PCOS has a new name, and a lot of people are asking the right question: does this actually change anything? In this episode, I break down the shift from PCOS to PMOS—polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome—and why I see it as directionally positive, but nowhere near sufficient on its own. The old name was misleading. It made “cysts” the focus, even …
Have you ever started perimenopause hormone therapy and expected relief, only to feel more bloated, more irritable, more tired, or more in the grip of insomnia instead? If that sounds familiar, you are not imagining it. In this episode, I talk with Dr. Pamela Langenderfer about why hormones can be an important tool, but not the whole story. A prescription …
If you have PMDD and feel like you’ve tried everything—SSRIs, birth control, progesterone, gut protocols, antihistamines, supplements, cycle tracking—and you’re still crashing every luteal phase, this episode is for you. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, Dr. Jolene Brighten breaks down why PMDD treatment is not one-size-fits-all, why some women feel better on standard care while others feel …
It seems like everywhere women turn lately, someone is talking about using Allegra or Pepcid to get through the worst days of their cycle. The stories are consistent: a few pills, and the dark cloud lifts. The question is — is it real? The short answer is: histamine can be involved in PMDD. But the longer, more important answer is …
If you’ve ever wondered “why do I get migraines before my period?” or felt weirdly “allergic” to your own cycle, you’re not imagining things. You may be stuck in the estrogen histamine feedback loop, a biologic back-and-forth where hormones and immune chemistry keep poking each other until symptoms flare. This is the part that makes people feel dismissed: your labs …
If you’ve ever been told that heavy periods, worsening PMS, or debilitating cramps are just part of being a woman, this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show challenges that narrative. In this conversation, Dr. Jolene Brighten breaks down the three most common menstrual problems she sees in clinical practice—heavy bleeding, PMS that keeps getting worse, and severe period pain, and …
Low energy. Vanishing libido. Brain fog that makes you feel like you’re pushing through mud. Muscle that refuses to build no matter how hard you train. If you’ve ever been told this is “just stress,” “just aging,” or worse—all in your head—this episode is for you. In this powerful, no-fluff conversation, Dr. Jolene Brighten breaks down how to boost testosterone …
For years, dietary fiber has been framed as one thing: something you need “to stay regular.” But in this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, Dr. Jolene Brighten sits down with registered dietitian Gabrielle Palmeri to unpack why that narrative is dangerously incomplete—especially for women. This conversation reframes fiber as a metabolic, hormonal, and immune regulator, not a digestive afterthought. …
Weight loss has always been a loaded topic, but in the era of Ozempic, it has become even more polarized. For some, GLP-1 medications feel like a long-overdue breakthrough. For others, they trigger fear, shame, or moral judgment. And for many women, they come with unexpected side effects, confusing outcomes, and the unsettling realization that losing weight doesn’t always mean …