Ep. 529 The Medical Gaslighting Epidemic – Why Women Deserve a Better Healthcare Model | Menopause with Dr. Sameena Rahman

Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Menopause, and Science for Women 35+

Cynthia Thurlow

Alternative Health, Nutrition, Science, Life Sciences, Health & Fitness

4.8 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 17 December 2025

⏱️ 58 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Today, I am delighted to connect with Dr. Sameena Rahman, a board-certified OBGYN and certified menopause practitioner with over a decade of expertise in midlife sexual medicine and concierge gynecology. Dr. Rahman founded the GSM Collective in downtown Chicago to deliver a more personalized patient-first model of health care for women. In our conversation, we explore how cultural and racial factors influence care for women, particularly during the menopausal transition. We discuss the heart disease risk of women with a baseline of inflammation and insulin resistance, the effects of allostatic load on minority women, why cognitive health is crucial, the impact of alcohol, and why the current medical model is a systemic failure that gaslights women. We also examine the impact of pelvic floor therapy, appropriate pelvic examinations, specific autoimmune vulvar conditions, and how oral contraceptives affect sexual health, and Dr. Rahman shares her recommendations for preventing frailty and loss of independence. I am a big admirer of Dr. Rahman’s work and look forward to having her join us again after her new book is published. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: Why Hormone Replacement Therapy alone might not solve all menopausal genital issues How pelvic floor issues can even affect women who have not given vaginal births What a routine Pap smear can miss, regarding vulvar and vestibular health What a simple Q-tip test can reveal about vulvar pain How untreated pain can create a cycle of pelvic floor problems How local hormone therapy can target vulvar and vestibular pain where systemic hormones may fall short The benefits of trauma-informed exams The value of integrating pelvic floor therapy with local hormone treatment How long-term birth control use might affect vulvar tissue What to consider for balancing contraception with sexual health Bio: Dr. Sameena Rahman Dr. Sameena Rahman is a board-certified OB/GYN, sex-med gynecologist, menopause specialist, and a clinical assistant professor of OB/GYN at the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine. She is the founder of the GYN & Sexual Medicine Collective, a successful concierge practice that emphasizes evidence-based medicine, and an affiliate of Ms. Medicine. Dr. Rahman is dedicated to evaluating and treating each patient with compassion, trauma-informed care, and an awareness of personal bias. Additionally, she hosts the podcast Gyno Girl Presents: Sex, Drugs & Hormones and will release her first book, Brown Girls Disease? A Guide To Sexual Health and Empowerment through a South Asian Lens in 2026. Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on⁠ X⁠,⁠ Instagram⁠ &⁠ LinkedIn⁠ Check out Cynthia’s⁠ website⁠ Submit your questions to [email protected] Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community ⁠(The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow⁠)⁠ ⁠ Cynthia’s⁠ Menopause Gut Book⁠ is on presale now! Cynthia’s⁠ Intermittent Fasting Transformation⁠ Book ⁠The Midlife Pause supplement line⁠ Connect with Dr. Sameena Rahman The GSM Collective Dr. Sameena Rahman on Instagram (@gynogirl) Gyno Girl Presents Sex, Drugs and Hormones (Podcast) Resources Find a practitioner to assist with your sexual concerns The International Society for Vulvo Vaginal Diseases The National Vulvodynia Association Prosayla (Female Sexual Health Education)

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Everyday Wellness Podcast.
0:03.7	I'm your host, nurse practitioner, Cynthia Thurlow.
0:07.4	This podcast is designed to educate, empower, and inspire you to achieve your health and wellness goals.
0:13.9	My goal and intent is to provide you with the best content and conversations from leaders in the health and wellness industry each week and
0:21.5	impact over a million lives.
0:28.9	Today I have the honor of connecting with Dr. Samina Rahman.
0:33.3	She's a board certified OBGYN and certified menopause practitioner with over a decade of expertise in midlife, sexual medicine, and concierge gynaecology.
0:43.3	She founded the GSM Collective in downtown Chicago to deliver a more personalized patient-first model of women's healthcare.
0:52.3	Today we spoke about cultural and racial differences with regard to care
0:57.3	for women, especially in the menopausal transition, the impact of heart disease risks in women
1:04.1	with a baseline of inflammation and insulin resistance, and the impact of allostatic load on minority women.
1:12.4	The things she recommends to her patients to avoid a loss of independence and frailty,
1:17.8	why cognitive health is so paramount, and the impact of alcohol intake,
1:24.3	why the current medical model is set up as a systemic failure to gaslight women,
1:29.7	the impact of pelvic flora therapy and appropriate pelvic examination,
1:34.8	specific autoimmune vulvar conditions, the impact of oral contraceptives on sexual health,
1:41.6	and so much more. I'm a huge fan of Dr. Raman's work,
1:46.3	and I look forward to bringing her back
1:48.2	after her new book is published.
1:52.2	Dr. Raman, such a pleasure to have you on the podcast.
1:55.2	I'm a huge fan of your work. Welcome.
1:57.5	Thank you so much for having me.
	...

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