Empowering Midlife Wellness with Dr. Susan

For decades, women with a history of breast cancer have been told that menopausal hormone therapy is simply not an option. But what happens when we take a closer look at the research behind that recommendation?In this video, I revisit one of the most debated questions in menopause medicine: Can women who have had breast cancer safely consider hormone therapy?Drawing on decades of research, including the work of Avrum Z. Bluming, MD, and other leading experts, I explore what we know about hormone therapy, breast cancer recurrence, mortality, and the differences between various types of risk.Some findings challenge long-standing assumptions, while other studies raise important safety concerns. And that's exactly why this conversation deserves more than a simple yes or no.We also need to consider what happens when women are left to manage significant menopausal symptoms without effective treatment. Sleep, sexual health, bone health, and overall quality of life matter, too.Does a history of breast cancer mean hormone therapy should always be ruled out? Or is there room for a more individualized conversation?The answer depends on many factors, including the type of cancer, its hormone receptor status, treatment history, individual risk factors, and the available evidence. Systemic hormone therapy is generally not recommended after breast cancer because of recurrence concerns, but that doesn't mean every patient's circumstances or treatment options are identical.My goal is not to tell every woman what decision to make. It's to encourage better questions, a deeper understanding of the evidence, and meaningful conversations with the physicians involved in her care.Because women deserve to understand both the potential benefits and the risks before making decisions about their health.Resources & ResearchHormone Replacement Therapy After Breast Cancer: It Is TimeAvrum Z. Bluming, MDhttps://bit.ly/4st0ujiMenopausal Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer Patients: What Is the Current Evidence?Sarah Glynne, MBBS, MSc, MRCP, MRCGP; James Simon, MD; Anthony Branson, FRCP; Stephen Payne, FRCS; Louise Newson, MBChB; Isaac Manyonda, PhD; Susan Cleator, PhD; Michael Douek, MD; Sasha Usiskin, MRCP; Jeffrey S. Tobias, MD; Jayant S. Vaidya, PhDhttps://bit.ly/41leKytInterested in booking an appointment?Click here: https://completemidlifewellnesscenter.com In-person care in Houston and Cypress Virtual medical care across Texas, California, Colorado and New MexicoDr. Susan Hardwick-Smith is a nationally recognized, board-certified OB/GYN, Certified Menopause Practitioner, author, physician executive, and authority on menopause, hormone therapy, sexual wellness, and women’s healthspan. She founded Complete Midlife Wellness Center, serving women in Houston and through virtual care. Previously, she built Complete Women’s Care Center into the nation’s largest all-female OB/GYN group. Named a Texas Super Doctor 20 times, she is a member of the Texas Super Doctors Hall of Fame and a former national Physician Executive of the Year. Dr. Susan is the best-selling author of Sexually Woke, host of the Empowering Midlife Wellness podcast, and author of the forthcoming Create Her. She makes complex medical science practical, helping women live healthier, stronger lives in midlife and beyond. She has also completed nine full Ironman triathlons and more than a dozen marathons and supports women’s health initiatives in Sierra Leone and Malawi. Follow Dr. Susan on social media:Instagram: www.instagram.com/drsusanofficialFacebook: www.facebook.com/drsusanofficialPodcast: https://apple.co/3ePe5NJTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@drsusanofficial Bring Dr. Susan’s Voice to Your Stage

Can GLP-1 medications cause vision loss? And if you’re taking semaglutide or another GLP-1 agonist, is NAION something you should actually be worried about?In this video, I take a closer look at the emerging research around GLP-1 agonists and NAION (non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy), a rare but serious condition that can cause sudden vision loss.We’ll put the headlines into perspective by looking at relative risk versus absolute risk, how rare NAION actually is, and what the current evidence does—and does not—tell us about a possible connection with GLP-1 medications.And that context matters. GLP-1 medications have demonstrated important benefits that extend well beyond weight loss, including cardiovascular and metabolic benefits, with growing evidence across kidney disease, fatty liver disease/MASH, peripheral artery disease, and other areas of health.So should concerns about NAION change the way we think about these medications? As always, it comes down to understanding the actual risk, considering the potential benefits, and making an individualized decision with your healthcare provider.I’ll also discuss the latest expert guidance and why getting regular eye exams and paying attention to changes in your vision should be part of the conversation.Studies and resources discussed in this video are linked below:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists and the Risk of Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy: A Consensus Statement by the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society and the American Academy of Ophthalmologyhttps://www.aao.org/education/clinical-statement/glucagon-like-peptide-1-receptor-agonists-risk-of-GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: Cardioprotection Beyond Weight Loss and Longevity in Mice:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lpo9-h8Ta52nVXHuvcWpz9ZMcKXrLeZ-/view?usp=sharingComplete Midlife Wellness CenterLearn More About Holistic Medical Optimization Program https://completemidlifewellnesscenter.com/holistic-medical-weight-optimization-program/info/Interested in booking an appointment?Click here: https://completemidlifewellnesscenter.com In-person care in Houston and Cypress Virtual medical care across Texas, California, Colorado and New Mexico

A lab result can fall within the “normal” range and still not answer the most important clinical question: Is this number optimal for your health—not only today, but for the years ahead?In this video, I take you inside a patient’s Quest Diagnostics lab report and compare the standard reference ranges with the optimal ranges we use at Complete Midlife Wellness Center—a clinical protocol I developed to help us look beyond what is merely common and identify what may better support long-term health and longevity.Quest is a fantastic laboratory, but it is important to understand what a laboratory reference range actually means. For many tests, that range reflects where the vast majority of the laboratory’s reference population falls. It does not necessarily tell us what is optimal for a specific woman, nor does it account for her symptoms, medical history, age, or future health goals.In other words, being inside the reference range does not always mean there is nothing more to discuss.I walk through the key laboratory categories every woman should understand:• Lipids and cardiovascular risk, including ApoB and Lp(a)• Inflammation markers, including hs-CRP and homocysteine• Metabolic health, including glucose and insulin• Thyroid function• Iron, vitamins, and micronutrients• Estradiol, progesterone, FSH, testosterone, and cortisol• Liver and kidney functionI also explain when hormone testing should be performed if you are still having periods—and why timing can significantly affect how your results are interpreted.Download both documents below, take them to your healthcare provider, and use them to begin a more informed conversation about your health:HRT Labs: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15CGqzO6s-yE3Tf_ehCNgo4aUwasJ3rcu/view?usp=sharingOptimal Ranges: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hRj9LAjPVkO8pvt2GgLI53ATmzFVHnFz/view?usp=sharingThese documents are educational tools and should always be reviewed with a qualified healthcare provider who understands your complete clinical picture.Interested in booking an appointment?Click here: https://completemidlifewellnesscenter.com In-person care in Houston and Cypress Virtual medical care across Texas, California, and New MexicoDr. Susan Hardwick-Smith is a nationally recognized, board-certified OB/GYN, Certified Menopause Practitioner, author, physician executive, and authority on menopause, hormone therapy, sexual wellness, and women’s healthspan. She founded Complete Midlife Wellness Center, serving women in Houston and through virtual care. Previously, she built Complete Women’s Care Center into the nation’s largest all-female OB/GYN group. Named a Texas Super Doctor 20 times, she is a member of the Texas Super Doctors Hall of Fame and a former national Physician Executive of the Year. Dr. Susan is the best-selling author of Sexually Woke, host of the Empowering Midlife Wellness podcast, and author of the forthcoming Create Her. She makes complex medical science practical, helping women live healthier, stronger lives in midlife and beyond. She has also completed nine full Ironman triathlons and more than a dozen marathons and supports women’s health initiatives in Sierra Leone and Malawi. Follow Dr. Susan on social media:Instagram: www.instagram.com/drsusanofficialFacebook: www.facebook.com/drsusanofficialPodcast: https://apple.co/3ePe5NJTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@drsusanofficial Bring Dr. Susan’s Voice to Your Stage Speaking & Media Inquiries: https://drsusan.com/speaking-media/ Get Sexually Woke: Awaken the Secrets to Your Best Sex Life in Midlife & Beyond: https://amzn.to/3rm47IU Pre-order Create Her: Aging Into the Healthiest Version of Yourself:https://drsusan.com/create-her-book/ Join the Well Past Midlife Masterclass:www.wellpastmidlife.com Join The Gathering Waiting List:https://drsusan.com/the-gathering-a-houston-womens-circle/

I believe we need to keep doing hard things as we age.

Not because life isn’t already hard enough. It is. And as we get older, some of the hard things coming our way won’t be things we get to choose.

But there is something powerful about repeatedly choosing to do difficult things. Every time we do, we create another piece of evidence for ourselves: I can do hard things. Do it often enough, and that evidence becomes self-trust.

I recently completed my 36th half IRONMAN. Swimming in cold water is particularly challenging for me because I have Raynaud’s syndrome, so you could reasonably ask: Why on earth would you keep doing this?

Because it’s incredibly rewarding to know that I can.

And here’s the interesting part: the more we do hard things, the easier doing hard things becomes. Not necessarily because the thing itself has changed, but because we have.

This connects to something I’ve been thinking and writing about for years: the difference between willpower and willingness.

Willpower is pushing yourself into another must-do habit. It requires effort and an ongoing internal fight. Willingness comes from somewhere different. You know why something matters to you. You consciously choose it. And with repetition, that choice can become increasingly easeful.

The hard thing may still be hard. But doing it no longer has to feel like a fight.

In this episode, I talk about why deliberately doing difficult things is part of how I think about living well—and how moving from wanting to willing can change our relationship with challenge, health, and ultimately ourselves.

This idea—learning to move from willpower to willingness, and creating a healthier future from a place of intention rather than obligation—is also at the heart of my upcoming book, Create Her, coming in February 2027. It’s not a book about how to be healthy. It’s about understanding why—and how taking care of ourselves can begin to feel less like something we have to force and more like something we genuinely choose.

Learn more about Create Her and pre-order the book:https://drsusan.com/create-her-book/https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637636644?tag=simonsayscom
Dr. Susan Hardwick-Smith is a nationally recognized, board-certified OB/GYN, Certified Menopause Practitioner, author, physician executive, and authority on menopause, hormone therapy, sexual wellness, and women’s healthspan.

She founded Complete Midlife Wellness Center, serving women in Houston and through virtual care. Previously, she built Complete Women’s Care Center into the nation’s largest all-female OB/GYN group. Named a Texas Super Doctor 20 times, she is a member of the Texas Super Doctors Hall of Fame and a former national Physician Executive of the Year.

Dr. Susan is the best-selling author of Sexually Woke, host of the Empowering Midlife Wellness podcast, and author of the forthcoming Create Her.

She makes complex medical science practical, helping women live healthier, stronger lives in midlife and beyond.

She has also completed nine full Ironman triathlons and more than a dozen marathons and supports women’s health initiatives in Sierra Leone and Malawi.

Follow Dr. Susan on social media:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/drsusanofficial
Facebook: www.facebook.com/drsusanofficial
Podcast: https://apple.co/3ePe5NJ
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@drsusanofficial
Bring Dr. Susan’s Voice to Your Stage

Interested in booking Dr. Susan for a keynote, panel discussion, podcast interview, media appearance, or special event?

Speaking & Media Inquiries: https://drsusan.com/speaking-media/ Get Sexually Woke: Awaken the Secrets to Your Best Sex Life in Midlife & Beyond: https://amzn.to/3rm47IU Pre-order Create Her: Aging Into the Healthiest Version of Yourself:https://drsusan.com/create-her-book/ Join the Well Past Midlife
Masterclass:www.wellpastmidlife.com Join The Gathering Waiting List:https://drsusan.com/the-gathering-a-houston-womens-circle/

So many women quietly live with discomfort or self-consciousness about their most intimate anatomy, believing they shouldn’t talk about it—or that wanting to change something makes them vain. It doesn’t.I made this video because women deserve honest information about their bodies without embarrassment or judgment. I explain what labiaplasty is, why women consider it, and how changes in the labia can affect comfort, clothing, exercise, intimacy, and confidence.I understand personally how something that appears “cosmetic” can shape everyday life. After having my twins, I lived for years with excess abdominal skin that changed how I dressed, travelled, and felt during intimacy. Choosing to have it removed gave me back a sense of ease in my body.Having performed more than 600 labiaplasty procedures, I see this work as both surgery and artistry. Every woman’s anatomy is different, and every procedure requires careful attention to proportion, symmetry, function, sensation, and a natural result.You are already beautiful. You also have every right to make thoughtful decisions about your own body and what helps you feel most at home in it.Watch the video—and if it speaks to something you’ve been quietly wondering about, let’s talk. You can book a private consultation with me or share this with a woman who deserves to know she has choices, too.Interested in booking an appointment?Click here: https://completemidlifewellnesscenter.com In-person care in Houston and Cypress Virtual medical care across Texas, California, and New MexicoDr. Susan Hardwick-Smith is a nationally recognized, board-certified OB/GYN, Certified Menopause Practitioner, author, physician executive, and authority on menopause, hormone therapy, sexual wellness, and women’s healthspan. She founded Complete Midlife Wellness Center, serving women in Houston and through virtual care. Previously, she built Complete Women’s Care Center into the nation’s largest all-female OB/GYN group. Named a Texas Super Doctor 20 times, she is a member of the Texas Super Doctors Hall of Fame and a former national Physician Executive of the Year. Dr. Susan is the best-selling author of Sexually Woke, host of the Empowering Midlife Wellness podcast, and author of the forthcoming Create Her. She makes complex medical science practical, helping women live healthier, stronger lives in midlife and beyond. Follow Dr. Susan on social media:Instagram: www.instagram.com/drsusanofficialFacebook: www.facebook.com/drsusanofficialPodcast: https://apple.co/3ePe5NJTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@drsusanofficial Bring Dr. Susan’s Voice to Your StageInterested in booking Dr. Susan for a keynote, panel discussion, podcast interview, media appearance, or special event?Speaking & Media Inquiries: https://drsusan.com/speaking-media/ Get Sexually Woke: Awaken the Secrets to Your Best Sex Life in Midlife & Beyond: https://amzn.to/3rm47IU Pre-order Create Her: Aging Into the Healthiest Version of Yourself:https://drsusan.com/create-her-book/ Join the Well Past Midlife Masterclass:www.wellpastmidlife.com
 Join The Gathering Waiting List:https://drsusan.com/the-gathering-a-houston-womens-circle/