This Toxic Trio Is Wreaking Havoc on Women’s Bodies

In this powerful episode of Never Been Sicker, Michael Rubino sits down with Dr. Suzanne Gilberg, Chief Clinical Officer of MonarchMD and author of Menopause Bootcamp, for a wide-ranging and eye-opening conversation about how environmental toxins—from mold to microplastics—are silently impacting our health, especially women’s health.

Dr. Gilberg is conventionally trained (board-certified in OBGYN and formerly in Integrative and Holistic Medicine), but her experience and curiosity led her to explore the deeper, often-overlooked environmental factors behind the rise in chronic illness—particularly among women going through perimenopause and menopause.

Together, they dive into:

• The growing body of research around microplastics in our bodies
• The toxic legacy of wildfires—and why post-disaster air isn’t as “clean” as we’re told
• How inflammation from environmental exposures disrupts hormones, increases disease risk, and contributes to early menopause
• Why women are often more affected by mold and air pollution (hint: fluctuating hormones + inflammatory load)
• The shocking underfunding of women’s health and menopause research
• The importance of listening to patient stories—and why “I don’t know” should be a more common phrase in medicine
• How Dr. Gilberg left the broken medical system and started a new kind of practice focused on prevention, personalization, and empowerment

Dr. Gilberg also shares why she founded Menopause Bootcamp, the movement she started to create safe, supportive spaces where women can learn, connect, and take control of their health—without shame or gaslighting.

This conversation is a must-watch for anyone feeling dismissed, frustrated, or unsupported in their health journey. It’s also a wake-up call for how little our environment is being factored into mainstream healthcare—and why that needs to change.