Dr. Anna Cabeca is a triple-board-certified OB-GYN, author, podcast host and pioneering voice in women’s health. With decades of experience, Dr. Anna has dedicated her career to empowering women through every stage of life, particularly during the transformative journey of menopause. Dr. Anna’s unique perspective on health stems from her own battle with premature menopause, a challenge she faced head-on and reversed, leading to the natural conception of her daughter at the age of 41.
Your guide for thriving through menopause.
Throughout the episode, Dr. Anna shares her expertise on the complexities of hormonal changes and the importance of managing stress to combat premature menopause. She offers practical advice on improving sleep quality during perimenopause; addressing common contributors to disrupted sleep like cortisol spikes from EMF and low progesterone. She also delves into how women can safely navigate the increased sensitivity to caffeine and alcohol that often accompanies menopause, what workouts to do in different phases of your cycle, and how often you should be seeing your OB-GYN.
With her compassionate and informed approach, Dr. Anna illustrates the beauty of the menopausal transition and the importance of community and connection in maintaining health and vitality during this stage of life. Tune in for a conversation that is filled with actionable insights to help you thrive physically, emotionally, and spiritually as you age!
(00:03:28) Tackling Stress to Reverse Premature Menopause
- Dr. Cabeca’s journey with premature menopause and the lack of resources out there
- Read: Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom by Christiane Northrup M.D.
- Read: The Wisdom of Menopause by Christiane Northrup M.D.
- The symptoms of perimenopause and Karena’s experience with premature menopause
- How she reversed early menopause and naturally conceived her daughter at 41
- The role of stress in perimenopause
- When to do pelvic ultrasounds
(00:13:44) Boosting Progesterone & Oxytocin for Healthy Aging
- What is the KetoGreen lifestyle?
- Why measuring urine pH is so important
- Signs your progesterone is really low
- How to get more oxytocin, aka the healthy aging hormone
(00:20:18) Reducing Cortisol for Better Sleep in Perimenopause & Menopause
- Answering a listener question: Why sleep can suffer during perimenopause
- The benefits of maca for hormone health, sleep and sensation
- Shop: Mighty Maca Plus
- Shop: Magic Menopause Bundle
- Should we try to reverse menopause?
- When to supplement with melatonin
- How EMF leads to decreased sleep quality and cortisol spikes
- How many hours of sleep do women need?
- Why we’re waking up at 3 am and what to do about it
- How and where to use topical progesterone cream
(00:39:07) Safely Consuming Alcohol & Caffeine in Menopause
- Why women in menopause are more sensitive to caffeine and alcohol
- How (even black) coffee impacts glucose and weight loss resistance
- Why increasing oxytocin while drinking alcohol supports better metabolizing
- The importance of community and connection for health
(00:44:25) Scheduling OB-GYN Visits & Improving Intimacy As We Age
- How often do you need to go to the OB-GYN?
- Why you need annual exams especially if you’re taking hormones
- How to address dryness as we age
- Using DHEA for vaginal and sexual health
(00:51:05) Cycle-Synced Workouts & Celebrating Menopause
- Workout recommendations for different phases during your cycle
- The importance of listening to your body and intuition
- How she celebrated her menopause milestone and why that’s important
- How can we help men support women more in this transition
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Guest Info:
- Website: drannacabeca.com
- Instagram: @thegirlfrienddoctor
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Producer, Bobby Goldstein.