106: Birth Control's Long-Term Side Effects With Jolene Brighten

Health Disparities

Jolene Brighten highlights the alarming disparities in women's health treatment, emphasizing the need for awareness and understanding. She shares that many women, including young ones, face serious health issues like strokes and clots, often dismissed by healthcare providers 1. This lack of recognition can lead to severe consequences, as women are frequently told their symptoms are minor until they escalate. Brighten stresses the importance of comprehensive hormonal health checks, which can reveal underlying issues that start in adolescence and affect women throughout their lives 2.

Patients shouldn't call me up saying, I heard you believe. Women's stories like, that should just be a given as a physician.

--- Jolene Brighten

She advocates for regular thyroid panels to monitor overall health, especially for those on birth control, as it can impact hormone levels significantly.

   

Advocacy & Support

Advocacy for women's health is crucial, as Jolene Brighten emphasizes the need for women to actively participate in their health decisions. She advises on essential health checks and supplements, like vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids, to support overall well-being and prepare for motherhood 3. Brighten also highlights the importance of prenatal vitamins for those planning to conceive, underscoring the role of diet and lifestyle in maintaining health 4.

You should have a vitamin D checked because most of us are insufficient. And that can come down to issues with, you're not getting out in nature enough and you're not getting enough sun exposure.

--- Jolene Brighten

She encourages women to explore beyond birth control for hormone balance, offering a holistic approach to health management.