When Science, Policy & Women’s Lives Collide

Good Morning!

Ever notice how women’s health stories always seem to live at the intersection of science and society?

This week, we see it all on display.

🎙️ Dr. James Simon joins me on Fempower Health to unpack the recent FDA hearing on menopause (he was one of the panelists!)—why hormone-therapy labels no longer match the science, and what real-world change could look like.

And beyond the headlines:

• A new bronze statue in London finally honors the postpartum body.

• Researchers warn that older fathers’ sperm carry far more mutations than we realized.

• And if you’re ready for a dose of women-led disruption, THE PINK PILL film streaming Nov 16–30 and a new book Endometriosis from Harm to Hope are must-adds to your list.

Because women’s health isn’t one story—it’s all of them.

👉 Dive into this week’s episode, quick reads, and cultural moments below.

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And if you’re on TikTok or IG, follow @FempowerHealth for clips and timely content.

Let’s get into it.

SPOTLIGHT

Menopause, Estrogen & the FDA: What Experts Say Needs to Change

The FDA recently held a rare public hearing on menopause—and what surfaced could change how millions of women think about hormone therapy.

Dr. James Simon, who testified at the hearing, joins me to unpack why hormone warning labels don’t reflect today’s science and how this confusion impacts real care.

💡 What You’ll Learn

• Why all estrogen products share the same warnings—even when risks differ.

• Why there’s still no FDA-approved testosterone for women.

• What women should know about vaginal estrogen safety and BRCA.

• How policy and science gaps create fear instead of clarity.

• What experts are asking the FDA to finally change.

🎥 Watch the full interview now → https://youtu.be/vPDFcZ7iybY
🎧 Prefer to listen? Find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you tune in.

EVENTS

What’s Happening in October?

Women’s Health Horizons — I’m Speaking

Oct 15–16, 2025 • Boston, MA

Join women’s health innovators, leaders, and changemakers—from FemTech founders and VCs to policymakers, patient voices, payers, providers, life science leaders, and advocacy experts.

Sign up to attend. 

WHRAC Webinar: PMDD Uncovered

Wed, Oct 15, 2025 • 2:00–3:00 PM ET • Zoom (link after Eventbrite registration)

PMDD is a severe, cyclical hormone-based mood disorder that’s often missed in practice. Dr. Laetitia Meyrueix, PhD—an interdisciplinary scientist and advocate with lived experience—will cover what PMDD is, why it’s overlooked, biology/clinical drivers, care & support strategies, and trusted resources (incl. IAPMD).

Register on Eventbrite and please share with colleagues.

NYC Women's Health Policy Forum

Thursday, October 30 • New York, New York (Register to See Address)

Cure and Women's Health Advocates are teaming up to provide in-depth analysis on women's health policy, what is happening in D.C. impacting the health of women, and what we can do to shape the process from experts who have spent decades working in and with government.

Register to attend and please share with your network.

ROUNDUP

What Caught My Eye

📖 Endometriosis Book: From Harm to Hope
A practical guide for navigating a chronic illness—evidence-based, validating, and actionable. Pre-orders help signal demand for women’s health.
👉 Pre-order the book

🎬 THE PINK PILL: SEX, DRUGS & WHO HAS CONTROL
The U.S. premiere is sold out, but you can still catch the online screening window Nov 16–30. A timely look at power, pharma, and women’s bodies.
👉 Get online tickets (Nov 16–30)

🧠 The Man Who “Escaped” Alzheimer’s
NYT profiles Doug Whitney, born with a mutation that should’ve caused early Alzheimer’s—but didn’t. A hopeful mystery, especially as Alzheimer’s disproportionately impacts women.
👉 Read the story

🧪 Older Fathers & Genetic Risk
New research: disease-causing mutations in sperm rise with age (≈1 in 50 at early 30s → ≈1 in 20 by 70). Family-planning takeaways include earlier banking or targeted screening.
👉 Read the update

🗿 Mother Vérité: A Postpartum First in London
A powerful bronze honoring the postpartum body—raw, real, and public. With <4% of London statues depicting women, this is a milestone in visibility.
👉 See the sculpture

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