Dr. Polly Watson discusses why hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may stop working and explores common factors that contribute to changes in effectiveness. She highlights the impact of blood sugar fluctuations, alcohol consumption, medication formulations, liver and gut health, stress, and thyroid hormone levels on HRT. Dr. Watson emphasizes the importance of communication with healthcare providers, monitoring hormone levels, and considering lifestyle factors when experiencing changes in hormone therapy.

Quotes

• “Blood sugar fluctuations are a huge reason why hot flashes and night sweats kind of come back.”
• "I think of alcohol as a special occasion thing... The metabolites of the alcohol can wake us up and can certainly precipitate hot flashes and night sweats."
• “If someone starts you on hormones, they need to check your estrogen and progesterone levels, and they also need to check your thyroid levels.”

Links

Connect with Dr. Polly Watson:

Website: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast

Resources: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast-resources

New Patient: https://hormonewellnessmdacademy.teachable.com/p/are-we-a-good-fit-new-patient-welcome-course

Instagram: https://instagram.com/hormonewellnessmd

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hormonewellnessmd

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG4Tw8oHGR_6wBZmXrTu9xA

Disclaimer: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast#Disclaimer

In this episode, Dr. Polly Watson delves into the topic of postmenopausal bleeding—a common yet often stressful experience for many women. While most cases are not indicative of cancer, it's crucial to understand the potential causes and necessary evaluations. Dr. Watson provides valuable insights into the risk factors, diagnostic procedures, and ways to advocate for yourself to get the care you need and deserve. Join Dr. Polly Watson as she breaks down the essentials, providing the knowledge and tools needed to navigate postmenopausal bleeding with confidence.

Quotes

• “The good news is that most postmenopausal bleeding is not cancer, but 90% of uterine lining cancer presents with bleeding. So if you have bleeding, we need to evaluate the health of your uterine lining to make sure we're not missing cancer.”
• “What is postmenopausal bleeding? Well, it's simply bleeding after not having a period for the last 12 months. Now we know that not everybody's body read the textbook, so we see a lot more postmenopausal bleeding in the early postmenopausal period.”
• “So if someone's healthcare provider suggests a urogenital procedure. I want you to think about how you can make that day easier for yourself.”

Connect with Dr. Polly Watson:

Website: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast

Resources: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast-resources

New Patient: https://hormonewellnessmdacademy.teachable.com/p/are-we-a-good-fit-new-patient-welcome-course

Instagram: https://instagram.com/hormonewellnessmd

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hormonewellnessmd

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG4Tw8oHGR_6wBZmXrTu9xA

Disclaimer: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast#Disclaimer

Dr. Lara Salyer, a former burned-out physician turned creativity catalyst, shares her insights on preventing burnout and finding flow in life. She emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries and creating space for oneself, especially during life transitions like menopause. Dr. Salyer explains the four phases of the flow cycle (struggle, release, flow, and recovery) and provides tips on how to enhance flow and incorporate recovery into daily life. She also introduces the AHA method for setting goals, which involves anchoring to values, highlighting milestones, and activating flow enhancers. Lastly, she encourages embracing the concept of 'good enough' rather than striving for perfection.

Quotes

• “Burnout happens everywhere, right? Dr. Polly, I mean, it is not just health care, it's firefighters, it's police, it's teachers, it's burned out as a mom, as a spouse, as a friend. I mean, burnout is a term that is the worst because it's sort of the end result of chronic stress and cortisol depletion. And it's awful. We don't want to be in burnout.”
• “You love being in flow. It feels good. So you don't want to break it, but we have to. We have to pause and recover and unplug and go out and touch grass and do the yoga and the breathing”
• “We often think of reward as like, okay, let's eat some chocolate. Let's have a glass of wine. And hello. I'm talking to you, menopausal ladies. That's no longer a good reward. Start to explore the other options for rewards.”

Resources

Discount code for Menopause Rescue listeners: SPECIAL for 20% off

https://rightbrainrescue.com/p/reclamation

Dr. Lara’s Flow Cycle PDF https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cB7eBLSzPCTDibnzPTjx1W6-JgJV_Mbm/view?usp=sharing

Links

Connect with Dr. Lara Salyer:

Website: https://drlarasalyer.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlarasalyer/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer

Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7d96T0XY32NxEefslXhLNo?si=28a4865894334dfa&nd=1&dlsi=65d9cfa50eb24cb0

Connect with Dr. Polly Watson:

Website: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast

Resources: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast-resources

New Patient: https://hormonewellnessmdacademy.teachable.com/p/are-we-a-good-fit-new-patient-welcome-course

Instagram: https://instagram.com/hormonewellnessmd

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hormonewellnessmd

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG4Tw8oHGR_6wBZmXrTu9xA

Disclaimer: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast#Disclaimer

In this conversation, Dr. Felice Gersh discusses the complexities of different formulations of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and the benefits of cycling on and off progesterone versus a continuous dose. She emphasizes the importance of considering the whole body when addressing menopause and not waiting until someone is fully menopausal to address the problem. Dr. Gersh also explains the different types of estrogen and their effects on various receptors in the body as well as the benefits of hormone therapy in terms of growth factors, immune system regulation, and cancer prevention. She highlights the need for adequate hormone dosing and the importance of shedding the uterine lining through cyclic progesterone use. Additionally, she discusses the role of lifestyle factors in achieving optimal health as well as the need for informed consent with the use of hormone replacement therapy.

Quotes

• "We're not thinking about menopause as just our periods, right? We're thinking about estrogen and progesterone's effect on our heart, on our brains, on our bones, kind of the whole body."
• "Hormones are foundational, but not sufficient to healthy longevity. You still have to eat the right foods and work on fitness, sleep, stress, and environmental factors."

Links

Connect with Dr. Felice Gersh:

Website: https://integrativemgi.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.felicegersh/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/felicegershmd/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrbn9RUdGuc6Wq-FT7V4u3g

Connect with Dr. Polly Watson:

Website: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast

Resources: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast-resources

New Patient: https://hormonewellnessmdacademy.teachable.com/p/are-we-a-good-fit-new-patient-welcome-course

Instagram: https://instagram.com/hormonewellnessmd

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hormonewellnessmd

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG4Tw8oHGR_6wBZmXrTu9xA

Disclaimer: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast#Disclaimer

In this conversation, Dr. Polly Watson interviews Dr. Felice Gersh on the benefits of hormone replacement therapy and cardiovascular health. Dr. Gersh clarifies the difference between bioidentical hormones and non naturally occurring hormones, particularly in terms of cardiovascular health. She discusses the Women's Health Initiative study and its impact on the perception of hormone replacement therapy as well as the larger implications of how this study was designed.

Dr. Gersh emphasizes the importance of proper dosing and the need for individualized hormone therapy based on the specific needs of each woman. She also highlights the lack of clinical data and the need for more research in this area.

Quotes

“Everyone agrees that exercise, sleep, and eating organic fruits and vegetables are good for health. It's also understood that the benefits depend on consistency and quantity, as sporadic efforts won't yield significant results.”

Links

Connect with Dr. Felice Gersh:

Website: https://integrativemgi.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.felicegersh/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/felicegershmd/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrbn9RUdGuc6Wq-FT7V4u3g

Publication: ​​https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/progress-in-cardiovascular-diseases

Connect with Dr. Polly Watson:

Website: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast

Resources: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast-resources

New Patient: https://hormonewellnessmdacademy.teachable.com/p/are-we-a-good-fit-new-patient-welcome-course

Instagram: https://instagram.com/hormonewellnessmd

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hormonewellnessmd

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG4Tw8oHGR_6wBZmXrTu9xA

Disclaimer: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast#Disclaimer

Navigating midlife hormonal changes requires personalized mental health strategies. In this episode, Dr. Polly Watson continues her discussion with Dr. Elizabeth Cox, a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in reproductive psychiatry from UNC Chapel Hill. With over a decade of experience, Dr. Cox highlights the critical impact of hormonal changes on women’s mental health during midlife.

The episode explores the use of antidepressants for perimenopausal women, focusing on the decision-making process for pharmaceutical intervention, especially when anxiety or mood disruptions affect quality of life. Dr. Cox emphasizes tailoring treatments to each patient’s values and lifestyle goals.

Addressing concerns like weight gain and sexual dysfunction, Dr. Cox suggests strategies such as adjusting medication dosages, using supplementary medications like Buspar or Wellbutrin, and exploring topical agents like CBD oil. Open communication between patients and providers is key to managing these side effects.

Dr. Cox also discusses the role of genetic testing in personalizing mental health treatments, particularly for those with multiple unsuccessful medication trials or severe side effects. Her approach in reproductive psychiatry emphasizes caution, minimalism, and collaboration, creating a supportive environment for women during hormonal transitions.

Quotes

• “If consistently you’re feeling like your anxiety or your mood symptoms are in the driver’s seat and that you’re in the back seat, just kind of like along for the ride, that feels problematic.” (03:05 | Dr. Elizabeth Cox)
• “The weight gain typically should be like 5-10 pounds max, more of like water weight. But that being said, everybody’s different. So I’m always open-minded here.” (08:37 | Dr. Elizabeth Cox)
• “What I feel from this conversation with you is this balance, this gentleness, a lot of choice, a lot of partnership, right? And I think so often women are offered antidepressant medication without a lot of this kind of more nuanced conversation and they feel like they’ve been put off and then they’re closing themselves off to something that might actually be helpful, but they have fear around it, they felt shame around it, they felt judgment around it.” (16:24 | Dr. Polly Watson)

Links

Connect with Dr. Elizabeth Cox:

Website: https://www.resetyourhealthandwellness.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reset_healthandwellness/

Facebook: Reset Health & Wellness, PLLC

Connect with Dr. Polly Watson:

Website: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast

Resources: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast-resources

New Patient: https://hormonewellnessmdacademy.teachable.com/p/are-we-a-good-fit-new-patient-welcome-course

Instagram: https://instagram.com/hormonewellnessmd

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hormonewellnessmd

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG4Tw8oHGR_6wBZmXrTu9xA

Disclaimer: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast#Disclaimer

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“We think that different women’s brains have different sensitivities to changes in hormones,” says Dr. Elizabeth Cox. “It’s not so much about absolute levels of hormones that we think are the issue, but the actual fluctuations and changes,” she elaborates. In this episode, Dr. Cox, alongside Dr. Polly Watson, discusses the impact of these hormonal fluctuations on women’s mental health throughout menstruation, postpartum, and menopause. Dr. Cox highlights the importance of identifying women at risk due to heightened sensitivity to these changes and advocates for preventive strategies such as lifestyle changes and therapy.

The episode covers Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for alleviating menopausal symptoms, the role of antidepressants, and the importance of cautious medication use. Dr. Watson and Dr. Cox shed light on the vital need for personalized care and encourage women to take active steps in prioritizing their health during the menopausal transition.

Quotes

• “We think that different women’s brains have different sensitivities to changes in hormones. It’s not so much about absolute levels of hormones that we think are the issue, but the actual fluctuations and changes.” (02:18 | Dr. Elizabeth Cox)
• “I recommend therapy to everyone. I think it can be so nice to be able to process relationships and stressors, changes when you’re nearing that phase of life—like you’re entering a new chapter and there’s a lot to process there too. So adding in some therapy can be another wellness initiative to do.” (09:05 | Dr. Elizabeth Cox)
• “Some amount of anxiety is good and creates resilience and it’s part of our life and being human. I still want you to be able to feel sad sometimes if something really sad happens or to feel excited. If you feel apathetic and like a zombie and numb, you’re on the wrong medicine or you’re on too high of a dose. But you should still feel like you, but just not as stressed and your bandwidth should feel better.” (18:58 | Dr. Elizabeth Cox)

Links

Connect with Dr. Elizabeth Cox:

Website: https://www.resetyourhealthandwellness.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reset_healthandwellness/

Facebook: Reset Health & Wellness, PLLC

Connect with Dr. Polly Watson:

Website: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast

Resources: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast-resources

New Patient: https://hormonewellnessmdacademy.teachable.com/p/are-we-a-good-fit-new-patient-welcome-course

Instagram: https://instagram.com/hormonewellnessmd

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hormonewellnessmd

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG4Tw8oHGR_6wBZmXrTu9xA

Disclaimer: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast#Disclaimer

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“I retired from my pediatric practice to make a broader impact on children's wellness,” says Dr. Hope Seidel, a seasoned pediatrician and parenting coach. “I strongly believe that wellness begins at home,” she asserts. Together with Dr. Polly Watson, they address the challenges parents face as their children transition to college and adulthood, offering insights on fostering independence and resilience in young adults.

Dr. Seidel focuses on critical issues affecting adolescent wellness, including the harmful effects of excessive academic and social pressures. She emphasizes the importance of self-efficacy, enabling young adults to tackle their own challenges, and equips them with essential life skills such as handling failure, being financially literate, and setting personal boundaries.

Dr. Watson and Dr. Seidel address questions from listeners and provide guidance on managing complex situations like co-parenting with a difficult ex-partner, urging parents to focus on being the healthiest version of oneself so that children can recognize the difference between healthy and unhealthy parenting. Dr. Seidel advocates for transparent conversations about college costs and the necessity for children to navigate their educational journeys independently, avoiding parental interference.

This episode encourages parents to support their college-aged children by fostering autonomy and carefully considering their own motivations when communicating, to avoid imposing their emotional needs on their children.

Quotes

• “Change your narrative – that being a good parent is defined by other people in your life. We all get to decide what it means for us and we don't want to have our kids be accountable for our feelings of adequacy as parents. It's not their job to make us feel like good parents.” (04:55 | Dr. Hope Seidel)
• “When it comes to life skills, we grossly underestimate what our kids can do or should do. We pressure them to excel in this kind of hyper-competitive world, thinking that that's the way to success. Frankly, we're teaching them that's the way to success. Then we sometimes don't teach them the basic skills that truly fuel the capacity for self-efficacy. We interfere with their building blocks of feeling self-confident. Self-efficacy is the belief in your ability to complete your own tasks, to reach a goal, to be able to manage your own situations.” (06:54 | Dr. Hope Seidel)
• “When I really feel sad, I look at my kids' life through their lens, of all that's possible, which is sometimes all that's ending. I can feel so much hope when I can look at it through what they have to look forward to. I would recommend you do that with your kids. Their life is full of possibility and excitement right now. We don't want to steal that from them while we're dealing with our own kind of emotional stuff as we figure this time out.” (49:57 | Dr. Hope Seidel)
• “Our kids are going to live different lives than ours if we're doing it right. They are going to learn to trust a compass that's their own, not ours. They are going to be exposed to things that they have to figure out how to navigate because we won't always be there. The better we get at providing them with that opportunity, with this soft place to land on the other side, the greater their capacity for success. (51:34 | Dr. Hope Seidel)

Links

Connect with Dr. Hope Seidel:

Learn more about Dr. Seidel: www.parentwithhope.com

Website: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast

Resources: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast-resources

Connect with Dr. Polly Watson:

Website: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast

Resources: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast-resources

Disclaimer: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast#Disclaimer

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm