluation for autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s, Graves’)
• Review of supplement use and ingredient labels
• Prenatal vitamins with iodine if pregnant or breastfeeding
Learn More / Connect✨ See Dr. Thangudu in clinic:
Complete Medicine → https://www.sacomplete.com/💌 Stay connected:
Sign up for the newsletter → https://www.sacomplete.com/complete-medicine-blog
📲 Follow Dr. Arti Thangudu
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/drartithangudu
About Endocrine MattersEndocrine Matters is a podcast dedicated to hormone health, metabolic health, thyroid disease,
menopause, obesity medicine, and evidence-based healthcare education.
Each episode breaks down complex medical topics so patients can make informed, empowered
decisions about their health.
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We are living in a time where “hormone imbalance” is one of the most common diagnoses given
to women —
and one of the least helpful.
It sounds medical. It sounds validating.But it tells you absolutely nothing about what is actually wrong.
In this episode of Endocrine Matters, Dr. Arti Thangudu breaks down why the term “hormoneimbalance” is not a real medical diagnosis — and what it’s often being used to cover up.
This episode explores:🧠 Why “hormone imbalance” is not a recognized diagnosis in medicine
📊 The difference between real endocrine conditions and vague symptom labels
⚠ How this term is used to oversimplify complex medical issues
🔍 The truth about adrenal fatigue and why it’s not a real diagnosis
💊 The risks behind unregulated hormone and adrenal support supplements
📈 Why hormone testing like the DUTCH test is often misunderstood or misused
🩺 What a proper hormonal evaluation should actually look like
Dr. Thangudu also explains how women often end up with this label — not because theirsymptoms aren’t real, but because the healthcare system frequently fails to provide thorough,
individualized evaluation.
And when that happens, it creates space for vague diagnoses, unnecessary supplements, andmissed conditions that deserve real treatment.
This episode is about reclaiming clarity in your health.
Because your symptoms are real —but the explanation you’re given needs to be real too.
About the HostDr. Arti Thangudu is a board-certified endocrinologist specializing in endocrinology, diabetes,
and metabolism, with additional certification in Lifestyle Medicine and menopause care. She
focuses on evidence-based care, metabolic health, hormone health, and improving
transparency in healthcare.
In This Episode You’ll Learn
• Why “hormone imbalance” is not a real medical diagnosis
• The difference between vague symptom labels and true endocrine disorders
• What adrenal fatigue actually is (and isn’t)
• The risks of hormone and adrenal supplements
• How proper hormone testing and diagnosis should be done
Resources MentionedIf you’ve been told you have “hormone imbalance,
” consider discussing proper evaluation with a
qualified physician, including:
• Thyroid function testing
• PCOS evaluation
• Menopause and perimenopause assessment
• Adrenal function testing when appropriate
Learn More / Connect✨ See Dr. Thangudu in clinic:
Complete Medicine → https://www.sacomplete.com/💌 Stay connected:
Sign up for the newsletter → https://www.sacomplete.com/complete-medicine-blog
📲 Follow Dr. Arti Thangudu
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/drartithangudu
About Endocrine MattersEndocrine Matters is a podcast dedicated to hormone health, metabolic health, thyroid disease,
menopause, obesity medicine, and evidence-based healthcare education.
Each episode breaks down complex medical topics so patients can make informed, empowered
decisions about their health.
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We are living in a time where thyroid advice is everywhere — and much of it is oversimplified, misleading, or just plain wrong.
If you have Hashimoto’s or hypothyroidism, you’ve probably been told to go gluten-free.
But is that actually necessary?In this episode of Endocrine Matters, Dr. Arti Thangudu breaks down the science behind one of the most common recommendations in the thyroid world — and explains why the truth is far more nuanced than what you see online.
This episode explores:
🧠 What Hashimoto’s thyroiditis actually is and how autoimmune disease works
📊 The real relationship between gluten, celiac disease, and thyroid disorders
⚠️ Why “go gluten-free” became such common advice — and where it falls short
🔍 What the latest research actually shows about gluten and thyroid health
🩺 When a gluten-free diet is necessary — and when it’s not
💡 Why proper diagnosis and treatment matter more than restrictive dietsDr. Thangudu also addresses the growing problem of misinformation in thyroid care — and how to identify whether someone is giving you evidence-based medical guidance or simply repeating popular wellness narratives.
The goal of this episode is not to dismiss patient experiences, but to bring clarity, context, and science back into the conversation.
Because your thyroid care should be based on your diagnosis — not internet trends.
About the Host
Dr. Arti Thangudu is a board-certified endocrinologist specializing in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism, with additional certification in Lifestyle Medicine and menopause care. She focuses on evidence-based care, metabolic health, hormone health, and improving transparency in healthcare.In This Episode You’ll Learn
• Whether gluten causes Hashimoto’s or hypothyroidism
• The difference between celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity
• Why thyroid patients are often told to go gluten-free
• What the evidence actually says about diet and thyroid disease
• How to approach thyroid treatment in a personalized, evidence-based wayResources Mentioned
Episodes referenced:
• Compassionate Thyroid Care
• Thyroid Treatment & T3 Therapy with Dr. Ruchi GabaLearn More / Connect
✨ See Dr. Thangudu in clinic:
Complete Medicine →https://www.sacomplete.com/💌 Stay connected:
Sign up for the newsletter → https://www.sacomplete.com/complete-medicine-blog📲 Follow Dr. Arti Thangudu
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/drartithanguduAbout Endocrine Matters
Endocrine Matters is a podcast dedicated to hormone health, metabolic health, thyroid disease, menopause, obesity medicine, and evidence-based healthcare education.Each episode breaks down complex medical topics so patients can make informed, empowered decisions about their health.
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Women’s libido is one of the most misunderstood topics in medicine.
For decades, low libido in women has been oversimplified into a hormone problem, a menopause problem, or something women are just expected to tolerate in silence.
But women’s sexual desire is far more complex than that.
In this episode of Endocrine Matters, Dr. Arti Thangudu sits down with Dr. Anu Sidhu, a family medicine and Lifestyle Medicine physician, to talk about the real causes of low libido in women, what actually affects female sexual desire across the lifespan, and why a woman’s libido should never be reduced to a single hormone level or a one-size-fits-all prescription.
This episode explores:
🧠 Why women’s libido is different from men’s libido
💊 How hormones, stress, sleep, medications, relationships, and mental health all affect sexual desire
⚠️ Why low libido is often misunderstood in medical care
📚 The role of Bibliotherapy and erotic reading as an evidence-based treatment option
💉 When Testosterone may help — and when it may not
🩺 Which medications commonly lower libido, including antidepressants, blood pressure medications, and oral contraceptives
🤝 Why women deserve whole-person, nuanced care for sexual healthDr. Thangudu and Dr. Sidhu also discuss how shame, embarrassment, and lack of education keep women from talking about libido concerns — even though millions of women experience low sexual desire at different stages of life.
This is a conversation about women’s sexual health, women’s libido, low libido treatment, hormones, relationships, body image, medication side effects, and why libido should be approached as a whole-body, whole-life issue.
If you’ve ever wondered:
Why is my libido low?
Can stress cause low libido?
Does Testosterone help women’s libido?
Do antidepressants affect libido?
What causes low libido in perimenopause or menopause?
Can low libido be treated without medication?This episode is for you.
Women deserve better conversations about sexual health.
And they deserve clinicians who understand that libido is not just about hormones — it is about biology, psychology, relationships, safety, stress, and context.
About The Host
Dr. Arti Thangudu is a board-certified Endocrinologist specializing in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, with additional certification in Lifestyle Medicine and menopause care. She focuses on evidence-based care, metabolic health, hormone health, and improving transparency in healthcare.
About The Guest
Dr. Anu Sidhu is a Family Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine physician with nearly 20 years of clinical experience. She is the founder of Spring Monarch Primary Care, a direct primary care practice in Houston, Texas, and she is passionate about helping women become agents of their own health.
Learn more about Dr. Sidhu here:
Spring Monarch Primary Care →https://www.springmonarchmd.com/Follow Dr. Sidhu:
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/anu.sidhu.md
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@anu.sidhu.mdIn This Episode You’ll Learn
• What really causes low libido in women
• Why women’s libido is highly responsive and multifactorial
• How stress, sleep, body image, and relationships shape desire
• Which medications commonly lower libido
• The role of Testosterone in women’s sexual health
• Why Bibliotherapy may help improve libido
• How physicians can approach women’s sexual health more effectivelyLearn More / Connect
✨ See Dr. Thangudu in clinic:
Complete Medicine →https://www.sacomplete.com/💌 Stay connected:
Sign up for the newsletter → https://www.sacomplete.com/complete-medicine-blog📲 Follow Dr. Arti Thangudu
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/drartithanguduAbout Endocrine Matters
Endocrine Matters is a podcast dedicated to hormone health, metabolic health, thyroid disease, menopause, obesity medicine, and evidence-based healthcare education.
Each episode breaks down complex medical topics so patients can make informed, empowered decisions about their health.
-
Women are not being dismissed in healthcare by accident — it is structural.
One of the most universal transitions in a woman’s life, menopause, remains one of the most under-taught topics in medical training.
And the consequences are showing up in exam rooms every single day.
In this episode of Endocrine Matters, Dr. Arti Thangudu breaks down a critical and often unspoken gap in medicine: the lack of menopause education, the legacy of outdated research, and how medical training environments shape the way physicians care for women.
This episode explores:
🧠 Why only a small percentage of physicians feel prepared to manage menopause
📉 The long-term impact of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) on hormone therapy and medical education
⚠️ How gaps in training contribute to dismissed symptoms and misdiagnoses in women
📚 Why women’s health is still underrepresented in medical curricula
🤝 The shift from paternalistic medicine to collaborative, patient-centered care
🌐 How social media and online health information are reshaping the doctor-patient relationship
🤖 The role of AI in medicine — and what it still cannot replaceDr. Thangudu also discusses how medical culture, training environments, and systemic healthcare structures contribute to the experience many women have of not being heard.
This is not about blaming individual physicians.
It is about understanding the system — and building something better.
You will walk away with a clearer understanding of why menopause care often feels fragmented, why your symptoms may have been dismissed, and what true collaborative, evidence-based care should look like.
Your health is not the problem.
The system was never designed with you at the center.About the Host
Dr. Arti Thangudu is a board-certified endocrinologist specializing in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism, with additional certification in Lifestyle Medicine and menopause care. She focuses on evidence-based care, metabolic health, hormone health, and improving transparency in healthcare.
In This Episode You’ll Learn
• Why menopause education is lacking in medical training
• How the Women’s Health Initiative shaped modern menopause care
• Why many women feel dismissed in healthcare settings
• The difference between paternalistic and collaborative medicine
• How to advocate for yourself in a system not designed for you
• What good menopause care should actually look likeLearn More / Connect
✨ See Dr. Thangudu in clinic:
Complete Medicine →https://www.sacomplete.com/💌 Stay connected:
Sign up for the newsletter → https://www.sacomplete.com/complete-medicine-blog📲 Follow Dr. Arti Thangudu
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/drartithanguduAbout Endocrine Matters
Endocrine Matters is a podcast dedicated to hormone health, menopause, metabolic health, thyroid disease, obesity medicine, and evidence-based healthcare education.
Each episode breaks down complex medical topics so patients can make informed, empowered decisions about their health.
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Despite decades of research and real-world evidence, Metformin is constantly criticized online by influencers, wellness personalities, and people who do not understand insulin resistance, metabolism, or diabetes care.
Yet Metformin remains one of the most effective, safest, and most accessible medications in Endocrinology.
In this episode of Endocrine Matters, Dr. Arti Thangudu explains why Metformin still plays a central role in the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes, Prediabetes, Insulin Resistance, and PCOS, and why misinformation about this medication continues to spread online.
Dr. Thangudu also discusses an issue that often gets ignored in social media health conversations: affordability.
Diabetes medications can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars per month. For many patients, access to treatment is determined not just by science, but by cost, insurance barriers, and real-life financial decisions.
Metformin, which can cost about $10 for 90 days even without insurance, remains one of the most accessible evidence-based tools physicians have to improve metabolic health and prevent long-term complications.
This episode explores:
🧠 Why Metformin has developed a negative reputation online
📚 What the research actually shows about Metformin safety and effectiveness
⚠️ Common fears about Metformin and kidney function, lactic acidosis, and side effects
📉 How Metformin lowers A1C and improves insulin sensitivity
👩⚕️ The role of Metformin in Prediabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, PCOS, fertility, and pregnancy
💰 Why affordability and accessibility matter in diabetes treatment
📊 What the Diabetes Prevention Program revealed about long-term diabetes preventionDr. Thangudu also addresses how misinformation spreads when confident voices online oversimplify complex metabolic science, and why evidence-based medicine still supports Metformin as a foundational therapy in many patients.
Metformin may not be trendy.
It may not be expensive.
But it continues to change lives.And in a healthcare system where access to treatment is often limited by cost, that matters enormously.
About The Host
Dr. Arti Thangudu is a board-certified Endocrinologist specializing in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, with additional certification in Lifestyle Medicine and menopause care. She focuses on evidence-based care, metabolic health, hormone health, and improving transparency in healthcare.
In This Episode You’ll Learn
• Why Metformin is still widely used by Endocrinologists
• How Metformin works to improve insulin resistance
• The truth about Metformin side effects and safety concerns
• How Metformin helps patients with Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes
• The role of Metformin in PCOS, fertility, and pregnancy outcomes
• Why affordability and access matter in modern diabetes careResources Mentioned
Key research discussed includes the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), one of the largest and longest studies on diabetes prevention and Metformin therapy.
Learn More / Connect
✨ See Dr. Thangudu in clinic:
Complete Medicine →https://www.sacomplete.com/💌 Stay connected:
Sign up for the newsletter → https://www.sacomplete.com/complete-medicine-blog📲 Follow Dr. Arti Thangudu
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/drartithanguduAbout Endocrine Matters
Endocrine Matters is a podcast dedicated to hormone health, metabolic health, thyroid disease, menopause, obesity medicine, and evidence-based healthcare education.
Each episode breaks down complex medical topics so patients can make informed, empowered decisions about their health.
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We are living in the golden age of health information — and the dark age of discernment.
Today, anyone can post medical advice online. Some of it comes from highly trained physicians and scientists. But much of it comes from influencers, wellness personalities, or under-credentialed voices presenting simplified answers to complex biological problems.
So how do you know who to trust?
In this episode of Endocrine Matters, Dr. Arti Thangudu breaks down how to evaluate health information online, why medical training and credentials matter, and how patients can learn to navigate health advice in a world flooded with content.
This episode explores:
🧠 Why misinformation spreads so easily in modern healthcare
📚 What physicians actually learn during medical school, residency, and fellowship
⚠️ The “dangerous confidence curve” and why confident voices aren't always the most qualified
🔍 How to verify medical credentials, licensing, and board certification
📊 The difference between evidence-based medicine and anecdotal health advice
🤖 The role of AI and social media in shaping modern health information
🩺 Why having a trusted physician relationship matters more than ever
Dr. Thangudu also explains why many patients turn to the internet for answers — and how systemic problems in U.S. healthcare, including rushed visits and limited access to physicians, create an environment where misinformation can thrive.
The goal of this episode is not to make patients cynical about health information, but to give them tools for discernment, curiosity, and critical thinking.
You don’t need to go to medical school to be an informed patient. But you deserve transparency about who you are listening to, what their training is, and how medical decisions are made.
Your health deserves more than viral content.
It deserves rigor, humility, and trustworthy care.
About the Host
Dr. Arti Thangudu is a board-certified endocrinologist specializing in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism, with additional certification in Lifestyle Medicine and menopause care. She focuses on evidence-based care, metabolic health, hormone health, and improving transparency in healthcare.
In This Episode You’ll Learn
• How physicians are trained and why that training matters
• How to evaluate health influencers and online health claims
• The difference between medical expertise and personal experience
• Why confident health advice can sometimes be misleading
• How to safely consume health content online
Resources Mentioned
You can verify physician credentials and licensing through:
State Medical Board websitesAmerican Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)Board certification lookup toolsLearn More / Connect
✨ See Dr. Thangudu in clinic:
Complete Medicine →https://www.sacomplete.com/
💌 Stay connected:
Sign up for the newsletter →https://www.sacomplete.com/complete-medicine-blog
📲 Follow Dr. Arti Thangudu
Instagram →@drartithangudu
About Endocrine Matters
Endocrine Matters is a podcast dedicated to hormone health, metabolic health, thyroid disease, menopause, obesity medicine, and evidence-based healthcare education.
Each episode breaks down complex medical topics so patients can make informed, empowered decisions about their health.
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👉 Come see me in clinic:
https://www.sacomplete.com/
💌 Sign up for my newsletter:
https://www.sacomplete.com/complete-medicine-blog
🎧 Listen to the Endocrine Matters podcast:
https://www.sacomplete.com/podcast
🎙️ Welcome to the Endocrine Matters podcast.
This podcast episode is sponsored by Complete Medicine and HeyHealthy.
Welcome back to Endocrine Matters. I’m your host, Dr. Arti Thangudu, board-certified endocrinologist, menopause society certified practitioner, and founder of Complete Medicine, where we care for high-achieving women living with obesity, prediabetes, diabetes, thyroid disease, and metabolic conditions.
Menopause & Heart Disease Risk: The Lipid Changes Doctors Miss (LDL, Triglycerides, ApoB, Lp(a) + What To Do)
On Endocrine Matters, Dr. Arti Thangudu joins endocrinologists Dr. Munira Mehta and Dr. Vidhya Illuri and dietitian Ana Mendez to discuss the often-overlooked rise in cardiovascular risk during the menopausal transition, when LDL, total cholesterol, ApoB, and triglycerides increase most sharply from about one year before to one to two years after the final menstrual period, independent of age and environmental factors. They explain how estrogen loss shifts lipids toward a more atherogenic profile, how HDL quantity and function can change, and why triglycerides above 200 predict worse cardiovascular health while goals are typically fasting levels under 150. They review who may need earlier screening (premature ovarian insufficiency, PCOS, early menopause, strong family history, some ethnic groups), lifestyle strategies (Mediterranean/DASH, fiber, fatty fish), and add-on tests like ApoB and Lp(a), plus coronary calcium scoring and statins for risk-based treatment.
Our goal is to help you understand the science, the nuance, and the ethics behind prescribing powerful metabolic medications—so patients can get safe, effective, and compassionate care.
If you’d like support navigating weight loss medications, metabolic health, menopause, or complex endocrine care, we’d love to help you at Complete Medicine.
📍 Learn more about becoming a patient:
https://www.sacomplete.com/
📲 Follow along on Instagram: @drartithangudu
Thank you so much for listening and for supporting Endocrine Matters.
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👉 Come see me in clinic:
https://www.sacomplete.com/
👉 Other ways to work with me & stay connected:
✨ Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.sacomplete.com/complete-medicine-blog
🎧 Listen to the Endocrine Matters podcast: https://www.sacomplete.com/podcast
Welcome to the Endocrine Matters Podcast.
This episode is sponsored by Complete Medicine and HeyHealthy.
Hello and welcome back to Endocrine Matters. I’m Dr. Arti Thangudu—endocrinologist, diabetes specialist, and someone who truly lives and breathes blood sugar.
Dr. Arti Thangudu reflects on two recent international trips—India with her family and Vietnam with friends—and explores travel through the lens of health, connection, and long-term wellbeing. In India, she describes her children’s first experience meeting extended family, visiting her mother’s childhood home, and witnessing a culture built around shared meals, childcare, and interdependence, prompting reflections on how structural isolation in the U.S. contributes to stress, anxiety, and loneliness. In Vietnam, she recounts learning about the Vietnam War and grappling with the contrast between historical trauma and the kindness, warmth, and generosity she experienced, leading to questions about societal healing, compassion, and public health. She then reviews research linking travel to stronger parent-child bonds, resilience, social and cognitive growth in children, and reduced stress, improved mood, and increased creativity in adults, with potential impacts on cortisol, sleep, inflammation, and insulin resistance. A central theme is co-regulation—the two-way emotional and physiological regulation between connected people—explaining how family travel uniquely strengthens self-regulation and resilience through shared novelty, uncertainty, problem-solving, and repair after conflict. She concludes with a reframe that travel is not escape but expansion, emphasizing that even small trips can provide meaning, perspective, and connection.Thank you for being here and for being part of this community.
If you’d like to become a patient, visit https://www.sacomplete.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the channel—it truly means the world to me.
And for daily education and support, follow me on Instagram @drartithangudu
Until next time—take care of your blood sugar, and take care of yourself. 💙
- Visa fler
