logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2025
1h 6m

The Truth about Birth Control and Menopa...

Tess Masters
About this episode

What if I said that you don’t have to have a period every month? The way we think about birth control and menopause is completely outdated. So says Dr. Sophia Yen, who is revolutionizing access to contraception and menopause care.   

Dr. Sophia recounts her pivotal “It Has To Me” moment, volunteering for Planned Parenthood as a teenager. She watched a fellow 15-year-old grapple with the effects of an unwanted pregnancy. Determined to be part of the solution, she became a doctor and fierce advocate for reproductive rights, committed to educating girls about birth control to safeguard their options as young women. 

Founding two NGOs for women, and teaching other doctors at Stanford, Dr. Sophia took her mission to the next level with the telehealth platform Pandia Health. She and her team of physicians provide women across the United States with easy and affordable access to birth control and menopause care.  

Upending traditional views about menstruation, Dr. Sophia talks us through the best birth control options, and the science behind reducing the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer by making periods optional. She also debunks false claims about the dangers of hormone replacement therapy, and shares how women are taking the contraceptive pill during perimenopause to reduce their symptoms safely and transition with ease.  

Dr. Sophia’s empowering perspective and practical advice will help you take charge of your health.  

TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: 

  • Education and awareness can reduce the risk of reproductive health issues. 
  • Pandia Health is democratizing access to birth control and menopause care.  
  • Birth Control: Which methods are the safest and most effective.   
  • The science behind how birth control reduces the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer.  
  • Rethinking menstruation: Periods can be optional, and not bleeding regularly is healthier.  
  • If your period lasts more than five to seven days, see a doctor. 
  • The contraceptive pill during perimenopause can reduce symptoms for a smoother transition. 
  • The lies and realities of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).  

 

ABOUT DR. SOPHIA YEN 

Sophia Yen, MD, MPH is a reproductive health specialist and the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Pandia Health. This national online platform is dedicated to making women’s lives easier with prescription fulfillment and medicine delivery for recurring birth control and hormone replacement.  

Board-certified in adolescent medicine, Dr. Yen is a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Adolescent Medicine at Stanford Medical School.  

After graduating with a BS from MIT, MD from UCSF Medical School, and MPH from UC Berkeley in Maternal Child Health, Dr. Yen co-founded two not-for-profit organizations to improve the lives of women: The Silver Ribbon Campaign to Trust Women and SheHeroes.org.  

Dedicated to informing the public and the medical profession about reproductive health, Dr. Yen has been a featured speaker at MIT, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Boston Children’s Hospital, SXSW, and TEDxBerkeley. 

CONNECT WITH DR. SOPHIA YEN 

Website: https://www.pandiahealth.com/ 

TEDx Talk: http://pandiahealth.com/periodsoptional 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pandiahealth/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pandiahealth/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/pandiahealth 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pandia-health/ 


Meet Tess Masters:  

Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.     

Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.   

Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.  

 

Connect With Tess: 

Website:https://tessmasters.com/  

Podcast Website: https://ithastobeme.com/   

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theblendergirl  

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/  


Get Healthy With Tess 

Skinny60®: https://www.skinny60.com/  

Join the 60-Day Reset: https://www.skinny60.com/60-day-reset/ 

The Blender Girl: https://www.theblendergirl.com/  


Thanks for listening!  

If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.  


Subscribe to the podcast.   

Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.   

 

Leave a review on Apple podcasts.  

Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Mentioned in this episode:

Register for the Free Live Masterclass - 3 Secrets to Lose Weight during Menopause https://ithastobeme.com/masterclass

Up next
Aug 21
The Power Of Sound Healing | 068
Liam Le Kelle shares the power of sound healing to help us quieten our minds, and process our emotions and experiences without words. Raised in the Australian bush by a strict father, and struggling with depression, Liam found freedom and joy in making music with everything in na ... Show More
1h 12m
Aug 14
Sound Healing with Tibetan Singing Bowls | 067
Struggling with the chaos of the world? Sound therapist and Reiki master Kelly Sullivan shares the power of Tibetan singing bowls to combat stress, promote relaxation, and support better physical and emotional health. Kelly’s journey as a wellness practitioner began not out of cl ... Show More
1h 1m
Aug 7
It's Not the Right Time. Or Is It? | 066
Is time your ally or enemy? I explore our relationship with time, and how our perspective dictates our behavior, ability to embrace change, and will to take action on what we want. We get into beliefs around time, and how they’re shaped by family systems, internalized capitalism, ... Show More
41 m
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2015
TMHS 108: How To Follow Through On Your Goals, Create Your Perfect Day, And LIVE IT - With Jairek Robbins
Knowledge is not power.   Though we've been inundated with the idea that knowledge is power, it's simply not true.   What good is knowledge if we don't use it?   The knowledge we acquire through our life experiences, through education, through study and introspection, have all th ... Show More
44m 26s
Jul 9
Jameela Jamil: What The Frick?
In this week’s episode, Tay is joined by actress, activist, and podcast host Jameela Jamil for another girl-talk conversation! Jameela starts off by sharing how she got her start as a professional DJ before landing her first-ever scripted role on NBC’s The Good Place. She talks a ... Show More
1h 8m
Nov 2024
How to Create Change That Actually Sticks | Tamsen Webster
Are you struggling to make lasting positive changes in your life? In this thought-provoking conversation, change philosopher Tamsen Webster unlocks the secrets to transformational change from her new book Say What They Can't Unhear: The 9 Principles of Lasting Change. Discover ho ... Show More
56m 14s
Feb 2025
Everything I've Learned (so far): A Guide to Personal Growth
In this special episode, Forrest focuses on the key lessons from 400 episodes of Being Well, giving you a crash course in personal growth and development. If you’re just getting into the show, or are looking for a good episode to share with people who are new to this kind of cont ... Show More
57m 46s
Jul 6
When You Feel the Call to Do More, Here's How to Listen with Layla Kardan
Have you ever felt a quiet (or not-so-quiet) nudge that you’re meant for something more ... but don’t know what to do about it?In this empowering episode, I sit down with award-winning artist, entrepreneur, and mum Layla Kardan, who shares her powerful story of breaking cultural ... Show More
47 m
Aug 2024
How to Break Free From Your Past with Mel Robbins
In this episode, I'm thrilled to bring you an incredible conversation with the one and only Mel Robbins. Her life took a complete 180 on a Tuesday morning in February 2008, thanks to a simple yet powerful strategy she calls the "5 Second Rule." Trust me, you don’t want to miss th ... Show More
1h 12m
Jul 2024
Start Letting Go Of Perfectionism TODAY & Free Yourself with Yasmine Cheyenne
Are you a recovering perfectionist or interested in healing patterns that no longer serve you? This week we’re chatting with Yasmine Cheyenne, author, wellness expert, and speaker dedicated to helping people live their best lives. In this episode, Yasmine dives into lessons from ... Show More
51m 17s
Jun 12
Tom Bilyeu Shares His Secrets to Building Habits That Actually Stick | AMA
Tom Bilyeu answers questions from the community. [ORIGINAL AIR DATE: 5-30-18]. QUESTION TOPICS How to follow through with habits when you feel like giving up on them [00:37] How to escape a mental loop of negativity [4:26] Tom explains why he is excited for New York Comic Con thi ... Show More
52m 21s
Jun 12
Tom Bilyeu Shares His Secrets to Building Habits That Actually Stick | AMA
Tom Bilyeu answers questions from the community. [ORIGINAL AIR DATE: 5-30-18]. QUESTION TOPICS How to follow through with habits when you feel like giving up on them [00:37] How to escape a mental loop of negativity [4:26] Tom explains why he is excited for New York Comic Con thi ... Show More
52m 21s
Apr 2025
Why Weight Loss Is All in Your Head—and How to Fix It | Drew Manning
Drew Manning of Fit2Fat2Fit sits down with Tom to discuss his 75 pound weight gain and the emotional journey he went through losing it again. SHOW NOTES Why most physical transformation efforts fail [0:45] The power of emotional connection with food [2:08] Keys to getting over th ... Show More
51m 31s