Hump Day Hormones

You're 46. Your periods are changing, you're waking up at 3 AM, and you're exhausted. You have an appointment with your gynecologist coming up and a physical with your primary care clinician next month. Which appointment should you bring it up at? This week, Dr. Jill Jennings and Kortney Spann kick off a new mini series inspired by the November 2026 menopause special issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology, starting with the article “Shared Responsibility in Menopause Care.” Menopause affects multiple areas of health, yet care can often feel inconsistent or disconnected. This conversation explores why every clinician who cares for women in midlife has a ro...

Season 3 is here, and we're celebrating our 90th episode! This week, we're joined by Estela Nascimento, founder of ByEla, for a conversation about muscle strength, midlife, healthy aging, and the science behind supplements. Estela's interest in strength became personal after spinal fusion surgery at just 15 and watching her mother navigate early menopause with little guidance. Those experiences helped inspire her to develop a supplement designed for women in midlife. But before adding another supplement to your routine, it's important to understand what the ingredients do, what the research actually shows, and what questions to ask. In this episode, we break...

We celebrate graduations, weddings, birthdays, and so many other milestones. So why does menopause often go unrecognized? In Episode 89, we're joined by TEDx speaker and author Keri Mangis to talk about reclaiming menopause as a rite of passage and recognizing the personal growth that can come with this stage of life. Menopause is a natural biological transition, but that doesn't mean women should have to suffer through its symptoms. This conversation explores how we can acknowledge the emotional significance of menopause while still advocating for proper medical care. In this episode, we break down: Why menopause deserves to be recognized...

You’re exhausted, your hair is shedding, and you’re struggling with brain fog. Your blood work comes back, and you’re told you’re not anemic. But did anyone check your iron stores? A normal hemoglobin does not necessarily mean you have enough iron. In this episode, we break down ferritin, iron deficiency without anemia, and the updated diagnostic guidance that may help identify deficiencies that were previously overlooked. We also explore how iron connects with heavy menstrual bleeding, thyroid function, inflammation, and the hormonal changes that happen during perimenopause and menopause. In this episode, we break down: • The difference...

What happens when you have your last baby in your late 30s or early 40s and your hormones never seem to “go back to normal”? Pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding, and perimenopause are often treated like completely separate stages. But for women having babies later in life, those transitions can overlap in ways that make it difficult to understand what is actually happening. In this episode, we look at the dramatic hormonal changes that happen during pregnancy and after delivery, what breastfeeding does to estrogen and ovarian function, and why a woman who has a baby at 39 may not be returning to the...

Postpartum psychosis is rare, but it is a real psychiatric emergency. And despite the increased attention around postpartum mental health, many people still don’t know what postpartum psychosis actually looks like or how different it is from postpartum depression. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Shona L. Ray Griffith, a psychiatrist with UAMS Women’s Mental Health Clinic, for a conversation focused on the science behind postpartum psychosis. We talk about why it can appear in women with no previous psychiatric diagnosis, the connection with bipolar disorder, hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, genetics, and what families need to know. ...

Pregnancy creates one of the biggest hormonal shifts the human body experiences. Estrogen and progesterone rise dramatically during pregnancy, then drop rapidly after delivery when the placenta is gone. So what happens when the brain has to adapt to that sudden change? In this episode, we take a closer look at postpartum depression and the connection between progesterone, allopregnanolone, GABA, and the brain. We also talk about why postpartum depression is not simply a matter of having “low hormones” and why some women may be more sensitive to reproductive hormone changes than others. In this episode, we break down: • How postpa...

Have you ever said, “I swear I become a completely different person the week before my period”? Maybe you’re suddenly irritable, anxious, emotional, exhausted, unable to concentrate, or you just don’t want to be around anyone. Then your period starts, a few days pass, and you’re wondering what just happened. That pattern matters. In Season 2, Episode 84, we’re breaking down the difference between PMS, PMDD, and premenstrual exacerbation, or PME. We’re also diving into why PMDD is much more complicated than simply having “bad hormones.” In this episode, we break down: • The difference between common PMS symptoms and PMDD •...

For more than 20 years, women have often heard one of two messages about hormone therapy: that it is dangerous and should be avoided, or that it is the answer to everything. Neither tells the full story. The research has changed, and menopause care has evolved. But not every headline on social media represents a true change in clinical practice. In this episode, we look at what has changed over the past 10 years, five years, and especially the past year, and what those changes actually mean for women navigating menopause. In this episode, we break down: • Why hormone therapy should no lo...

Progesterone can be incredibly helpful for some women. It can support sleep, calm the nervous system, regulate bleeding, and play an important role in hormone therapy. But for some women, taking progesterone can bring on anxiety, depression, fatigue, dizziness, brain fog, bloating, or that frustrating feeling of simply not feeling like themselves. So what is actually happening? In Episode 82, we’re diving into progesterone intolerance, why some women can have such a different response to the same hormone, and what options exist when oral micronized progesterone simply doesn’t work for you. In this episode, we break down: • What progesterone intole...

If you've been talking with friends about hormone therapy or scrolling social media lately, you've probably heard someone say they switched from estrogen pills to a patch. It's not just a trend. Recent prescription data shows estrogen patch use continues to rise, and there's a good reason why. As we've learned more about menopause medicine, we've also learned that how estrogen gets into your body matters. In this episode, we break down: • Why estrogen patches have become increasingly popular in menopause care • How patches and pills work differently inside the body • What current research says about blood clot risk and cardio...

This week we're introducing the newest nurse practitioner at The Women's Clinic, Amy Wilson, APRN, and giving you the chance to get to know the person behind the provider. With years of experience in women's health and specialized training in urogynecology, Amy shares why she dedicated her career to helping women feel heard, understood, and empowered through every stage of life. In this episode, we discuss: • Amy's journey into women's health and what led her to our practice • Why so many women feel dismissed and how compassionate care can change that • Common hormone myths and what every woman should know about...

"Should your estradiol level be checked while you're on hormone therapy?" "Or do your symptoms tell us everything we need to know?" It's one of the biggest debates in menopause medicine. Some providers say blood levels don't matter. Others want to see your estradiol above a certain number. So... who's right? In this episode, we unpack what the research actually says and explain why the answer depends on what you're trying to accomplish. While symptoms remain the best guide for relieving hot flashes and night sweats, optimizing long term health may be a different conversation. In this episode, we break...

A new Penn Medicine study is making headlines after researchers found that women taking GLP-1 medications had about 30% lower odds of being diagnosed with breast cancer compared to similar women who were not taking these medications. So what does that actually mean? In this episode, we separate the headlines from the science and explain why researchers are excited, while also discussing what we still don't know. In this episode, we break down: • What the new Penn Medicine breast cancer study actually found • Why a 30% lower risk does not mean 30 out of 100 women avoided breast cancer • How obesity, insulin resistance, inflammation, and es...

After nearly 100 years, one of the most common hormone disorders affecting women has officially been renamed. Following a 14 year international effort involving more than 22,000 patients, researchers, and medical experts, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is now being called Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS). Why does that matter? Because the new name finally reflects what science has been telling us for years, this is a whole body hormonal and metabolic condition, not simply an ovarian disorder. In this episode, we break down: • Why PCOS was officially renamed PMOS and what prompted the historic change • What the new name tells us about hormones, insu...

This week we're heading back to school, GLP-1 Summer School, to answer the questions we're getting asked every single day in clinic. A few years ago, hardly anyone had heard of medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound. Now they're everywhere. Some people think they're a miracle. Others think they're dangerous. Most women are simply trying to sort through the noise and understand what is actually true. In this episode, we break down: • How GLP-1 medications actually work in the body • What realistic weight loss looks like with semaglutide and tirzepatide • Why these medications are about much more than weight loss •...

“Why does my skin suddenly feel dry, thin, sensitive, and impossible to manage?” “Is it aging... or is it my hormones?” This week we're joined by Susan Campbell, founder and CEO of Phosis Skincare, an award winning skincare brand created specifically for perimenopausal and menopausal women. Susan's innovative approach to skincare earned national recognition when Phosis was selected by Oprah Daily's Menopause O Awards, making her one of the leading voices in this rapidly growing space. Many women notice changes in their skin long before they recognize other symptoms of perimenopause. Dryness, loss of firmness, increased sensitivity, and stubborn changes in skin...

“Your progesterone is low.” “But is low progesterone actually the problem... or is it a symptom of something deeper?” This week we're joined by returning guest Meg Green, Registered Dietitian and Integrative & Functional Nutrition Certified Practitioner, for a deep dive into one of the most talked about hormones in women's health: progesterone. From anxiety and insomnia to weight gain and PMS, progesterone gets blamed for almost everything online. But what does progesterone actually do, what causes it to decline, and how much of the conversation are we getting wrong? In this episode, we break down: • What progesterone actually does beyond fertility...

Are you exhausted but wired, waking at 3am, and wondering why your body feels out of sync?” “What if it is not just stress, but a full hormone and cortisol conversation your body is trying to have with you?” We are joined by Christa Jackson, APRN at Beyond Wellness, a clinician deeply rooted in personalized, root cause hormone care and formerly with Cornerstone OB GYN alongside Dr Kay Chandler. In this conversation, we dive into what she is seeing every day in women who feel overwhelmed, dismissed, and physically off balance. This episode unpacks what we are calling cortisol chaos, the in...

“Is the system failing women… or was it never built for us in the first place?” “Why do so many women feel dismissed when they finally ask for help?” Women make up over half the population, yet their symptoms, pain, and lived experiences are still too often minimized, delayed, or misunderstood in healthcare. In this episode, we dig into the uncomfortable truth behind inequity in women’s medicine and what starts to change when women finally start talking to each other. This conversation is bigger than hormones. It’s about the entire system women are navigating. In this episode, we break down: •...

New Episode of Hump Day Hormones is LIVE! “If testosterone works so well, why isn’t it approved?” “Is it not safe, or is there something else going on?” If you’ve ever questioned why testosterone for women is still considered “off-label,” this episode is for you. This is not a simple answer, and it has a lot less to do with effectiveness than most people think. In this episode, we break down: • The difference between clinical guidelines and FDA approval • Why lack of pharmaceutical incentive stalled large-scale trials • The real safety concerns regulators wanted answered • Why long-term data is still limited • Why meas...

“Does testosterone increase cancer risk?” “Is it safe for my heart?” “Will it make me gain weight?” This is the episode where we take the most common fears around testosterone and go straight to the data. Because there is a lot of confusion, and a lot of misinformation. In this episode, we break down: ❤️ What current research shows about cardiovascular risk in physiologic dosing 🫀 Lipids, blood pressure, and metabolic markers in clinical trials 🎗️ What studies actually show about breast cancer risk and mammographic density 🧬 The difference between androgen receptor effects vs estrogen conversion in breast tissue ⚖️ Why dose and tissue context completely change outco...

“Testosterone is a male hormone, right?” “But I thought women shouldn’t take that…” If you’ve ever been told testosterone isn’t important for women, this episode will completely change how you think about it. Because testosterone is not just a male hormone. And in women, it plays a much bigger role than most people have been taught. In this episode, we break down: 🧬 What testosterone actually does in the female body ⚖️ Where women naturally make testosterone (and why it matters) 🧠 How it impacts brain function, motivation, and libido 💪 Its role in muscle mass, insulin sensitivity, and metabolism 🩺 What the research actually says about...

“I’ve been told to just stay on birth control—it’s basically the same thing.” “But I still don’t feel better.” If you’ve ever been confused about the difference between birth control and hormone therapy, this episode is for you. Because these two are not interchangeable—and using one in place of the other can leave women feeling worse, not better. In this episode, we break down: 🧬 The fundamental difference between suppression vs support 💊 How birth control actually shuts down your natural hormones 🩺 What hormone therapy is designed to replace and restore ⚖️ Why the type of estrogen matters more than most people rea...

“I’ve been told my labs are fine.” “But I still feel awful.” If you’ve ever wondered whether you even need lab work—or if you’ve been overwhelmed by endless testing—this episode is for you. Labs are powerful tools, but they’re not the whole story. Ignoring them completely? That’s also not good medicine. In this episode, we break down: 🧬 Why “normal” labs don’t always mean optimal 🩺 When labs are actually necessary ⏱ Why baseline labs before therapy matter 🔄 How hormones and labs work together, not in isolation 📉 What can go wrong when labs are treated as the goal instead of a tool 💉 How follow...

“I’ve been told everything looks fine.” “But I don’t feel fine.” If you’ve ever left an appointment feeling dismissed, confused, or still searching for answers, this episode is for you. There is a gap in women’s healthcare, especially in midlife. Your gynecologist and your hormone provider are not the same role, and expecting one visit to cover everything often leaves women without the support they actually need. In this episode, we break down what each role is designed to do and why both matter. We walk through: 🩺 What a Gynecologist Focuses On 🧬 What Hormone Care Actually Addresses ⏳ Why Midlif...

“I used to sleep fine. What happened?” “Why am I waking up at 2 or 3 AM?” “Why does my brain turn on the second my head hits the pillow?” If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Sleep disruption is one of the most common and earliest symptoms of perimenopause, affecting up to 40–60% of women and increasing even more after menopause. And despite what you have been told: It is not just stress. It is not just aging. It is hormonal neurobiology. In this episode, we break down what is actually happening in the body when sleep starts to fall apart. We walk throug...

“I can’t sleep.” “My brain won’t shut off.” “I feel anxious for no reason.” “I’m exhausted but wired.” What if one overlooked nutrient is quietly contributing to all of it? In this week’s episode of Hump Day Hormones, we’re talking about magnesium. It is one of the most under-recognized hormone helpers in the body, yet it is involved in more than 300 enzymatic reactions that influence sleep, stress response, metabolism, muscle function, and hormone signaling. And here is the surprising part. Magnesium deficiency is incredibly common, especially in women navigating perimenopause and menopause. Stress, modern food systems, hormonal changes...

“I already take vitamin D.” “It’s just for bones, right?” “My labs were normal.” Before you tune this one out, stay with us. Vitamin D is not just a vitamin. It acts like a hormone. It binds to receptors, enters the nucleus of your cells, and turns genes on and off. In fact, research shows it influences about 5 percent of our genome and impacts roughly 1,000 genes. And deficiency is incredibly common. If optimal is considered 40 to 60 ng/mL, up to 60 to 90 percent of people fall below that range depending on the population and season. In this episode, we break down why vitam...

“My periods have changed… and I don’t understand what’s happening.” “They’re heavier than ever.” “They’re closer together.” “I’m skipping months.” “I feel terrible before my period now.” And the only explanation you’re given is: “That’s just perimenopause.” Which is true — but wildly incomplete. In this week’s episode of Hump Day Hormones, we’re breaking down why bleeding changes happen in perimenopause — and what’s actually driving them hormonally. Because periods are not controlled by estrogen alone. They are controlled by ovulation. In this episode, we walk through: • Why perimenopause is about inconsistent ovulation — not just “low estrogen” • The progestero...

“Just get through menopause.” “It’ll pass.” “Your hormones will settle down.” But what if that framing is completely wrong? In this week’s episode of Hump Day Hormones, we’re answering one of the most common questions we hear: When does menopause actually end? Here’s the truth: Menopause isn’t a moment. It’s not a finish line. And it doesn’t “end” the way most women have been led to believe. Instead, menopause is a biologic transition that affects every major organ system — and those effects evolve over time. In this episode, we walk through: • The phases of menopause — premenopause, perim...

You finally did it. You survived perimenopause. You found a provider who listens. You started hormone therapy… And then you started bleeding. And suddenly the questions spiral: Did I break something? Is this cancer? Should I stop HRT immediately? Take a breath. In today’s episode of Hump Day Hormones, we’re breaking down bleeding on HRT — why it happens, when it’s completely expected, and when it needs evaluation — without panic or fear-based advice. We start with a real patient story that perfectly captures how scary this experience can feel, especially when no one warned you it might happen. Then we get...

If you carry a BRCA mutation, chances are you’ve been told two terrifying things: Your cancer risk is higher. And hormones are dangerous. But here’s the question women are almost never given a straight answer to: If you remove your ovaries early to reduce cancer risk… are hormones truly off the table — or are we harming women by withholding them? Today on Hump Day Hormones, we’re breaking down BRCA mutations, breast cancer risk, and hormone therapy — with data, nuance, and clarity instead of fear and headlines. This episode is a natural follow-up to our conversation on surgical menopause, b...

If you’ve ever been told, “Once you have a hysterectomy, you’ll go straight into menopause,” this episode is for you — because that statement is not always true. Today we’re breaking down one of the most misunderstood topics in women’s health: hysterectomy, surgical menopause, and what actually happens to your hormones — without fear, confusion, or outdated advice. This episode was inspired by a powerful listener story and tackles the questions women are rarely given clear answers to: • Does removing the uterus automatically cause menopause? • Do ovaries still make hormones after hysterectomy? • What’s the difference between surgical menopause and natural me...

If your joints ache when you get out of bed… If your hands hurt opening jars that never used to be a problem… If your muscles feel weaker, softer, or harder to maintain — even though you’re trying… You’re not imagining it. You’re not broken. And no — this is not “just aging.” Today on Hump Day Hormones, we’re talking about joint pain and sarcopenia — two of the most common (and dismissed) complaints in perimenopause and menopause. This episode is part of our Head-to-Toe Menopause Series, and it tackles what’s now being recognized as the musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause. We break dow...

This episode is part of our Head-to-Toe Menopause Series, and it tackles one of the most underdiagnosed and undertreated menopause conditions out there — GSM. This is a menopause symptom that’s incredibly common, highly treatable, and somehow still whispered about like it’s a secret. If you’ve ever thought: “Why does sex suddenly feel like sandpaper?” “Why am I peeing all the time?” “Why do I feel irritated down there for no reason?” You’re not broken. You’re not “just getting older.” You may have Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) — and today, we’re talking all about it. We break down: • What GSM actual...

New Episode of Hump Day Hormones is LIVE! You didn’t suddenly lose discipline. You didn’t forget how to eat or move. And no — this is not a willpower problem. If you’ve hit midlife and thought: “I eat the same. I move the same. Why is everything going to my stomach?” This episode is for you. 👖➡️😩 Today on Hump Day Hormones, we’re talking about menopause metabolism — and why fat suddenly packs up and moves straight to your belly. This episode is a deeper, science-backed follow-up to our fan-favorite Menopause and Muffin Tops, because this topic deserves more than “eat less and move mo...

It may be freezing outside — but if you’re in midlife, it might feel like your body is on fire. 🔥 In this episode of Hump Day Hormones, we continue our Head-to-Toe Menopause Series by turning up the heat and tackling one of the most misunderstood (and dismissed) menopause symptoms: hot flashes. If you’ve ever gone from “I’m fine” to “why am I radiating like a space heater?” in under 30 seconds — this episode is for you. We break down: • Why hot flashes start in the brain, not just the ovaries • How estrogen stabilizes your internal thermostat — and what happens when it drops • Why hot fla...

We’re smack dab in the middle of Menopause Awareness Month (and yes, it’s also Breast Cancer Awareness Month) — so today, we’re taking things back to the basics. No studies, no medical jargon, just an honest, relatable conversation about something every woman eventually faces: how to actually talk to your provider about perimenopause, menopause, and hormone health. If you’ve ever left your appointment thinking, “That was… not helpful,” or felt brushed off when you brought up hot flashes, brain fog, low libido, or the sudden mood swings that seem to appear out of nowhere — you are not alone. Women every...

Happy Menopause Month! This week on Hump Day Hormones, we’re wrapping up our deep-dive into the perimenopause–estrogen–liver–gut connection with one seriously underrated superstar: your estrobolome — the gut bacteria squad that manages how estrogen moves through your body. Think of it as your hormone recycling center — deciding whether estrogen gets shipped out for good or sneaks back in for a second round. When it’s balanced, life feels smooth: your mood is stable, your sleep makes sense, and your jeans fit the same two days in a row. But when it’s off? Cue bloating, irritability, and that lovely estr...