Episode Details

You're told to suffer through menopause after cancer, try lube first, and never question the blanket "no" on hormones. This episode tears that playbook apart.

I sat down with Dr. Corinne Menn, a board-certified OB/GYN, Menopause Society certified practitioner, and breast cancer survivor who was diagnosed at just 28 years old, and this conversation blew me away.

Dr. Menn experienced menopause three different ways — from chemotherapy-induced to medically suppressed to surgical — and that lived experience fuels her mission to make sure no woman suffers the way she did.

We unpack why breast cancer is not one disease, why hormone therapy decisions must be individualized, and why the "lube it up and suck it up" culture around painful sex and vaginal atrophy needs to end…NOW!

This is a wake-up call for every woman in menopause, and especially for cancer survivors who've been told their only option is to suffer in silence. Dr. Menn brings the science and the soul to our conversation about genetic testing gaps, the real data on hormone therapy after breast cancer, and why vaginal estrogen should be standard of care, full stop.

Plus, she breaks down what vaginal atrophy actually looks like, why it goes way beyond "dryness," and how untreated GSM can lead to everything from chronic UTIs to hip fractures. If you've ever felt dismissed by your doctor or confused by conflicting advice, this one's for you.

What You'll Learn

• Why breast cancer is "as unique as your fingerprint" and why your menopause treatment should be just as individualized
• The 3 times Dr. Menn experienced menopause and how each one taught her what the medical system got wrong
• Why genetic testing done before 2013 may be dangerously incomplete, and how to request updated panels
• The real data on systemic hormone therapy after breast cancer, including what the HABITS and Stockholm trials actually showed
• Why vaginal estrogen is now in the NCCN guidelines and should be offered as standard of care to breast cancer survivors
• The difference between ER-positive, triple-negative, and DCIS when it comes to hormone therapy risk
• Why the "fail first" approach to vaginal dryness (try lube and moisturizers before hormones) is unscientific and harmful
• How genital urinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) affects far more than just sex, including UTIs, bladder function, and even hip fractures in older women
• What Dr. Menn would have done differently after her own diagnosis: baseline labs, bone density, vaginal hormones, and a real exercise prescription
• Samantha's "10% Toxic" philosophy and why trying to eliminate 100% of toxins actually backfired after her first cancer diagnosis
• …and more!

About Our Guest

Dr. Corinne Menn is a board-certified OB/GYN and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner who was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 28 during her second year of residency in New York City.

After losing her mother to ovarian cancer at 54 and later discovering she carries the BRCA2 mutation, Dr. Menn dedicated her career to helping women navigate menopause, with a particular focus on breast cancer survivors. She treats patients through both her private practice and her telemedicine practice, bringing a rare combination of clinical expertise and deeply personal experience to every patient encounter.

Follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and Substack at

@drmennobgyn and learn more at www.drmenn.com

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