Women's Hormones, Body Image, and Facts with Dr. Esther Rollhaus
Listen to the Episode Now
If this post resonates with you or makes you feel something, share it with a friend! My hope is that we can keep this important conversation going long after the post is over.
We’re diving into the whirlwind of women’s health across the lifespan, from puberty (hello, acne and mood swings) to pregnancy (goodbye, all those shoes that are now too small) and beyond. Spoiler alert: expecting your body to stay the same through all this? Delusional.
This isn’t just about biology. It’s about expectations. Why are we so hard on our bodies for doing what they’re literally designed to do?
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Esther Rollhouse. She’s a reproductive psychiatrist who’s here to unpack the hormonal chaos—er, beautiful journey—we all endure. From the sneaky effects of estrogen on your brain to the “Oh, my hips just widened forever” postpartum revelation, she’s breaking it all down. Dr. Rollhouse is bringing both science and empathy to help us reset those expectations and maybe—just maybe—make peace with our ever-evolving forms.
Dr. Esther Rollhaus is a reproductive, adult, and child psychiatrist in private practice in Riverdale, NY, and via telepsychiatry to New York and New Jersey. A graduate of Stern College for Women, Esther received her medical degree from the Icahn School of Medicine. She completed general adult psychiatry residency and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center. She helps women and men with psychiatric issues related to infertility, pregnancy loss, assisted reproductive technology, and pregnancy and postpartum. She is particularly interested in the interactions of hormones and mood and anxiety disorders across the lifespan, from menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause
In this episode, we’re talking about:
The physical, hormonal, and emotional shifts in women’s bodies from puberty to menopause, including postpartum.
Challenges of returning to a pre-pregnancy body and harmful societal pressures on body image.
The effects of hormones like estrogen and progesterone on mood, body changes, and brain function, and myths about hormonal contraception.
The links between low energy intake, missed periods, and fertility issues.
Physical changes, organ development, gestational diabetes, and the placenta's role in nutrient and oxygen transfer.
The importance of addressing mental health, including eating disorders and body image struggles, from conception to postpartum.
Navigating body image struggles and their potential impact on children.
Tweetable Quotes
"Your body is different. It will probably be bigger, maybe a different shape completely. And that is expected." - Rachelle Heinemann
"To expect to have the same or similar body to what we had when we were 18 or 19 years old is absolutely bonkers." - Rachelle Heinemann
"The reproductive system is not essential to survival. When the body is in a calorie deficit, it's going to prioritize living over reproducing." - Dr. Esther Rollhaus
"Pregnancy literally remodels your brain, with some changes lasting up to two years postpartum." - Dr. Esther Rollhaus
"Snapback is a really toxic expectation to have of women, not acknowledging the tremendous change their bodies and identities have undergone." - Dr. Esther Rollhaus
"Moms want to do everything they can for the baby, but sometimes this leads to disordered eating." - Dr. Esther Rollhaus
"The healthier the mom is, the healthier the baby and the pregnancy will be." - Dr. Esther Rollhaus
Resources
Dr. Esther Rollhaus’ website: https://www.childandfamilypsychiatry.com/
Looking for a speaker for an upcoming event? Let’s chat!
Now accepting new clients! Find out if we're a good fit!
Related Episodes
Episode 151. Body Image is the Last to Go
Episode 139. Fertility and Nutrition with Rachelle Mallik
Episode 125. Postpartum, Body Image, and Eating Disorders with Pam Skop LMHC, CEDS, RYT
Episode 118. Navigating Parenthood and Eating Disorders with Dina Cohen, MS, RDN, CEDS-C
Newsletter update: If you’re not already signed up for my newsletter, then I’m not sure what you’re waiting for! I’m ✨obsessed ✨ with it. In an effort to keep things fun and fresh, we’re going to monthly newsletters rather than weekly. If you have any feedback on what you want to see in the newsletters, reply back to one or send me a message!
Grab my FREEBIE!: As you navigate recovery, you may be feeling like something is missing. You're doing a lot of work challenging yourself with the food, your body, and exercise. You're probably working on lots of other things at the same time, like stuff at work or relationship issues.
But, still, something doesn't feel like you're getting to the bottom of it. Grab my free journal prompts below and begin to work through the emotions of healing.
Subscribe & Leave A Review!
If you enjoyed this episode, you can show your support by leaving a review, subscribing, or sharing with someone who may need help. Click here to open this show in iTunes and leave a five star rating and review.