Black women are less likely to survive endometrial cancer, which is one of the few gynecologic cancers whose mortality rate is increasing.

What does it mean to survive a diagnosis, and live with cancer?

When Jessica Baladad found a cancerous lump in her breast at 33 through a self-exam, it set her on a path not just to survive cancer but to become an advocate for women's health.

Why is the connection between hormones and migraines so poorly understood in women?

What does having dense breasts mean for your health?

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, or PMDD is a little-known and under-researched condition - a severe form of PMS.

Carolyn Thomas was having a heart attack when an emergency room doctor diagnosed her with acid reflux and sent her home.

The IUD - intrauterine device - is a contraceptive method that was originally created to be a tool for population control.

What are the origins of HRT and estrogen therapy? Historian Alison Li takes us back to 1930s Canada, and the ‘endocrine gold rush’, when estrogen was extracted from hogs, then human placentas, and finally horses - to create the drug Premarin (the name comes from PREgnant MAre urINE). The making and marketing of estrogen therapy would shape how we think about menopause in particular, for decades to come. Overlooked is an independently produced show. You can support the work we do by becoming a patron of the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/overlookedpodcast

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-20361483 Mentioned 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-lim The 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.html 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.

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-middle Samantha 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.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.

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-101 The 2024 Origin pelvic health study https://www.theoriginway.com/2024-pelvic-health-study SUBSCRIBE to the newsletter to get backstories and updates on the podcast - sign up at the banner on the website: www.overlookedpod.com. On this episode, we also spotlight the work of the Gynecologic Cancer Initiative of British Columbia. Learn more at https://gynecancerinitiative.ca/ 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.

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.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.

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/getintouch SHOW 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-menopause 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.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.

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.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.

In this episode, 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. Show notes: Learn more about borderline ovarian tumors - Cancer Research UK : https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/ovarian-cancer/types/borderline Resources for ovarian cancer in the UK: Target Ovarian Cancer https://targetovariancancer.org.uk/ Related Episodes: ‘Diagnosis’ from Overlooked Season 1 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.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.

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/ 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.

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.’ https://witanddelight.com/2021/07/the-powerful-act-of-sharing-our-stories-about-womens-health/ What is a LEEP procedure? https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/4711-loop-electrosurgical-excision-procedure-leep What is a colposcopy? https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/colposcopy/about/pac-20385036 More information on cervical cancer screening: https://www.acog.org/womens-health/videos/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 The origins of the term ‘Femtech’ 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.