Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Menopause, and Science for Women 35+

We have another AMA episode today, where I answer some of the most frequently asked podcast listener questions. In response to a question from Catherine, we unpack the timing hypothesis in this episode, exploring the cardiovascular nuances and clarifying why individualized care truly matters. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: Cardiovascular and metabolic benefits of starting hormone therapy within about 10 years of menopause onset What the timing hypothesis really means in clinical practice Why feeling better does not necessarily imply long-term disease risk has been reduced How endothelial (blood vessel) health influences the effectiveness of hormone therapy  Why metabolic changes after menopause matter more than most women realize How their hormone therapy decisions must change as women move further beyond menopause  Risks and benefits of oral versus transdermal hormone delivery Value of shared patient-clinician decision-making  How lifestyle habits and risk assessment form the foundation for safe, effective, and personalized hormone therapy decisions Connect with Cynthia Thurlow   Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website Submit your questions to [email protected] Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow  Cynthia’s Menopause Gut Book is on presale now! Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Today, I am honored to connect with doctors Andy Lazris and Alan Roth, the authors of A Return to Healing. Dr. Lazris, a physician practicing geriatric primary care medicine in Maryland, is a Certified Medical Director who orchestrates medical care and provides education for several long-term care facilities. Dr Roth is a physician, practicing family medicine and palliative care in New York. He is the Chairman of the Department of Family Medicine and Ambulatory Care at MediSys Health Network.  In our discussion, we explore the impact of the Flexner Report, including how it has reshaped our medical system and clinical guidelines, expanded the definition of disease, and influenced critical thinking. Drs. Lazris and Roth explain how challenging established medical dogma becomes even more problematic within a Flexnerian framework. They examine the prevalence of ineffective and costly procedures, the manipulation of research studies, the role of documentation in medical literature, and the impact of terms like non-compliant and histrionic on the quality of patient care. They also clarify what actually happens with screening measures and how patients can find excellent care.  Their book, A Return to Healing, is truly a love letter to their communities. It is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of our current medical system and how it has gotten derailed. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: Why doctors should question dogma and think critically rather than just following medical guidelines How medical training encourages standardized testing and discourages nuanced and patient-centered thinking How our profit-driven system rewards procedures and prescriptions over proper patient care Why drugs can sometimes cause more harm than good, and how elderly patients often suffer due to overprescribing How drug companies manipulate statistics to make small benefits seem huge Why patient noncompliance can often mean informed refusal rather than ignorance or defiance How biased medical documentation may unfairly target women and minorities Modern fast-food-type medicine and eroding trust within the doctor–patient relationship Why shared decision-making is meaningless in a system built on one-size-fits-all dogma Protecting yourself within a dysfunctional medical system Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website Submit your questions to [email protected] Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community (The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow)  Cynthia’s Menopause Gut Book is on presale now! Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book The Midlife Pause supplement line Connect with Dr. Andy Lazris and Dr. Alan Roth On their⁠ website⁠ Email Dr. Lazris: ⁠[email protected] ⁠ Email Dr. Roth: ⁠[email protected] ⁠

I am delighted to have my good friend and fan-favorite, Dr. Tabatha Barber, join me again to share her wisdom on the podcast!  Dr. Tabatha is a triple board-certified OB/GYN specializing in menopause and functional medicine. She has a wonderful podcast called The Gutsy Gynecologist Show and is often referred to affectionately as the Gutsy Gynecologist. Dr. Tabatha was with me in two previous podcast episodes, ⁠#206⁠ and ⁠#212⁠, and both are in the top twenty downloaded podcasts in the last 18 months! Many women suffer unnecessarily when going through perimenopause and menopause. Dr. Tabatha and I have an AMA (Ask Me Anything) episode today. We discuss weight gain related to perimenopause and menopause, issues with estrogen replacement therapy, how many different factors can impact libido, how to address a partial hysterectomy and HRT, and bioidenticals versus synthetic hormones. We also get into lab work, skin reactions relative to perimenopause and menopause, emotional eating, leptin resistance, and many other topics.  I’m grateful for all the great questions and have no doubt this episode with Dr. Tabatha will be another fan-favorite! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: Why do too much estrogen and too little estrogen both cause weight gain?  How fragrances and plastic contribute to the imbalance between estrogen and progesterone. How changing to organic tampons and pads, or using a Diva cup, can be a game-changer for women. Should women who have had a partial hysterectomy and are on HRT still check progesterone and testosterone levels and fast like a post-menopausal female? Dr. Tabatha shares her thoughts on plain estradiol versus Biest and Triest. Dr. Tabatha offers her recommendations for a healthy 48-year-old female with zero libido. What can a 17-year-old with high testosterone do to get her testosterone level within the normal range? Is there a biological or mindset issue at play if you never feel full and always want to eat, irrespective of how healthy or satisfying the foods you eat are? The benefits of fasting.  What can we do to support our pelvic joints? How do our hormones affect our skin? Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website Submit your questions to [email protected] Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community (The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow)  Cynthia’s Menopause Gut Book is on presale now! Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book The Midlife Pause supplement line Connect with Dr. Tabatha Barber On her ⁠website⁠ ⁠The Gutsy Gynecologist Show⁠ ⁠Episode 206 Pt 1: A Deep Dive into Perimenopause- Hormonal Imbalances and Birth Control with Dr. Tabatha Barber⁠ ⁠Episode 212 Pt. 2: A Deep Dive into Hormonal Imbalances and Menopause with Dr. Tabatha Barber⁠ Books mentioned: ⁠The XX Brain⁠ by Lisa Mosconi

I am thrilled to reconnect with Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj today. Dr. Bhojraj is a board-certified interventional cardiologist who became a pioneer in functional medicine. In our conversation, we dive into palpitations, which are a common complaint among perimenopausal and menopausal women. We explore red flag symptoms, the physiological effects of progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone as they relate to heart arrhythmias, EKG changes during the perimenopause-to-menopause transition, and wearable technologies. We unpack the differences between benign and more concerning arrhythmias, risk factors for atrial fibrillation, and the process of taking a thorough history, ordering the correct tests, and using imaging or sleep studies when appropriate. We cover treatment pathways, from lifestyle modifications to medications, channelopathies, and the genetic propensities for conditions such as Long QT, Brugada Syndrome, WPW (Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome), and sudden cardiac death. We also highlight the importance of genetic testing for individuals with a family history of those conditions. Today’s conversation with Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj is full of practical wisdom and clinical pearls, so you will most likely want to listen to it more than once. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: Why thyroid function should always be taken into account when assessing heart rhythm issues   How stress and life circumstances can trigger palpitations  The benefits of magnesium supplementation for supporting heart health What ventricular arrhythmias (from the bottom chambers) and atrial arrhythmias (from the top chambers) are commonly related to The value of monitoring for identifying the nature and severity of arrhythmias How sleep apnea can increase the risk of arrhythmia   The importance of exercise, stress management, and healthy lifestyle habits for supporting heart rhythm Why certain arrhythmias may require procedural interventions Why various types of athletic activity matter when evaluating arrhythmias How genetic factors can impact specialized heart assessments Connect with Cynthia Thurlow   Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website Submit your questions to [email protected] Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community (The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow)  Cynthia’s Menopause Gut Book is on presale now! Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book The Midlife Pause supplement line Connect with Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj On his website On social media: @DoctorSanjayMD The Curious Cardiologist Podcast

I am dedicating today's entire episode to colonoscopies.  When I had my fifth colonoscopy yesterday, I shared the before-and-after experience online and received a flood of responses. Healthcare professionals thanked me for the transparency, while many followers admitted they were anxious, postponing their own procedures, or worried about the small likelihood of complications.  With my own strong family history of precancerous polyps and years of firsthand experience, I wanted to dive deeper so I can speak from both knowledge and empowerment. Join me as I unpack the facts to dispel your fears and bring a sense of calm confidence to this potentially life-saving procedure. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: How the rising incidence of colorectal cancer in younger women has led to a need for earlier detection  How colorectal cancer symptoms often get misattributed to stress, perimenopause, hemorrhoids, or other hormonal changes The risk factors of colonoscopies Various types of colonoscopy prep  How colonoscopy prep impacts the gut microbiome How probiotics can help reduce post-colonoscopy GI symptoms What women need to know about sessile serrated polyps How perimenopause and menopause alter colorectal cancer risk in women What major clinical trials reveal about prevention and long-term protection Some alternatives to traditional colonoscopy Connect with Cynthia Thurlow   Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website Submit your questions to [email protected] Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow  Cynthia’s Menopause Gut Book is on presale now! Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book The Midlife Pause supplement line Research Links: Risk of colorectal cancer seven years after flexible sigmoidoscopy screening: randomised controlled trial  Once-only flexible sigmoidoscopy screening in prevention of colorectal cancer: a multicentre randomised controlled trial Effect of Colonoscopy Screening on Risks of Colorectal Cancer and Related Death Response: Re: Mobile Phone Use and Brain Tumors in Children and Adolescents: A Multicenter Case–Control Study Once-Only Sigmoidoscopy in Colorectal Cancer Screening: Follow-up Findings of the Italian Randomized Controlled Trial—SCORE  Blood Test Could Provide Colonoscopy Alternative for Colorectal Cancer Screening Alteration in gut microbiota after colonoscopy: proposed mechanisms and the role of probiotic interventions Adverse events related to colonoscopy: Global trends and future challenges