Bloating, Autoimmune Disease & a Space for Real Talk in Women’s Health

Why we need honest conversations—and where you can finally have them

🚨 Let’s be real—women’s health is full of questions, but not enough spaces for honest answers. I’ve spent years uncovering the truth about bloating, autoimmune disease, and how medicine often fails us. But the best insights don’t just come from experts—they come from YOU.

That’s why I’m launching a private Slack community—a judgment-free space to ask, share, and connect without trolls or misinformation. Want in? Sign up!

Also in this issue:
💨 Bloating: What your gut is trying to tell you, featuring Dr. Edison de Mello
🦠 Autoimmune Disease: The warning signs most doctors miss
💡 Women’s Health News: Perimenopause and the brain—finally, some answers!
🎤 Laugh Break: A male comedian hilariously explains IUDs
📅 Upcoming Event: Why investing in women’s health makes business sense (March 28)

💡 Ready to dig in? Let’s go.

🔥 The Truth About Autoimmune Disease (And Why You're Not Crazy)

March is Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month. But for millions, every month is a battle to be heard, diagnosed, and treated.

If you've ever felt like your symptoms were dismissed, your lab tests looked “normal” despite feeling anything but, or you’ve been shuffled between doctors with no answers—you're not alone.

🎙️ I spoke with Dr. Nicole Bundy (rheumatologist) and Dr. Millie Lytle (naturopathic doctor), and they exposed the biggest failures in autoimmune care—from misdiagnoses to the overlooked connections between lifestyle and disease.

💡 If you’ve been searching for answers, this episode is a must-listen.

👉 Read more here (for the big picture)
🎧 Or listen to the full episode (for the real breakthroughs)

Because your health isn’t “just stress.” It’s time to demand better.

🙌🏼 Related: Hear the story of how one woman beat the healthcare system and used her Excel spreadsheet wizardy to heal her own autoimmune disease.

🧐 Bloating Isn’t Just Annoying—It’s a Clue

Some bloating is normal. But when you constantly feel like a balloon ready to pop, it’s time to dig deeper.

Dr. Edison de Mello has spent his career helping people decode their gut health—because bloating isn’t just about what you ate. It’s about the gut-brain connection, the microbiome, and how women’s bodies are often misunderstood in medicine.

🚨 Why do women get bloated more than men?
💡 What’s really causing your gut discomfort?
🥦 Is food really the problem, or is it something else?

We break it all down in this fascinating episode—and trust me, Dr. de Mello is as fun as he is brilliant.

📚 For a deep dive, check out Dr de Mello’s book Bloated?: How to Reclaim Your Gut Health and Eat Without Pain

Because your gut is trying to tell you something. It’s time to start listening.

🙌🏼 Related: Want to learn more about the microbiome? Check out this discussion with Guy Daniels. He is the expert on the microbiome and he shares insights on the link between hormones and the microbiome. Be sure to subscribe to Guy’s YouTube Channel!

📢 Exciting News – Join the Fempower Health Private Community!

I’ve spent years researching, interviewing top experts, and uncovering the realities of women’s health. But the best insights don’t just come from experts—they come from YOU.

Right now, so much of what I do is one-sided—whether it’s the newsletter, podcast, or social media. And let’s be honest, we need more real dialogue—without the trolls, misinformation, or bots spamming the conversation.

That’s why I’m launching a private Slack community where we can have real, unfiltered discussions about women’s health. This is a space to:
Ask honest questions without judgment
Share experiences and learn from others
Dive deeper into research, advocacy, and innovation

🚀 Want in? I’m personally reviewing applications to keep this space valuable and bot-free. The short survey will help me understand who’s joining and what you’re looking for!

🙌🏼 Related: Frustrated that those around you - including your loves one - don’t understand your perimenopause and menopause experience? I’m building something to help them support you. Help us upskill your loved ones to support your menopause experience.

🙌🏼 What’s Keeping Me Curious

🔹 Age is Just a Number: Look at these women who built a community around doing good. Talk about inspiring.

🔹 Fresh off the Press: We finally understand how perimenopause affects the brain. 🙋‍♀️ Raise your hand if you’ve experienced this. At least we are close to answers.

🔹 Endless Giggling: Listen to this male comedian explain IUDs.

🔹 Upcoming Event on Women’s Health: On March 28, Women’s Health Access Matters (WHAM) is holding a webinar to explain the business case for investing in women’s health! Sign up here.

📬 Have thoughts or experiences to share? Hit reply—I’d love to hear from you!

🙌🏼 Fempower Health Resources

Check out Fempower Health’s health topics. Interested in the podcast? Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube.

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The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

Some of the links in this newsletter are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them—at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services I truly believe in. Your support helps keep this newsletter going!

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