Is birth control the best thing to ever happen to women, or are we guinea pigs in the world’s largest experiment? Is voicing qualms about the pill in today’s climate a betrayal to women? When it comes to birth control, the talking points - and the options - have remained largely unchanged for decades. Is it time for a change? Episode 6 of Anecdotal explores the public opinion - past and present - of hormonal birth control. From being blamed for promiscuity, to being hailed by eugenists as the cure to social ills, to accusations that it took away women’s only “morally neutral reason” for turnin ..read more

18 deaths and over 200,000 serious complications, including serious infection or miscarriage - this episode of Anecdotal tells the story of the Dalkon Shield: an intrauterine device used by millions of women in the 1970’s, despite glaring red flags throughout its development. The fallout would lead to hundreds of thousands of lawsuits and claims - including thousands from Australian women - leading to the biggest tort case since asbestos. We explore the development and testing of the device, the historical context that allowed it to acquire 10% of the US’s contraceptive market, and the catastr ..read more

Think female doctors are a recent phenomenon? Think again! For too long we've been lied to about the history of women in medicine, and it's time to set the record straight. In this two-part special, I explore the history of female doctors through the millennia - and I'm joined by Dr. Julia López Fuentes (friend of the pod, sister of the host, and holder of a PhD in history) to discuss everything from Europe's centuries-long witch hunts, to the impact of war on women's work in the 20th century. Also discussed: your lowered risk of death and adverse outcomes if your surgeon is a woman, and the d ..read more

Wandering wombs, attempted murder, and accusations that big pharma is inventing conditions where there aren’t any - this week on Anecdotal, we explore the history of PMS. We discuss the lingering debate about whether PMDD exists, and we’re left with one question: if a diagnosis can provide a pathway to healing, does it really matter whether or not it’s “real”?  Also discussed: the Victorian Inquiry into Women’s Pain, and the importance of electing women into positions of power. Special thanks to Jonathan Skourletos for the audio production support. Click here for sources, show notes, and ..read more

Nazis, cover-ups, and tens of thousands of innocent victims. This episode tells the story of thalidomide, the deadly drug that caused untold suffering to women everywhere and transformed pharmaceutical laws around the world. Join me as I explore the history of synthetic drugs and the life-saving work of one heroic woman. Also discussed: the medical breakthrough that could spell the end of severe morning sickness in pregnancy. Special thanks to Jonathan Skourletos for the audio production support ..read more

Welcome to Anecdotal, the podcast where we explore the gender bias in healthcare and motivate women to get informed, listen to their bodies, and advocate for their health outcomes ..read more