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WORLDS TOP OBGYN: #1 Hormone Problem Impacting MILLIONS of Women (This is How You REVERSE it!)

For many women, the real challenge isn’t just unexplained health problems, it’s being heard when they seek help. Jay sits down with Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi, or "Dr. A", to unpack a silent crisis affecting millions of women around the world: undiagnosed PCOS and endometriosis. This isn’t just a discussion about fertility, but a masterclass on hormones, inflammation, mental health, and the painful reality of medical gaslighting. PCOS, a condition shaped by insulin resistance, hormonal imbalance, chronic inflammation, and neurological disruption, is often overlooked, leaving women struggling with anxiety, depression, weight gain, irregular periods, and infertility without answers. Dr. A shares how insulin resistance acts as the “first domino,” triggering a domino effect that impacts everything from ovulation to mood, and emphasizes that true healing requires addressing all four pillars, not just masking symptoms with birth control. Dr. A challenges the outdated belief that painful periods are “normal,” explaining that severe pain, painful sex, chronic bloating, bladder symptoms, and bowel discomfort are signs something deeper may be wrong. She reveals that diagnosis takes an average of 9–11 years, and that many women are told their pain is psychological before they’re ever taken seriously. Through both science and lived clinical experience, she makes it clear: when inflammation and hormones are out of balance, mental health suffers too. Anxiety, depression, brain fog, and eating disorders are not personal failings, they are often physiological signals that something deeper is happening in the body. In this interview, you'll learn: How to Recognize the Signs of PCOS Early How to Reduce Insulin Resistance Naturally How to Tell if Your Period Pain Is “Normal” How to Protect Your Fertility in Your 20s and 30s How to Balance Hormones Beyond Birth Control How to Spot Hidden Symptoms of Endometriosis How to Lower Inflammation Through Lifestyle Changes If there’s one thing to take away from this conversation, it’s this: your body is not working against you, it’s communicating with you. Pain is not weakness. It is a signal and you deserve to have those signals taken seriously. To learn more about Dr. A’s advocacy on women’s health, check out: https://www.shemdpodcast.com/ With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty JAY’S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe here: https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro 03:35 Are We Facing a Fertility Crisis? 04:24 What Is PCOS? 07:52 Why PCOS Often Goes Undiagnosed 09:43 The Impact of Insulin Resistance 15:33 Making PCOS Patients Insulin-Sensitive 20:04 The Nutritional Effects of GLP-1 Medications 22:40 High Androgens and Chronic Inflammation 26:04 How Hormonal Imbalances Affect the Brain 29:53 Why Birth Control Alone Isn’t Enough 31:50 How to Know If You Have PCOS 35:30 Painful Periods Are Not Normal 37:14 What Is Endometriosis? 46:35 The Most Effective Treatment Approach for Endometriosis 49:48 The Risks of Ignoring Endometriosis 53:35 How to Use Birth Control Strategically 56:31 What to Do If Egg Freezing Isn’t an Option 58:19 The Link Between Endometriosis and Leaky Gut 01:01:23 Potential IVF Complications Explained 01:05:05 A Scientific Approach to Infertility 01:11:20 What to Do If You’re Not Getting Pregnant Episode Resources: Website: https://ovii.com/ Website: https://www.draliabadi.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrej0PO97bg8GRMogtcKbbA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThaisAliabadiMd Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drthaisaliabadi/ https://www.instagram.com/jayshetty https://www.facebook.com/jayshetty/ https://x.com/jayshetty https://www.linkedin.com/in/shettyjay/ https://www.youtube.com/@JayShettyPodcast http://jayshetty.me

Dr. Thaïs AliabadiguestJay Shettyhost
Mar 10, 20261h 23mWatch on YouTube ↗

At a glance

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

OBGYN explains PCOS and endometriosis causes, symptoms, and solutions today

  1. Dr. Aliabadi frames a “fertility crisis” in which many cases labeled unexplained infertility are actually undiagnosed PCOS or endometriosis.
  2. She defines PCOS as a hormonal-metabolic-inflammatory-neurologic condition and teaches the diagnostic rule of meeting two of three criteria: ovulatory dysfunction, characteristic ovarian morphology/high AMH, and hyperandrogenism symptoms.
  3. PCOS management is presented as addressing four pillars—insulin resistance, hormonal/androgen imbalance, chronic inflammation, and brain effects—using lifestyle changes, insulin-sensitizing tools (e.g., metformin/GLP-1s), and selective hormonal therapy rather than birth control alone.
  4. She defines endometriosis as a chronic inflammatory neuroimmune disorder causing debilitating pain and central nervous system sensitization, emphasizing it can be diagnosed clinically and treated first with hormonal suppression and, when needed, expert excision surgery.
  5. Actionable fertility guidance includes early symptom recognition, AMH/ultrasound-based screening, partner semen analysis, targeted workups (HSG/anatomy), and proactive suppression/egg-freezing considerations to protect ovarian reserve.

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

Many “unexplained infertility” cases may be missed PCOS or endometriosis.

Aliabadi claims large proportions of PCOS (≈75%) and endometriosis (≈90%+) go undiagnosed, pushing patients into the unexplained category when the underlying drivers are treatable or manageable.

PCOS diagnosis is pattern-based: you only need 2 of 3 criteria.

She stresses irregular/absent ovulation, PCOS ovarian morphology (or high egg count/AMH), and hyperandrogen signs (acne, hirsutism, hair loss) can combine in multiple ways—so “no cysts/no high testosterone/no irregular periods” doesn’t rule it out.

Insulin resistance is positioned as the core PCOS “first domino.”

She explains that insulin resistance raises insulin, promotes visceral fat/inflammation, and stimulates ovarian androgen production—creating a feedback loop that disrupts ovulation and mood/energy.

Small, consistent behavior changes can meaningfully improve insulin sensitivity.

Her practical baseline includes lowering carb load and taking a 10–20 minute walk after meals to help muscles pull glucose from blood, alongside regular cardio and broader exercise.

Medications for metabolic PCOS should be planned for sustainability, not quick weight loss.

She describes GLP-1s as useful for PCOS because they improve insulin regulation and weight, but warns that stopping without ongoing insulin-resistance support (e.g., metformin and lifestyle) often leads to rebound weight gain.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

5 quotes

I want to scream in this mic and say, "Doctors, healthcare providers, listen to your patients."

— Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi

You know, your genetics load the gun, but your lifestyle pulls the trigger.

— Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi

Painful periods are not normal.

— Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi

Will you believe me if I told you that every single patient, when I diagnose them in my clinic with endometriosis or when I wake them up from surgery and I tell them the stage of their endometriosis, the first thing they do, they cry and they say, "I feel validated"?

— Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi

People grab that mic for nonsense. Give me that mic for 20 minutes only. Let me tell women what they deserve to know.

— Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi

Fertility crisis and “unexplained infertility” reframingPCOS diagnostic criteria (2 of 3) and missed presentationsInsulin resistance as the first domino in PCOSGLP-1s, metformin, supplements, and lifestyle tacticsInflammation and neurologic/mental-health effects of hormone disruptionEndometriosis symptoms, clinical diagnosis, and underdiagnosis driversEndometriosis treatment ladder: suppression, GnRH meds, expert excision; fertility preservation

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