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BackTable / Urology / Podcast / Episode #251

Evaluating Hormone Therapy in Menopause Management

with Dr. Yahir Santiago-Lastra

Is one outdated warning label standing between millions of women and safe, effective care? In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Yahir Santiago-Lastra, a urologist specializing in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery at UC San Diego, joins host Dr. Suzette Sutherland to discuss the black box warning on vaginal estrogen, its historical context, and the ongoing advocacy efforts to update outdated FDA guidelines

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Evaluating Hormone Therapy in Menopause Management with Dr. Yahir Santiago-Lastra  on the BackTable Urology Podcast
Ep 251 Evaluating Hormone Therapy in Menopause Management with Dr. Yahir Santiago-Lastra
00:00 / 01:04

BackTable, LLC (Producer). (2025, July 29). Ep. 251 – Evaluating Hormone Therapy in Menopause Management [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.backtable.com

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Podcast Contributors

Dr. Yahir Santiago-Lastra on the BackTable Urology Podcast

Dr. Yahir Santiago-Lastra is an associate professor of urology and the director of the Women's Pelvic Medicine Center at UC San Diego in California.

Dr. Suzette Sutherland on the BackTable Urology Podcast

Dr. Suzette Sutherland is a urogynecologist with Arizona Urology Specialists in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Synopsis

The conversation covers the importance of low-dose vaginal estrogen in treating genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), the fear surrounding hormone therapy due to misinterpreted data from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study, and the inequities faced in women's health, particularly in the context of hormone replacement therapies. They discuss the legislative and advocacy strategies needed to enact change, emphasizing the role of professional societies, legislative efforts, patient advocacy, and industry support in overcoming the barriers to updating the black box warning

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction
03:43 - History Behind the Estradiol Black Box Warning
13:44 - The FDA Citizen Petition
18:18 - Gender Inequity in Medicine
24:05 - The Role of Organizational Guidelines in Patient Advocacy
28:51 - Vaginal Estrogen for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM)
32:57 - Medicare Spending and Legislative Advocacy
44:56 - Recap and Future Directions

Resources

(TRAVERSE Trial) Cardiovascular Safety of Testosterone-Replacement Therapy
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2215025

Systemic or Vaginal Hormone Therapy After Early Breast Cancer: A Danish Observational Cohort Study
https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djac112

(ASCO Study) Use of local estrogen therapy among breast cancer patients in SEER-MHOS database
https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.578

Vaginal estrogen use in breast cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of recurrence and mortality risks
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2024.10.054

The Materials available on BackTable are for informational and educational purposes only and are not a substitute for the professional judgment of a healthcare professional in diagnosing and treating patients. The opinions expressed by participants of the BackTable Podcast belong solely to the participants, and do not necessarily reflect the views of BackTable.

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Topics

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Podcasts
Menopause Podcasts
Perimenopause Podcasts
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Urology Podcasts

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