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EPISODE SUMMARY:

As the largest virtual clinic for women’s healthcare, Gennev’s educated team of menopause doctors and dietitians offers a plethora of services to midlife women nationwide. Through their tireless work, Gennev helps create personalized care plans to ensure women 50+ are receiving the individualized healthcare we deserve. In today’s episode, we sat down with Gennev’s Dr. Yashika Dooley, Stasi Kasianchuck, and Jill Angelo to discuss how Gennev has evolved over the last few years, depression during menopause, Gennev’s recent partnership with Lifestance, and how HRTs can improve mental health.

First, we asked them about the positive changes Gennev has gone through over the last few years. Jill told us that as conversations surrounding menopause have increased in society, Gennev has grown. Over the last 12-16 months, Gennev has grown their team to be able to support midlife women nationally and have improved access to high quality menopause healthcare. By networking with Aetna, they have expanded their insurance coverage, and through a partnership with Lifestance, an online clinic offering psychiatry and therapy services, they have increased the availability of midlife women’s mental health resources. Amongst Gennev’s growing and educated team is Dr. Yashika Dooley and Stasi Kasainchuck. Dr. Dooley started her journey with Gennev as being a consultant for menopause and urogynecology. After retiring from the military, she joined the Gennev team as a provider. Stasi is a registered dietitian and exercise physiologist who joined Gennev during its early years in 2019. She has training in both health coaching and lifestyle strategies and works closely with Gennev’s physicians to help midlife women manage their menopause symptoms.

Depression is a common menopause symptom, yet its one many women don’t discuss. When Dr. Dooley and the other Gennev providers see patients, they are often met with the same story: a woman experiencing depressive symptoms either had no idea depression could be part of menopause, or she was told by another doctor that there was nothing to be done about it. Many midlife women will also push back on treatments for their depression if they feel they are not part of the conversation, which is why Gennev ensures their patients have a say in their care. Depression and other mental health issues can also be prevalent during perimenopause. Symptoms such as anxiety and depression can be strongest during perimenopause, for your body is going through a physical, mental, and hormonal transition. Blood sugar regulation also changes during menopause, making the body more resistant to insulin, and that can worsen mental health symptoms. It’s important for midlife women to be educated on the right foods to keep their blood sugar regulated and nourish their bodies. Exercise can also be an effective treatment for mental health, especially for midlife women, an age demographic that is often unaccustomed to taking time for themselves. By scheduling times to exercise, women are setting boundaries and taking care of themselves.

Mental health care was added to Gennev after Jill and the providers saw a large need for it. So many of their clients would come in asking for mental health services, and after searching for the right partner to work with, they found Lifestance. Lifestance not only already had insurance coverage and both virtual and in-person care, but also had beliefs that aligned with Gennev’s own team, which helped to create a positive and collaborative working environment. As Gennev added mental health services and treatments, one of the treatment plans included was HRTs. Patients who take HRTs have been shown to have decreased anxiety and improved symptoms. However, for women who cannot or do not want to take HRTs, there are other treatment options. Some options include cognitive behavioral therapy, talking with a psychologist, and exercise. There is also a non-hormonal drug called Veozah, which was recently approved by the FDA for treating menopausal symptoms. While it may be expensive, those who qualify could benefit from the drug. It’s also important to notice any triggers that can exacerbate menopause symptoms and find accommodations for them. For example, sleeping with a fan by your bed to help night sweats or learning breathing exercises for anxiety.

As Gennev has grown, their marketing strategies have grown with them, and they have gone from only popping up on search engines when someone researches menopause to educating sales teams to help promote their company. The extra promotion has allowed them to help reach more midlife women nationwide to help with menopause symptoms.

Finally, we asked them about the correlation between early menopause and dementia. They said that women who experience bad PMS and have a history of depression early in life are at an increased risk of having more symptoms of depression during perimenopause and menopause. Some information out there also suggests that along with brain fog, there can be symptoms of dementia, but HRTs may help.

Gennev

Jill Angelo

Jill Angelo is the CEO and Co-Founder of Gennev, a first of its kind online clinic and community for women in menopause. Gennev specializes in menopause and gynecology telemedicine through a team of OB/GYNs and Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. Additionally, they offer physician-formulated health and wellness products for symptom relief, community, and free education built for women 40+. Prior to starting Gennev, Jill spent 15 years at Microsoft in executive roles such as Chief of Staff to the CMO, Director of Global Media, and Product Management for Emerging Markets. Jill is a frequent speaker on femtech, women’s health, and entrepreneurship. She is also on the Board of Directors for Special Olympics of Washington. In her personal life, Jill is a runner with nine marathons under her belt and big plans to finish a 10th. She loves to travel, ski, exercise, and enjoys spending free time playing with 5 grandchildren. She and her husband of 12 years live in Bellevue, Washington.

Dr. Yashika Dooley

Dr. Yashika Dooley is passionate about women’s health care and training the next generation of female pelvic surgeons. She is an Assistant Professor at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) and clinical educator and researcher at Brooke Army Medical Center, Ft Sam Houston, TX. Her specialty is Urogynecology, Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery. She specializes in treating pelvic organ prolapse, urinary and fecal incontinence and pelvic pain symptoms related to pregnancy, aging, and menopause. Dr Dooley is a MD, Board-certified OB/GYN, Board certified Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgeon. Fellow – American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology (FACOG), American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) Training Institutions: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, MD; Wright Patterson AFB/Miami Valley Hospital Combined Residency Training Program, Dayton, OH, Residency; Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, Fellowship. Her clinical practice as been as an OB/GYN and Urogyn clinician educator and researcher at Brooke Army Medical Center, Ft Sam Houston, TX.

Stasi Kasianchuck

As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Exercise Physiologist, and Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics Stasi brings a unique approach to applying lifestyle change to women’s hormonal health. As the Director of Health Coaching, Stasi oversees a team of dietitians who support women in making sustainable lifestyle changes to optimize how they feel during their menopause journey. Stasi is passionate about normalizing menopause and advocating for greater recognition and support for women’s health.

In this episode, we discuss…

[0:01] Introduction
[1:33] Guest Introduction
[3:41] Start of Interview
[4:26] The Evolution of Gennev
[6:55] Dr. Dooley and Stasi Kasianchuck
[9:21] Depression During Menopause
[12:39] Mental Health in Perimenopause
[18:15] Gennev and Lifestance
[21:40] HRTs and Mental Health
[30:17] How Jill Spreads the Word About Gennev
[34:06] Early Menopause and Dementia
[35:42] Closing Thoughts
[37:01] Outro

Useful Resources:

Gennev’s LinkedIn I [https://www.linkedin.com/company/gennev/]

Gennev’s Facebook I [https://www.facebook.com/mygennev]

Gennev’s Instagram I [https://www.instagram.com/mygennev/]

Gennev’s Twitter I [https://twitter.com/MyGennev]

Jill’s LinkedIn I [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillangelo/]

Dr. Dooley’s LinkedIn I [https://www.linkedin.com/in/yashika-dooley-md-1a480a97/]

Stasi’s LinkedIn I [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anastasia-kasianchuk-865ba3186/]

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Twitter I [https://twitter.com/CoolFlashes]

YouTube I [https://www.youtube.com/@HotFlashesCoolTopics]

Pinterest I [https://www.pinterest.com/hcooltopics/]

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Menopause and Mental Health with Gennev