In this episode, I take a closer look at compounded medications—what they are, when they’re used, and the important nuances behind their growing popularity.

From hormone therapy and menopause care to semaglutide and GLP-1s, compounded meds are often described as personalized solutions. But these treatments exist in a regulatory gray area, with real variability in quality, safety, and effectiveness.

This episode is about cutting through confusion—without judgment or hype—and offering context to help you better understand your options.

• What compounded medications are and when they’re used
• Why some women rely on them for hormone therapy, PCOS, progesterone intolerance, or GLP-1 access
• What’s different between FDA-approved medications and compounded versions
• Why terms like “bioidentical” can be misleading
• The impact of drug shortages, insurance limitations, and gaps in care

Many people don’t realize that compounded medications aren’t FDA-approved—and that doesn’t automatically make them dangerous or ineffective. But it does mean they operate by different rules. This episode offers a grounded look at what’s happening behind the scenes and why these treatments are increasingly common in women’s health and beyond.

• Read article on Fear, misinformation, and pharmaceutical messianism in the promotion of compounded bioidentical hormone therapy
• Check out the blog post version of this episode here, which includes all citations.

**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024**

Want men to better understand how to you during your menopause journey! Tell us what you want them to know.

If you're passionate about advancing women's health, there are many ways you can support and stay in touch with Fempower Health. Here's how:

1. Subscribe and Listen: Tune in to new episodes every Tuesday by subscribing to the Fempower Health Podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform. Your regular listenership is invaluable!
2. Leave a Review: Help us grow by leaving a review on Apple, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback not only supports us but also helps others discover our podcast.
3. Share with Others: Spread the word by sharing episodes with friends, family, or anyone interested in women's health. Every share helps!
4. Engage in Discussions: Join the Fempower Health Women's Health Community. Learn more here.
5. Find Us on Social: Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok,

For years, patients have reported severe pain during IUD insertions—only to be told it's "just a pinch." Now, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued updated guidance that changes everything.

This episode breaks down what’s in the new guidelines, why it matters, and what’s still standing in the way of better care.

• What ACOG and CDC now recommend for IUD pain relief
• Why misoprostol is no longer a routine option
• How reimbursement challenges affect what happens in the exam room
• What to do if your provider isn’t aware of the new guidelines
• The role of trauma-informed and shared decision-making models
• Why this shift is critical for women’s health equity and trust

• ACOG Clinical Consensus on Pain Management (May 2025)
• CDC U.S. SPR Update (Aug 2024)

• Resources and episodes on Pelvic Health

• Recommended Books on Hormones and Menstrual Health

**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024**

Want men to better understand how to you during your menopause journey! Tell us what you want them to know.

If you're passionate about advancing women's health, there are many ways you can support and stay in touch with Fempower Health. Here's how:

1. Subscribe and Listen: Tune in to new episodes every Tuesday by subscribing to the Fempower Health Podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform. Your regular listenership is invaluable!
2. Leave a Review: Help us grow by leaving a review on Apple, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback not only supports us but also helps others discover our podcast.
3. Share with Others: Spread the word by sharing episodes with friends, family, or anyone interested in women's health. Every share helps!
4. Engage in Discussions: Join the Fempower Health Women's Health Community. Learn more here.
5. Find Us on Social: Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube, for the latest updates and engaging content.
6. Stay Informed: Sign up for our...

You’ve heard of the nervous system, the endocrine system, and the immune system. But what about the endocannabinoid system (ECS)—the one that helps regulate all of them?

In this episode, Georgie breaks down one of the most overlooked systems in human biology. Discovered through cannabis research but far more than a cannabis issue, the ECS plays a critical role in maintaining balance across mood, metabolism, hormones, inflammation, pain, and immune response.

So why isn’t it taught in medical school? And how is that omission impacting the care we receive—especially for women dealing with complex, chronic symptoms?

This is a must-listen if you’re a health-conscious woman, clinician, innovator, or advocate wondering why the healthcare system keeps missing the root cause.

• What the endocannabinoid system is—and what it isn’t
• How the ECS helps regulate key systems: hormonal, metabolic, immune, and neurological
• Why cannabis stigma is still limiting ECS education in medicine
• The real-world consequences of not teaching ECS in medical or nursing school
• Why women with complex symptoms may be falling through the cracks
• How diet, stress, and trauma can dysregulate the ECS—and what to do about it
• What clinicians, patients, and innovators need to know now

• Read the blog post: The System That Regulates Everything (citations for this episode included)

**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024**

Want men to better understand how to you during your menopause journey! Tell us what you want them to know.

If you're passionate about advancing women's health, there are many ways you can support and stay in touch with Fempower Health. Here's how:

1. Subscribe and Listen: Tune in to new episodes every Tuesday by subscribing to the Fempower Health Podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform. Your regular listenership is invaluable!
2. Leave a Review: Help us grow by leaving a review on Apple, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback not only supports us but also helps others discover our podcast.
3. Share with Others: Spread the word by sharing episodes with friends, family, or anyone interested in women's health. Every share helps!
4. Engage in Discussions: Join the Fempower Health Women's Health Community. Learn more here.
5. Find Us on Social: Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube, for the latest updates and engaging content.
6. Stay Informed: Sign up for our...