Endometriosis is often described as a reproductive condition—but for millions of women, it’s a whole-body disease that drives chronic pelvic pain, fatigue, digestive issues, and inflammation that can affect nearly every organ system. In this third installment of the Endometriosis Expert Series, leading physicians and surgeons unpack one of the most misunderstood aspects of the condition: pain. Why do some …
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 …
Endometriosis is one of the most misunderstood conditions in women’s health. Millions of women live with severe pain, fatigue, digestive problems, infertility, and systemic inflammation—yet many are told their symptoms are “normal” or dismissed entirely. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, we take a deeper look at what is endometriosis, why it behaves as a whole-body inflammatory disease, …
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 …
Introduction I talk to women every week who’ve been told their pain is “just part of being a woman”—even when it’s stealing their school years, careers, relationships, and fertility. This episode is a direct challenge to that narrative. Endometriosis is not simply a pelvic problem or a “hormone issue.” It’s a systemic, neuroinflammatory condition that can drive full-body symptoms, persistent …
If you feel like “protein” has become a competitive sport on your social media feed, you are not alone. Between the “What I Eat In A Day” videos and the pressure to carry hard-boiled eggs in your purse, the message is clear: more is better. But for the woman in perimenopause, “more” is not a strategy: it is a recipe …
Let’s talk about the divorce rate in America without the blame games, the “men are trash” hot takes, or the tired advice that sounds good on a mug but falls apart the minute a kid pukes at 2 a.m. Here’s the reality: divorce is common, but it’s not random. Patterns show up again and again—especially in midlife. And if you’re …
When news broke about James Van Der Beek colon cancer, it forced a conversation many people have been avoiding. Colon cancer has long been considered a disease of older adults. But that narrative is outdated. Rates are climbing in younger people. Women are being diagnosed earlier. And far too many are told their symptoms are “just stress,” “just IBS,” or …
Midlife weight gain is often blamed on a “slowing metabolism.” But the science tells a different story. Between ages 20 and 60, your metabolism barely changes. What does change? Muscle mass. Exercise habits. Hormonal signaling. Cardiovascular risk. And increasingly, the conversation around GLP-1 medications like Ozempic. In this episode, we unpack the real drivers of midlife weight gain, the surprising …