Women's Health Through the Decades

"Your periods shouldn't be unbearably painful. Most women in their 50s will experience dryness. Muscle mass matters more than being thin." These are just some of the straightforward truths nurse midwife Claire McStacy shares in this comprehensive conversation about women's health through the decades.

From establishing care in your twenties to navigating the changes of menopause, this episode cuts through the noise of trending TikTok videos to deliver practical guidance on what's actually happening in your body and what you can do about it. McStacy brings 23 years of experience to address questions many women have but don't know who to ask: When should cervical cancer screening begin? (Age 21.) What does perimenopause actually feel like? (Brain fog, irregular periods, and possibly up to ten years of symptoms.) How do hormones affect your heart health after menopause? (Significantly, women lose estrogen's protective effects, making heart attack risk similar to men's, though symptoms present differently.)

The conversation tackles critical but often overlooked topics, including PCOS (affecting 8% of women), the importance of preconception health, managing fibroids (particularly common among African American women) and the benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy. Throughout, McStacy emphasizes the importance of establishing and maintaining a relationship with your healthcare provider for personalized guidance.

Perhaps most powerfully, this episode challenges listeners to prioritize self-care at every stage of life. As McStacy notes, "When you have time for yourself, you have time for everybody else." Whether you're concerned about fertility in your twenties, managing work-life balance in your thirties, noticing perimenopausal symptoms in your forties or navigating post-menopausal changes in your fifties, this comprehensive guide helps you understand what's normal, when to seek help and how to advocate for your health.

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