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E209
October 09, 2026
Women’s Health Issues Doctors Too Often Miss with CNN’s Pamela Brown
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In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with CNN anchor and chief investigative correspondent Pamela Brown to talk about Body Language, her new CNN series on the women's health moments medicine too often misses, from perimenopause and GLP-1s to thyroid disease, PMOS, and Alzheimer's prevention. Together they unpack what the series uncovered and the stories shaping menopause care and midlife women's health right now.

They dig into testosterone for women, including why there is still no FDA approved product in the United States, how it is prescribed today without one, and why both of them chose to try it for energy, mood, brain fog, low libido, and long term muscle mass and bone density. Dr. Haver explains the estrogen patch shortage: why patches are harder and less profitable to make than pills, why demand for HRT climbed after the black box warning on hormone therapy was removed, and which alternatives, from other forms of transdermal estrogen like gels and sprays to oral estradiol, can keep women on their treatment without a gap. She also makes the case for vaginal estrogen as one of the most powerful tools in women's health, treating genitourinary syndrome of menopause and helping prevent the recurrent urinary tract infections that put older women at risk.

The conversation turns to GLP-1 weight loss medications in midlife, including why fertility can rise on these medications, which makes contraception an important conversation for women still in perimenopause, and why protein and strength training are essential for protecting muscle. They also talk about why exercise matters more for preventing Alzheimer's disease, frailty, and osteoporosis than for appearance, the promise and the limits of telehealth for menopause care, and why so many women with menopause symptoms still feel dismissed by doctors working within short appointments and insurance models that undervalue time spent listening.

Pamela shares how her own experience with postpartum OCD, in the same year she lost her mother, opened her eyes to the powerful link between hormones and mental health and inspired the series. The episode closes with a candid conversation about postpartum mental health, including the difference between intrusive thoughts and postpartum psychosis, and why women need far more support than they receive.

Warning:  This episode includes discussion of postpartum psychosis and the deaths of children.

Guest links:

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Chapters

00:00:00 – Pamela Brown on postpartum OCD
00:02:39 – The experience that inspired Body Language
00:07:20 – Finding answers and getting treatment
00:10:14 – The women’s health issues medicine is missing
00:13:38 – GLP-1s, fertility and protecting muscle
00:17:49 – The promise and limits of telemedicine
00:24:46 – Why testosterone for women is gaining attention
00:32:11 – The estrogen patch shortage
00:35:36 – Why vaginal estrogen matters
00:38:19 – Postpartum intrusive thoughts and psychosis
00:43:46 – How postpartum care needs to change
00:45:55 – Where to watch Body Language

About the guest

Pamela Brown

Pamela Brown is a multi award-winning CNN anchor and chief investigative correspondent, who currently anchors The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown weekdays from 10a to 12pET. 

Brown has also held a number of roles since joining CNN in 2013, including: anchor of CNN Newsroom, weekend primetime anchor, senior Washington correspondent, senior White House correspondent where she covered the first Trump administration, and Justice correspondent.

Brown and her team have earned multiple awards for their reporting, including the prestigious Edward R. Murrow award, the National Headliner award, and an award from the Center for Integrity in News Reporting for being an “example of impartial, objective and fair news reporting.”  Brown has also received Emmy nominations for her work exposing the Coast Guard cover-ups, her reporting on the Pulse nightclub shooting and the Manchester concert attack. 

Brown was recently nominated for an Emmy in recognition of her breaking news coverage of the deadly Texas floods. She also received a prestigious Gracie Award for that coverage. 

Brown grew up in Lexington, KY and holds a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in broadcast journalism. In 2023, Brown completed a Master of Studies in Law degree from George Washington University. She is the mother of 3 kids and currently serves on the Associate Board of Hope for Henry which provides joyful experiences and scientifically tested treatment support for pediatric patients battling life threatening illnesses.