In this powerful episode of Autoimmune Alchemy, I sit down with Dr. Jila Senemar — OB/GYN, longevity physician, and founder of the Miami Menopause Collective. With 20 years of experience, Dr. Jila is rewriting the narrative around menopause — from fear to freedom.
We cover everything from early perimenopause signs and comprehensive lab testing to bioidentical hormones, PCOS, microplastics, and why lifestyle always comes first.
If you've ever felt dismissed by your doctor, this episode is for YOU.
10 KEY TAKEAWAYS
- It's not anti-aging — it's longevity.
- Lifestyle is non-negotiable first.
- Perimenopause doesn't start with hot flashes.
- Iron deficiency is massively underdiagnosed.
- Your cardiovascular risk skyrockets after menopause.
- All bioidentical hormones are FDA-approved.
- Comprehensive labs are not expensive.
- PCOS and endometriosis are driven by environment.
- Food can restore ovulatory cycles in PCOS.
- Women need time, not a 5-minute visit.
CHAPTERS
01:34 What Anti Aging Means
03:04 Start With Lifestyle Basics
04:58 When Stress Catches Up
07:57 Early Perimenopause Clues
10:46 Menopause As New Chapter
13:02 Stepwise Plan And Supplements
16:57 Red Light And Sauna Reality
18:25 Labs To Check First
22:19 Cardio Risk After Fifty
24:40 When To Consider Hormones
25:49 Hormone Therapy Reframed
27:01 Bioidentical and Delivery Options
28:23 Hormones Autoimmunity and Heart Risk
29:02 PCOS Metabolic Roots
30:52 Toxins and Fertility Trends
32:22 Endometriosis New Science
33:07 Optimizing Women in Their 20s
34:52 Patient Wins Lifestyle and Listening
40:08 Why Womens Health Needed More
43:25 Miami Menopause Collective and Empower
47:04 Where to Find Her
47:49 Closing Thanks and Takeaways
GUEST DETAILS
Dr. Jila Senemar, MD | OB/GYN | Longevity & Women's Health Physician
Founder — Miami Menopause Collective Host — Her Time, Her Health Podcast
Perimenopause · Menopause · Hormones Longevity Medicine · Women's Integrative Health
20+ Years in OB/GYN & Women's Health Based in Miami, Florida
CONNECT
🌐 jilamd.com
📸 @drjilasenemar (Instagram)
🎙️ Podcast: Her Time, Her Health 📍 Miami, Florida
About Your Hosts
Micah Yu, MD, MHA, MS, ABOIM, DipABLM, IFMCP
Dr. Micah Yu is a triple board-certified integrative rheumatologist who blends conventional medicine with holistic, nutrition-based healing to treat autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions. A patient himself, Dr. Yu brings a deeply personal perspective to his work, having reversed his own autoimmune arthritis through lifestyle and integrative medicine. He is certified in internal medicine, rheumatology, integrative medicine, lifestyle medicine, and functional medicine. As the founder of MyAutoimmuneMD and co-founder of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic, Dr. Yu empowers patients to address the root causes of illness and reclaim their health from the inside out.
Melissa Mondala, MD, MHA, MS, DipABLM
Dr. Melissa Mondala is a dual board-certified physician in Family and Lifestyle Medicine, with advanced training in Integrative Psychiatry and Integrative Medicine. As President of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic in Newport Beach—recognized by UC Irvine as a Public Health Site of Excellence—she pioneers a holistic, patient-centered approach to chronic disease. Dr. Mondala is a nationally recognized Lifestyle Medicine Intensivist, core faculty at Loma Linda University's Preventive Medicine Department, and a passionate advocate for plant-based nutrition, mental health, and women's wellness. A sought-after speaker and educator, she combines cutting-edge science with deep compassion to empower lasting healing, especially for those silently suffering from autoimmune, mental health, and long COVID conditions. She shares practical inspiration for healthy living and cooking at @drmelissaskitchen.
About AutoImmune Alchemy Podcast
Mission: Blending science with soul to transform autoimmune struggles into healing alchemy
AutoImmune Alchemy is a podcast dedicated to the autoimmune community, offering hope, validation, and evidence-based solutions for those struggling with complex autoimmune conditions. Hosted by the dynamic duo Dr. Melissa Mondala and Dr. Micah Yu, the show features expert interviews exploring root causes like hormonal imbalances, leaky gut, and inflammation that traditional medicine often overlooks. Each episode empowers listeners to take proactive control of their health through lifestyle medicine, nutrition, and integrative approaches.
Connect with AutoImmune Alchemy
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