Depo-Provera, Risks, and Making Choices That Feel Right

I was at my kids’ soccer practice the other day when another mom asked what I do for a living. As soon as I said “women’s health,” she leaned in like we were about to swap secrets. Within minutes, we were talking about how our generation (elder millennials, where you at?!) spent the better part of our twenties on hormonal birth control. It wasn’t just about responsibility, either. For many of us with PCOS or heavy, painful periods, birth control wasn’t a choice so much as the only solution we were ever offered.

So when I read the recent NBC News story about the Depo-Provera lawsuit, my heart broke a little. The injectable birth control, used by millions of women for decades, has now been linked in some studies to an increased risk of meningiomas, tumors that grow from the lining of the brain. More than a thousand women are suing Pfizer, saying they were never adequately warned about possible long-term effects. The company denies wrongdoing, and ACOG notes that the overall risk is small. But “small” feels abstract when you’re the one living with the fallout.

What’s especially frustrating is how familiar this all feels. From birth control pills to IUDs to hormone therapies, women have long been expected to shoulder the physical and emotional burden of contraception. We’ve endured side effects that were brushed off, symptoms that were minimized, and a medical system that too often treats our pain as anecdotal rather than evidence.

I don’t know what the answer is, but I do know this: women deserve transparency. Not fine print. Not reassurance. Real, honest conversations about risks, benefits, and options — so we can make choices with both eyes open.

Ask Clara: Which birth control is right for me?

Microdosing GLP-1s and Diet-Culture Flashbacks

I read the Vogue article about celebrities and microdosing GLP-1 medications (Ozempic, Zepbound, Mounjaro) and immediately flashed back to my diet-culture days. Growing up in the ’90s and early 2000s, I tried everything from Weight Watchers to MyFitnessPal, meticulously tracking points, counting calories, and stressing over “too-heavy” salad dressings. It feels wild to think how much has changed… and how much hasn’t.

For a little context, these drugs are synthetic versions of a hormone our bodies produce naturally called GLP-1, which helps regulate glucose, slow digestion, reduce cravings, and make us feel full. They’re usually prescribed for diabetes or obesity, but lately, they’ve become a bit of a celebrity trend: Serena Williams, Oprah, Kelly Clarkson, and Andy Cohen have all talked about taking them. Last year, one in eight Americans reported trying a GLP-1 medication, mostly for the weight-loss side effect.

Microdosing, as explained by Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen, a board-certified physician specializing in obesity and endocrinology, is taking a smaller dose than the FDA-approved amount. People try it to avoid side effects like nausea, fatigue, or the infamous “Ozempic face.” Dr. Salas-Whalen points out that microdosing doesn’t always give the full benefits, but for some, it can be a maintenance-level option under careful supervision.

Reading all this made me think about the girl I used to be: the one who counted points, felt guilty after meals, and lived in her head about every bite. That girl would have been fascinated by a hormone that curbs cravings. Now, decades later, I can approach food and my body with curiosity and gratitude — listening to hunger cues, enjoying meals without guilt, and celebrating everything my body has carried me through. I no longer chase numbers or extremes, but I can see that these tools exist for a reason, and used thoughtfully, they're just another way to show up for yourself.

Ask Clara: What are the benefits of GLP-1s for women?

A Late-30s Girl Walks Into Sephora…

Anyone who knows me knows I am low-maintenance when it comes to beauty and personal care products. My holy grail lineup? The CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser (yasss, queen) and EltaMD's tinted, oil-free sunscreen (truly, the G.O.A.T. in my humble opinion).

I’ve always been an acne-girlie, so tretinoin and I have been BFFs for a longggg time. Because of that, I haven’t worried much about “anti-aging,” one of the very few perks of being perpetually acne-prone. But now that I’m in my late thirties, I’m starting to notice that a little under-eye cover-up could go a long way.

So today, I ventured into Sephora. Does that store give anyone else hives? Between the lighting, the endless shades, and the too-cool-for-me twenty-somethings, I felt wildly out of my depth. I stood in front of a wall of Kosas concealers, squinting at labels like “neutral olive” and “light medium cool,” wondering when shopping for makeup became an exercise in self-doubt.

A fellow millennial next to me laughed, equally overwhelmed. We bonded over our confusion, shrugged, and went on our separate ways — one (potentially matching) concealer richer, still none the wiser.

Walking out, I realized maybe that’s what getting older is like: figuring things out bit by bit, celebrating the small wins, and occasionally, standing in Sephora wondering how the hell you ended up there... all while letting yourself laugh through it.

Ask Clara: Why do women feel the need to look "good" all the time?

When IVF Moves from Whisper to Headline

When I went through IVF for the first time in 2018, it felt like sneaking into a club no one wanted to admit existed. Every appointment was a quiet act of hope, whispered among those of us who’d memorized our hormone levels and learned to inject courage right alongside medication. Back then, it wasn’t dinner party conversation. It was survival.

So when I saw IVF in a presidential headline last week, I froze. Not because it was the first time IVF had ever reached the White House — it wasn't — but because this time came with concrete steps toward real change. For once, the world wasn’t just whispering about fertility; it was saying the quiet part out loud... and backing it up with action.

IVF isn’t fringe. It’s family-building. And it’s about time the conversation reached the highest levels of government.

The announcement outlined measures that could *actually* make a difference: GONAL-F and other fertility medications will soon be available at discounted rates through TrumpRx.gov, with low- and middle-income women eligible for even deeper savings. IVF drugs will be manufactured in the U.S. for the first time, and employers now have a new pathway to offer standalone fertility benefits, giving families a chance to access care more consistently.

Still, I felt that familiar tension: between progress and performativity, between access and eligibility, between the visibility of IVF and the unease of who might still be left out.

And yet, there’s reason to hope. These steps signal a real shift in how society treats fertility: from whispered struggle to recognized need, from isolated hope to shared opportunity. We’re not done, and the work is far from over, but for the first time, it feels like the light is staying on, and that’s a win worth celebrating.

Ask Clara: How long does IVF actually take?

Inconvenience Is the Price We Pay for Community

This weekend I hosted birthday parties for each of my twins… back-to-back.

It was exhausting, but also, so magical. That’s parenting in a nutshell, right? Messy joy. Organized chaos. Love layered with logistical nightmares.

It was the first year we did their parties separately, and it felt good to give each of them their own day to shine. Brooke’s was a full-blown Wicked moment (my Broadway obsession lives on), while Charlie’s was all baseball, all the time. Think: peanuts, Cracker Jacks, Big League Chew, and a small army of seven-year-old boys wielding wiffle ball bats.

Some parents dropped their kids and dashed off to run errands, but a few stuck around, and by the end, they kept saying how glad they were they stayed. We swapped stories, passed cupcakes, and cheered on our kids like we were at Game 7.

I saw somewhere on social media that “inconvenience is the price you pay for community,” and I’ve been feeling that more than ever lately. It’s so easy to prioritize efficiency — the Target run, the quiet car ride, the to-do list — over showing up for the small, chaotic moments that actually make us feel part of something bigger.

Because community rarely fits neatly into our schedules. It’s loud, messy, and almost always inconvenient. But it’s also where we laugh the hardest, feel the most seen, and remember we’re not doing this alone.

Ask Clara: Why is community so important for women's health?

Menopause: Puberty’s Older, Moodier Sister

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about what’s ahead: menopause feels like this mysterious next chapter everyone whispers about but no one fully explains. I’m not there yet, but as someone who writes about women’s health for a living, I can’t help noticing friends saying things like, “Why am I suddenly waking up drenched in sweat?” or “When did my metabolism just vanish?” It’s like puberty’s older, moodier sister has officially entered the group chat.

Turns out, they’re not imagining it. New research from ZOE (the largest study on menopause and nutrition to date!), paints menopause as a full-body plot twist. Post-menopausal women tend to have higher blood sugar, blood pressure, and body fat, along with worse sleep and stronger sugar cravings. In other words, it’s not just you — your metabolism really does change.

Here’s the practical part: while declining estrogen impacts how our bodies process glucose and store fat, there are ways to work with it. Women who focus on gut health (think fiber, whole grains, veggies, and fermented foods) saw better blood sugar and inflammation markers. Those using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) also fared better, with healthier blood fats and less belly fat. Small shifts, both on your plate and in your self-care, really do add up.

So if your jeans feel snug, your sweet tooth is raging, and your sleep is off, take a breath. You’re not “failing at wellness.” Your biology is evolving, and you can evolve with it.

Ask Clara: How can you support your metabolism as you head toward menopause?

Winning the Sister-in-Law Jackpot

This weekend, we visited my sister-in-law, and honestly… I think I hit the jackpot. She had my kids’ favorite snacks ready before they asked, let them make a mess (even though she’s the ultimate Type-A to my Type-B tendencies), and somehow kept her cool through all of it.

Was she overstimulated by the end? Absolutely. But here’s the magic: she could tell us honestly, without drama, because we’re that close. That kind of relationship is rare. Someone who can handle the chaos, be present for the fun, and still tell you when it’s a lot? Pure gold.

We laughed over our kids’ shenanigans, swapped stories about our bash-brother husbands, and somehow ended up on the couch debating clothing rental options (I’m a Nuuly fan, she’s a Fashion Pass girlie). And it hit me: friendship in your 30s isn’t just about shared hobbies or easy laughs. It’s about people who see the chaos without rolling their eyes and make life feel lighter just by being there.

In a generation that’s chronically online, connection like this feels even more precious. Being fully seen and heard in real life is rare, and it’s the kind of thing that actually makes life richer.

So, cherish the people who can handle your messy, loud, slightly chaotic life, and let yourself be that person for someone else, too.

Ask Clara: How do close friendships impact our emotional and physical well-being?

Breathing Through the Cleaning Frenzy

Does anyone else spend way too long staring at their shampoo and cleaning products, squinting at labels like they’re decoding ancient hieroglyphics? “Paraben-free! Sulfate-free! Fragrance-free… wait, not fragrance-free?” It's exhausting. If you’ve ever felt like buying “safe” household products is a full-time job, trust me, you’re not imagining it.

Here’s the kicker: a 20-year study found women who regularly used cleaning sprays lost lung function comparable to smoking 20 cigarettes a day for 20 years. Men? Not so much. Those little bottles of scented spray can quite literally take your breath away over time. Scientists suspect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in fragrances — chemicals that evaporate at room temperature and can irritate your lungs and airways — are the main culprits.

So how do you keep a home clean without turning it into a chemically “safe” fortress? I personally stick with Branch Basics — plant- and mineral-based, biodegradable, and fragrance-free. Once a month, I tackle a deep clean with the “good stuff,” and yes, my lungs notice. The key is reading beyond the marketing: “paraben-free” doesn’t mean “fragrance-free,” and “natural” doesn’t automatically equal safe. Fragrance-free or low-VOC formulas are your friends, and a HEPA air purifier helps too, reducing VOCs and supporting lung health.

We shouldn’t have to choose between a sparkling home and healthy lungs. Start by swapping one high-use spray for a safer option, and make fragrance-free your default. Small, deliberate changes add up, and your lungs will thank you later.

Ask Clara: What are some "clean" household products I can feel good about?

Blame It on the Full Moon

Apparently last week was a full moon, and suddenly everything makes sense. My ADHD was already running wild (see: previous entry), my period arrived out of nowhere, my mother-in-law had surgery, the kids were still adjusting to their new school, and we had to pack up our family of five to visit relatives a few states away. It was… a lot.

It’s funny how we can be completely unraveling one minute and then our period starts, and we’re like, oh, okay. Suddenly all the chaos has an explanation. Except this time, it was that moment multiplied by a thousand. The full moon energy made everything feel louder, heavier, more emotional. (Costar was not kidding when it warned me my lunar phase would be intense.)

As a Pisces, I feel everything a little too deeply on a normal day, but last week it felt like the moon had me on a string. My moods, my energy, and my sleep were all over the place. It was like the universe had turned the volume up on everything, and I was stuck listening.

I’m still not fully recovered, honestly. But I’m trying to give myself grace — to remember that sometimes everything just collides at once, and all we can do is the best we can with what we’ve got. It’s messy, unhinged, exhausting, and yet somehow… still manageable with the right amount of humor and patience.

Here’s to softer weeks ahead. And a little wisdom from the late Diane Keaton to carry with me: "Choosing the freedom to be uninteresting never quite worked for me."

Ask Clara: How can I manage hormonal mood swings (without losing my mind)?

No One Talks About Friend Grief

My beautiful friend Lisa was just 31 when she passed away from triple-negative breast cancer. She loved life more than anyone I’ve ever known. She had more friends than anyone I know, too, and somehow made each of us feel like we were her favorite. Lisa was a firecracker: bold, hilarious, and unfiltered, but also deeply kind. Her laugh filled every room, and I think that’s what I miss most, but honestly, there’s so much I miss.

I once heard that adult friendships are the ones you choose, not the ones you simply grew up with. Lisa was one of my best choices. Losing her so young — right when our lives were just getting started — felt especially cruel. Five years later, I still catch myself thinking of things I want to text her: a dumb meme, a random life update, something that would’ve made her laugh. Then I remember I can’t, and my chest tightens all over again. 

No one really prepares you for this kind of grief, the loss of a friend who shaped so much of who you are. We talk about family loss, romantic heartbreak, even losing a pet. But friend grief? It’s quieter. It hides in the cracks of everyday life.

Throughout her cancer battle, Lisa kept asking one question: “When can I fly again?” Even during chemo, surgery, and radiation, she dreamed of seeing the world with the people she loved. That spirit lives on through The Lisa Marzullo Fly Again Foundation, which honors her memory by giving women battling breast cancer the chance to experience life-changing trips.

Lisa’s story also reminds us that breast cancer doesn’t discriminate. It can affect young women — women with plans, group chats, and futures still unfolding. I talk about her, even when it hurts. Because keeping her memory alive feels like the only way to keep our friendship going. 

Ask Clara: How does breast cancer impact young women?