Periods, Pain, and Power: What Your Doctor Might Not Tell You | With Dr Brooke Vandermolen

The Food Medic

Health & Fitness

4.8 • 3K Ratings

🗓️ 4 June 2025

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What if everything you thought you knew about your period was wrong? In this episode of The Food Medic Podcast, Dr Hazel Wallace, a women’s health nutritionist, sits down with Dr. Brooke Vandermolen, known as "The OB GYN Mom," to discuss women's health, focusing on menstrual cycles, period myths, and contraceptive options. Dr. Brooke shares her journey into obstetrics and gynecology and her motivation for creating online content to provide evidence-based advice. The episode covers: What inspires healthcare professionals to specialise in women’s health and how can we educate women beyond the clinic? Common misconceptions about menstrual cycles and period health that need to be challenged. The effects of hormonal contraception on menstrual health, fertility, and overall well-being. Why is it so important to feel heard by your doctor? The importance of open, informed communication between women and their healthcare providers. Popular myths around women's health practices—and the science (or lack thereof) behind them. The episode emphasises the need for proactive health management and debunks myths surrounding women's health practices, aiming to empower women with accurate information. So, if your period could talk, what would it ask you to pay more attention to? — If you have a question you'd like us to answer on the podcast, simply send a voice note to [email protected] – we'd love to hear from you! Stay up to date with the latest health advice, recipes, insights, and updates from Dr. Hazel Wallace and The Food Medic community. Dr. Hazel Wallace Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drhazelwallace/ The Food Medic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefoodmedic/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefoodmedic/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Thefoodmedic Explore More from The Food Medic Not Just A Period – New Book A groundbreaking guide to understanding your cycle, hormones, and health.Coming 22nd May 2025. Pre-order now: https://linktr.ee/notjustaperiod The Food Medic App Learn more: https://www.thefoodmedic.co.uk/about-the-food-medic-hub Weekly Newsletter Subscribe here: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/62b5a28d76b1bf772c403012 Get in Touch For inquiries or collaborations: General: [email protected] Partnerships: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:30.0	Women, it takes them a while to even realize that maybe their periods is something that they
0:33.9	should talk about. And then by the time they get in front of a doctor, sometimes that doctor might just say, yeah, yeah, well, you know, periods are painful and, you know, yours aren't that severe, you know, don't worry about it. And I think there is definitely a lot of people still feeling dismissed about their periods. Dr. Brooke van der Mullen, better known as that OBGYNMM is an obstetrics and gynecology doctor, a mum of three
0:56.7	and a powerhouse when it comes to busting myths and sharing insights on all things women's health.
1:01.7	Why do you think so many women feel in the dark about their menstrual cycles?
1:06.5	I think there is a cultural issue in some certain cultures where periods are considered dirty or shameful or just not really spoken about.
1:15.9	What's one hack that you've seen in loose terms on TikTok that you think is very dangerous and we should avoid?
1:22.2	The ultimate problem is these hacks are not really hacks.
1:25.5	There isn't a easy hack to fix your cycles. I mean, I guess
1:29.0	my ultimate hack is... Hello, everyone, and welcome back to the Food Medic podcast. I'm Dr. Hazel Wallace,
1:35.8	a women's health nutritionist and former NHS doctor, and I'm back for a special women's health
1:40.3	series of the Food Medic podcast. In this mini-series, we're diving into all things
1:44.5	women's health, from expert insights and myth-busting chats to mini-ask-Drasele episodes, where I
1:50.5	answer questions submitted by you. Expect accessible evidence-back tips to help you feel
1:55.5	empowered, not held back by your menstrual cycle and more.
2:06.4	Thank you. back by your menstrual cycle and more. Today's guest is someone you've probably come across online if you've ever searched
2:11.0	for real, relatable and evidence-based advice on women's health.
2:15.6	Dr. Brooke van der Mullen, better known as the OBGYNMUM, is an obstetrics
2:20.5	and gynecology doctor, a mum of three and a powerhouse when it comes to busting myths and sharing
2:25.8	insights on all things women's health. She's here today to chat about all things cycle health,
2:31.3	period myths, and the kind of advice every woman deserves to hear.
	...

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