Overlooked: Women's Health Can't Wait

When journalist Alicia Trujillo felt a sudden, searing headache while swimming, she knew something was wrong. Doctors finally uncovered the cause a few days later - a ruptured aneurysm in her brain. In this episode, Alicia recounts the harrowing days leading up to her diagnosis, the emergency brain surgery that followed, and how it changed her outlook on life.  🔗 Show Notes:Understanding Brain Aneurysms: Learn more about symptoms, causes, and risk factors from Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/brain-aneurysm/symptoms-causes/syc-20361483Mentioned in the episode: Emilia Clarke’s organization https://www.sameyou.org/SUBSCRIBE to the newsletter to get backstories and updates on the podcast - sign up at the banner on the website: www.overlookedpod.com.  EMAIL US - get in touch with the show: hello@overlookedpod.com DISCLAIMER What you hear and read on ‘Overlooked’ is for general information purposes only and represents the opinions of the host and guests. The content on the podcast and website should not be taken as medical advice. Every person’s body is unique, so please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions that may arise.

Cervical cancer is preventable, but nobody really likes showing up at the gynecologist’s office to get their screening done - which is likely the reason the number of women who show up for screening has been falling. Now, a DIY screening kit will allow you to do the test at home. Dr Anita Lim is a cancer epidemiologist at King's College London and was the lead researcher on a major study measuring the effectiveness of 'self-sampling' in the UK. She talks about heartfelt messages she received from women in the study and why self-sampling could be a game-changer for cervical screening and women’s health.Show notes:Dr Anita Lim https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/anita-limThe YouScreen study https://www.nclcanceralliance.nhs.uk/ncl-news/youscreen-self-sampling-study-results/More on cervical cancer https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/cervical-cancer.htmlSUBSCRIBE to the newsletter to get backstories and updates on the podcast - sign up at the banner on the website: www.overlookedpod.com. EMAIL US - get in touch with the show: hello@overlookedpod.comDISCLAIMER What you hear and read on ‘Overlooked’ is for general information purposes only and represents the opinions of the host and guests. The content on the podcast and website should not be taken as medical advice. Every person’s body is unique, so please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions that may arise.

Despite all the noise about menopause (and there’s a lot), there’s one place where we’re still not talking about it openly, and that’s the workplace. But that’s changing - slowly. Now, some companies are offering menopause benefits too. In this episode, we look at menopause in the workplace, and hear from Sarah Shepherd (Privia Health) and Isha Viij (Maven Clinic).Show Notes:Previa Health: https://www.priviahealth.com/Maven Clinic: https://www.mavenclinic.com/Maven Clinic’s report on the menopause experience for millennials and generation X: https://mavenpreprint.substack.com/p/millenopause-is-reframing-middleSamantha Bee’s menopause show, which is mentioned at the start of the episode: https://www.cbsnews.com/video/samantha-bee-takes-on-menopause-in-her-new-one-woman-show/ SUBSCRIBE to the newsletter to get backstories and updates on the podcast - sign up at the banner on the website: www.overlookedpod.com.EMAIL US - get in touch with the show: hello@overlookedpod.comDISCLAIMER What you hear and read on ‘Overlooked’ is for general information purposes only and represents the opinions of the host and guests. The content on the podcast and website should not be taken as medical advice. Every person’s body is unique, so please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions that may arise.

Earlier this year, the CDC updated its recommendations on pain management for IUD insertion (intrauterine devices used for birth control), which prompted Carine Carmy to share her story of how an IUD insertion sent her to the emergency room with severe pain, nausea, chills and a fever. She talks about what happened, and why we should have more in-depth conversations about pain management with our healthcare providers. She’s now the co-founder and CEO of Origin, a women’s health company focused on pelvic floor physical therapy, and she explains why the pelvic floor is an overlooked and crucial part of our bodies and overall health.SHOW NOTES:CDC updates guidelines on pain relief for IUD insertion https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-to-know-about-pain-relief-iud-insertion-options-insurance/Pelvic health 101 https://www.theoriginway.com/pelvic-floor-101The 2024 Origin pelvic health study https://www.theoriginway.com/2024-pelvic-health-study On this episode, we also spotlight the work of the Gynecologic Cancer Initiative of British Columbia. Learn more at https://gynecancerinitiative.ca/ SUBSCRIBE to the newsletter to get backstories and updates on the podcast - sign up at the banner on the website: www.overlookedpod.com. EMAIL US - get in touch with the show: hello@overlookedpod.comDISCLAIMER What you hear and read on ‘Overlooked’ is for general information purposes only and represents the opinions of the host and guests. The content on the podcast and website should not be taken as medical advice. Every person’s body is unique, so please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions that may arise.

Claire Tomkins found out she had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in her early fifties, while going through perimenopause. When it comes to ADHD, women are generally under-diagnosed, and Claire talks about how this late diagnosis helped her understand her own actions and decisions, and the struggle of having ADHD and managing kids, jobs and relationships. Show notes:More on ADHD: We thought this episode from Mayo Clinic’s Health Matters podcast was an informative listen: https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/living-well/is-this-adhd/SUBSCRIBE to the newsletter to get backstories and updates on the podcast - sign up at the banner on the website: www.overlookedpod.com. EMAIL US - get in touch with the show: hello@overlookedpod.comDISCLAIMER What you hear and read on ‘Overlooked’ is for general information purposes only and represents the opinions of the host and guests. The content on the podcast and website should not be taken as medical advice. Every person’s body is unique, so please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions that may arise.

When Pamela Esposito-Amery discovered she had a genetic predisposition to cancer, she took a decision to undergo a full hysterectomy - which also put her in ‘surgical’ menopause. Pamela talks about the physical and emotional impact of this life-changing procedure, as well as the work of her organization, Tell Every Amazing Lady (T.E.A.L), which she started with her sister, the late Louisa M. McGregor, in Brooklyn, New York. In this episode, you can also hear the stories of listeners who sent in voice memos, talking about their journeys with cancer. If you’d like to contact the podcast and send in your story, head to our website:https://overlookedpod.com/getintouchSHOW NOTES-Tell Every Amazing Lady: https://telleveryamazinglady.org/-More on surgical menopause from Target Ovarian Cancer: https://targetovariancancer.org.uk/about-ovarian-cancer/your-situation/im-younger-woman-diagnosis/surgical-menopauseSUBSCRIBE to the newsletter to get updates on the podcast: sign up at the banner on the website: www.overlookedpod.com. EMAIL US - get in touch with the show: hello@overlookedpod.comDISCLAIMER What you hear and read on ‘Overlooked’ is for general information purposes only and represents the opinions of the host and guests. The content on the podcast and website should not be taken as medical advice. Every person’s body is unique, so please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions that may arise.

How do you bring women’s health innovation to life when the healthcare system is set up to resist change? In this episode, Nicole Sandford, CEO of Aspira Women’s Health, shares the hurdles her company faces in pushing forward diagnostics for ovarian cancer. As a cancer survivor, she also reflects on how her personal health journey fuels her commitment to advancing care for women.Resources and Links:Learn more about Aspira Women’s Health and their ‘Ovasuite’ blood tests: https://aspirawh.com/Mentioned in the episode: World Ovarian Cancer Coalition: https://worldovariancancercoalition.org/Related Episodes:‘Diagnosis’ from Overlooked Season 1: https://overlookedpod.com/episode/diagnosis SUBSCRIBE to the newsletter to get updates on the podcast: sign up at the banner on the website: www.overlookedpod.com. EMAIL US - get in touch with the show: hello@overlookedpod.comDISCLAIMER What you hear and read on ‘Overlooked’ is for general information purposes only and represents the opinions of the host and guests. The content on the podcast and website should not be taken as medical advice. Every person’s body is unique, so please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions that may arise.

Episode Summary:In this episode of Overlooked, host Golda Arthur speaks with Lucy Rudd, a biomedical scientist from the UK, who shares her powerful story of discovering a borderline ovarian tumor at just 28 years old. What began as a small lump quickly spiraled into a period of intense uncertainty, fear, and difficult decisions about her health and fertility. Lucy takes us through her journey of diagnosis, her experience with the healthcare system, and the emotional toll of living with the unknown.Hear how Lucy’s medical background informed her understanding of the situation, but also how confusing and overwhelming the process became—even for someone with insider knowledge of the healthcare system. We also explore Lucy’s struggle with fertility preservation, and the emotional aftermath of losing one ovary. Resources and Links:Learn more about borderline ovarian tumors - Cancer Research UK : https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/ovarian-cancer/types/borderlineResources for ovarian cancer in the UK: Target Ovarian CancerRelated Episodes:‘Diagnosis’ from Overlooked Season 1SUBSCRIBE to the newsletter to get updates on the podcast: sign up at the banner on the website: www.overlookedpod.com. EMAIL US - get in touch with the show: hello@overlookedpod.comDISCLAIMER What you hear and read on ‘Overlooked’ is for general information purposes only and represents the opinions of the host and guests. The content on the podcast and website should not be taken as medical advice. Every person’s body is unique, so please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions that may arise.

Episode Description:What’s the difference between menopause and perimenopause anyway? Is there such a thing as menopause misinformation? Why don’t we know more about menopause and HRT? Dr. Gillian Goddard, an endocrinologist and writer behind the Hot Flash newsletter, answers these and other important questions about menopause, debunking common myths and providing practical advice for how to talk to your doctor about menopause symptoms.This is the last episode of Overlooked in this season. Stay up to date with the show by subscribing to the newsletter here - www.overlookedpod.com. Show notes:Gillian Goddard’s Hot Flash Newsletter: https://parentdata.org/hotflash-signup/Gillian’s piece on HRT for menopause https://parentdata.org/hormone-replacement-therapy-menopause-symptoms/DISCLAIMERWhat you hear and read on ‘Overlooked’ is for general information purposes only and represents the opinions of the host and guests. The content on the podcast and website should not be taken as medical advice. Every person’s body is unique, so please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions that may arise.

Brittany Chaffee talks about navigating cervical health testing, and recounts the moment she received an alarming call from her doctor, leading to years of anxiety, biopsies, and eventually, a harrowing LEEP procedure. Brittany emphasizes the importance of talking publicly about women’s health to combat shame and isolation. Show notes:‘The powerful act of sharing our stories about women’s health.’ What is a LEEP procedure?What is a colposcopy?More information on cervical cancer screening We’re building a community around women’s health so that no one is overlooked. You can support the show by:-Subscribing to the Overlooked newsletter on the website: www.overlookedpod.com-Leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. -Sharing this episode with someone who will find it useful and relevant.-Write to us and tell us your story: hello@overlookedpod.com

Oriana Papin-Zoghbi is the co-founder of a women’s health startup called AOA Dx that is working towards early detection for ovarian cancer. Oriana talks about the challenges the company has faced in navigating the complex world of fundraising, the term ‘femtech’, and the experience of leading a startup dedicated to transforming women's health. Want to find out what's coming next on Overlooked, or learn about the backstory to the episodes? Sign up to the email list to get updates from Golda at www.overlookedpod.com.SHOW NOTES:Links for further learning: AOA Dx and their new lab in Denver: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aoadx/More on gangliosides / Professor Uri Saragovi's work: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37124505/The origins of the term ‘Femtech’ : https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/06/meet-the-woman-who-invented-a-whole-new-subsection-of-tech-set-to-be-worth-1-trillion.htmlDISCLAIMER:What you hear and read on ‘Overlooked’ is for general information purposes only and represents the opinions of the host and guests. The content on the podcast and website should not be taken as medical advice. Every person’s body is unique, so please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions that may arise.

How much do we really know about our bodies - and did we learn it in real time, when something went wrong, or on a scroll through social media? We need accurate, credible information that is relevant to our health, and in this episode, Dr Brandi Sinkfield, an anesthesiologist and the host of the Women’s Digital Health podcast, talks about ‘health literacy’, and the intersection of health and technology, and the impact technology has on health equity.Show notes:Brandi Sinkfield M.D. - Founder - Women's Digital Health | LinkedInMore about Women’s Digital Health (https://linktr.ee/womensdigitalhealth)Where do you go for trustworthy information about your health? Share your story with us, by emailing overlookedpodpodcast23@gmail.comWant to find out what's coming next on Overlooked, or learn about the backstory to the episodes? Sign up to the email list to get updates from Golda at www.overlookedpod.com. DISCLAIMER:What you hear and read on ‘Overlooked’ is for general information purposes only and represents the opinions of the host and guests. The content on the podcast and website should not be taken as medical advice. Every person’s body is unique, so please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions that may arise.

We still have so much to learn about the ovaries, including describing and naming parts of these organs in detail. Dr. Kathleen O’Neill talks about her work with a multidisciplinary group of researchers to map the ovaries, in order to better understand their profound implications on women’s health. Show Notes:Dr. Kathleen O'Neill at the University of Pennsylvania (https://www.pennmedicine.org/providers/profile/kathleen-oneill)Mentioned in the episode: 'Anatomic nomenclature and 3-dimensional regional model of the human ovary: call for a new paradigm' (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36191605/) Want to find out what's coming next on Overlooked, or learn about the backstory to the episodes? Sign up to the email list to get updates from Golda at www.overlookedpod.com. DISCLAIMER:What you hear and read on ‘Overlooked’ is for general information purposes only and represents the opinions of the host and guests. The content on the podcast and website should not be taken as medical advice. Every person’s body is unique, so please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions that may arise.

Welcome to Season 2 of Overlooked, where women's health is brought to life through immersive personal storytelling and in-depth conversations. In this episode, a transition from Season 1, host Golda Arthur shares her personal story with surgical menopause, has a conversation with her mother about moving forward, and hears from a listener who sent in her story.You can send your story too - write to the show, or send us a voice memo at overlookedpodcast23@gmail.com. Sign up to the email list to get updates about the show at www.overlookedpod.com. Click the follow button to be notified when a new episode publishes. DISCLAIMERWhat you hear and read on ‘Overlooked’ is for general information purposes only and represents the opinions of the host and guests. The content on the podcast and website should not be taken as medical advice. Every person’s body is unique, so please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions that may arise.

Endometriosis is a complex condition and journalist Gabrielle Jackson has spent most of her life dealing with it. She tells her personal story, the pervasive issue of chronic pain in women, and the medical system's historic neglect of women's health.Gabrielle Jackson is the deputy editor of The Guardian Australia, and the author of ‘Pain and Prejudice, How the Medical System Ignores Women—And What We Can Do About It.’ More on Gabrielle Jackson:Gabrielle Jackson's book: Pain and PrejudiceGabrielle's original article for The Guardian.Want to find out what's coming next on Overlooked, or learn about the backstory to the episodes? Sign up to the email list to get updates from Golda at www.overlookedpod.com.DISCLAIMERWhat you hear and read on ‘Overlooked’ is for general information purposes only and represents the opinions of the host and guests. The content on the podcast and website should not be taken as medical advice. Every person’s body is unique, so please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions that may arise.

In reporting and writing this series, I’ve become intrigued by the ovaries themselves and their underrated role in our overall health. In this episode, I talk to pioneering gynecological oncologist Dr Dianne Miller about why the ovaries are still so mysterious to us, and why we don’t talk about ovarian health more.For more background on this episode, head to overlookedpod.com, where you can also get in touch with us.New to the show? Start with episode 1, ‘Fluid Puppy’How you can support the show: Leave a review on Apple PodcastsHit the subscribe buttonSend this episode to someone who would also find it a meaningful listen

Another recurrence to deal with, and then a long-awaited trip to India, to see my grandmother, as the series comes to a close. For more background on this episode, head to overlookedpod.com, where you can also get in touch with us.New to the show? Start with episode 1, ‘Fluid Puppy’How you can support the show: Leave a review on Apple PodcastsHit the subscribe buttonSend this episode to someone who would also find it a meaningful listen

This episode hands the mic over to two other survivors of ovarian cancer - Susan Leighton, and Donna Peppin. Both Susan and Donna talk about how they're paying their survivorship forward, through advocacy.For more background on this episode, head to overlookedpod.com, where you can also get in touch with us. New to the show? Start with episode 1, ‘Fluid Puppy’ How you can support the show:Leave a review on Apple PodcastsHit the subscribe buttonSend this episode to someone who would also find it a meaningful listen

The cancer comes back again, and Mom starts a new round of chemo. At this point, I decided I would finally go and get a genetics test done for myself. In this episode, I talk to my genetics counselor, and my sister Esther, about the results of her test and what happened next for her. This episode features:Bonnie Federman, from New York Presbyterian. Esther ArthurFor more background on this episode, head to overlookedpod.com, where you can also get in touch with us.New to the show? Start with episode 1, ‘Fluid Puppy’How you can support the show: Leave a review on Apple PodcastsHit the subscribe buttonSend this episode to someone who would also find it a meaningful listen

In 2020, Mom was dealing with the covid pandemic as well as cancer. After her chemotherapy treatment ended, she started on a new drug, called niraparib, to try and prevent a recurrence. She would end up back in the emergency room, but this time, it wasn’t covid, or cancer. And, I talked to Dr Tracy Brooks for a deep dive on PARB inhibitors, a relatively new class of drugs used in cancer treatment. This episode features:Dr Tracy Brooks, Binghamton University, New York.For more background on this episode, head to overlookedpod.com, where you can also get in touch with us.New to the show? Start with episode 1, ‘Fluid Puppy’How you can support the show: Leave a review on Apple PodcastsHit the subscribe buttonSend this episode to someone who would also find it a meaningful listen