Dr. Brendan McCarthy

Progesterone plays an important role in regulating the uterine lining, especially during the perimenopause years when ovulation becomes less consistent and estrogen may remain present without adequate progesterone.

In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy discusses the relationship between estrogen, progesterone, and the endometrium, including why heavier or changing menstrual cycles shouldn't simply be dismissed as “part of perimenopause.”

📚 Patient Education:

⚠️ This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Do not abruptly change or stop hormone therapy based on information you hear online. Talk with your healthcare provider about your specific situation.

Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more.

If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.

👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it.

📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book:

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:

💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments! 

Why does progesterone help one woman sleep, feel calm, and finally feel like herself again—while another woman feels anxious, restless, or completely unlike herself?

The answer may have a lot to do with how progesterone enters the body and what it becomes after you take it.

In Part 11 of this progesterone series, Dr. Brendan McCarthy breaks down why the route of administration matters when using bioidentical oral micronized progesterone. Oral, transvaginal, transrectal, topical, and sublingual routes can influence how progesterone is metabolized and where its effects are felt.

📚 Patient Education:

⚠️ This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Do not abruptly change or stop hormone therapy based on information you hear online. Talk with your healthcare provider about your specific situation.

Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more.

If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.

👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it.

📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book:

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:

💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments! 

Does progesterone cause breast cancer—or could it actually play a protective role in the body?

The answer isn't as simple as the headlines make it seem.

In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy breaks down one of the most confusing conversations in hormone health: the difference between bioidentical progesterone and synthetic progestins.

Not all medications called “progesterone” are the same. They may protect the uterine lining in similar ways, but they can behave very differently throughout the body.

📚 Patient Education:

⚠️ This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Do not abruptly change or stop hormone therapy based on information you hear online. Talk with your healthcare provider about your specific situation.

Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more.

If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.

👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it.

📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book:

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:

💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments! 

How you receive estrogen matters.

In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy breaks down the different ways estrogen can be delivered — including oral estrogen, topical/transdermal estrogen, injections, and pellets — and explains why the route of delivery can change how the hormone behaves in your body.

He discusses first-pass metabolism, estrone conversion, transdermal delivery, vaginal estrogen, injection esters, pellets, lab monitoring, and why informed consent and ongoing follow-up are essential to hormone replacement therapy.

Most importantly, this episode is about understanding your options. You deserve to know what you're taking, how it's being delivered, what it may do, what the risks are, and how your provider plans to monitor you.

📚 Patient Education:

⚠️ This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Do not abruptly change or stop hormone therapy based on information you hear online. Talk with your healthcare provider about your specific situation.

If you found this episode helpful, like, share, and subscribe for more conversations about hormones, health, and personalized medicine.

Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more.

If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.

👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it.

📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book:

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:

💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments! 

Vaginal and urinary symptoms are common during perimenopause and menopause—but understanding why they happen and how different forms of estrogen work can be confusing.

In Episode 8 of this hormone series, Dr. Brendan McCarthy breaks down the relationship between systemic estrogen, vaginal estrogen, estradiol, estriol, testosterone, and the genitourinary symptoms many women experience during menopause.

He discusses:

Dr. McCarthy's goal is simple: to give women unbiased information so they can feel more informed, curious, and confident when making decisions about their health.

This episode is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about what treatment approach is appropriate for you.

📚 Download the free research resources and citations:

Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more.

If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.

👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it.

📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book:

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:

💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments! 

An elevated estrone level can be alarming—especially when you search online and immediately find scary information about cancer, diabetes, or obesity. But does a high estrone level automatically mean something is wrong? In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy, Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center, takes a closer look at estrone and why it shouldn't be treated as a simple “good” or “bad” hormone. Dr. McCarthy also discusses his own evolution in understanding estrone and why he believes good medicine requires continually questioning what we think we know. The goal isn't to tell you what decision to make. It's to give you better information so you can have a more informed conversation with your healthcare provider.

📚 Download the free research resources and citations:

Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more.

If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.

👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it.

📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book:

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:

💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments! 

Should every woman take estrogen? Or should no one?

According to Dr. Brendan McCarthy, both extremes miss the point. The best hormone therapy is personalized, evidence-based, and designed around the individual—not headlines or trends.

In this episode, Dr. McCarthy explains why today's growing "estrogen for everyone" movement can be just as concerning as the outdated fear created by the Women's Health Initiative study. Hormone replacement therapy isn't about following the crowd—it's about understanding your body, your risks, and your long-term health goals.

At Protea Medical Center, we believe hormone therapy should be built around you—your symptoms, your lab work, your health history, and your goals.

If you're considering hormone replacement therapy, make sure you're working with a provider who takes the time to explain your options, monitor your progress, and adjust treatment as your body changes.

📚 Download the free research resources and citations:

Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more.

If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.

👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it.

📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book:

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:

💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments! 

When someone says, "estrogen causes cancer" or "estrogen causes blood clots," what estrogen are they talking about?

In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy explains one of the biggest misconceptions in hormone replacement therapy (HRT): estrogen isn't a single hormone—it's a family of hormones. Understanding the differences between estradiol, estrone, and estriol can completely change how you view your treatment, your lab work, and the conversations you have with your healthcare provider.

You'll learn why the type of estrogen, how it's delivered (oral, patch, injection, pellet), and how it's monitored all matter. Dr. McCarthy also discusses why informed consent goes beyond signing paperwork—it means truly understanding the treatment you're receiving and why it was chosen for you.

📚 Download the free research resources and citations:

Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more.

If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.

👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it.

📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book:

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:

💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments! 

Every day, women are exposed to endless hormone therapy advice on social media, but not all of it is accurate.

In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy explains why fear-driven decisions about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can lead to unnecessary symptoms, confusion, and setbacks. He shares what he's learned after more than 20 years of prescribing hormones and why education, trust, and an ongoing relationship with your healthcare provider matter more than any viral post.

You'll learn:

Whether you're currently on hormone therapy, considering treatment, or simply trying to make sense of conflicting information online, this episode will help you approach HRT with confidence instead of fear.

If you found this episode helpful, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who could benefit from a more balanced conversation about hormone health.

📚 Download the free research resources and citations:

Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more.

If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.

👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it.

📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book:

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:

💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments! 

Why does one woman feel incredible on hormone replacement therapy while another gains weight, feels anxious, or sees no improvement at all?

The answer isn't simply the hormone—it's how your body processes it.

In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy explains why the route of hormone delivery (oral, topical, injectable, or pellets) dramatically changes how hormones behave in the body. He also breaks down the role of liver metabolism, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), body fat, inflammation, insulin resistance, and lab timing—and why these factors matter when creating an individualized hormone treatment plan.

You'll learn:

Hormone replacement therapy is never just about writing a prescription. It's about understanding what your body does with it.

📚 Download the free research resources and citations:

Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more.

If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.

👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it.

📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book:

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:

💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments!