Why do so many women struggle with stress-related health issues without ever speaking up?

In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy continues his series on self-silencing in women—a powerful yet often overlooked cultural and psychological pattern.

Dr. McCarthy breaks down:

What “self-silencing” really means and how it shows up in everyday life

The four categories of self-silencing

How chronic stress and emotional suppression affect hormones, fertility, and cardiovascular health

Why women face higher risks of heart disease when these patterns go unaddressed

What men can do to better support their partners during PMS, perimenopause, and menopause

This conversation is about more than symptoms—it’s about validation, advocacy, and the urgent need to recognize how cultural conditioning impacts women’s health.

Citations: Jack, D. C., & Dill, D. (1992). The Silencing the Self Scale: Schemas of intimacy associated with depression in women. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 16(1), 97–106.       •     Jack, D. C. (1999). Silencing the self: Inner dialogues and outer realities. Harvard University Press.       •     Jack, D. C. (2011). Reflections on the silencing the self scale and its origins. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 35(3), 523–529.       •     Jakubowski, K. P., Barinas-Mitchell, E., et al. (2022). The cardiovascular cost of silence: Self-silencing and carotid atherosclerosis. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 56(3), 282–293.       •     Ussher, J. M. (2004). Premenstrual syndrome and self-policing. Social Theory & Health, 2(1), 56–77.       •     Ussher, J. M. (2013). Diagnosing difficult women. Feminism & Psychology, 23(1), 63–77.       •     Beauboeuf-Lafontant, T. (2008). Listening past the lies. Qualitative Sociology, 31(2), 105–124.       •     Rozanski, A. (2014). Behavioral cardiology. Circulation, 129(25), 2509–2516. 1.    Jack & Dill (1992) – Developed Silencing the Self Scale. Linked to depression and poor health outcomes.       2.    Framingham Offspring Study (Jack, 2011) – Women with high self-silencing had ↑ heart disease and premature death.       3.    Jakubowski et al. (2022, Annals of Behavioral Medicine) – Self-silencing predicted ↑ carotid atherosclerosis in midlife women.       4.    Beauboeuf-Lafontant (2008, Qualitative Sociology) – Black women’s depression tied to silencing under cultural expectations of strength.       5.    Ussher (2004, 2013, 2023) – Purity/self-policing associated with self-blame and somatic illness pathways.       6.    Rasmussen (2014) – Self-silencing linked to anger suppression, leading to somatic symptoms.       7.    Peterson (2015) – Shame and silence in purity narratives obstruct preventive health care.       8.    CRP & Stress Studies – High CRP consistently linked to psychosocial stress (Rozanski, 2014, Circulation).

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: Jump Off the Mood Swing – A Sane Woman’s Guide to Her Crazy Hormones https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-Swing-Hormones/dp/0999649604

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:

Instagram: @drbrendanmccarthy

TikTok: @drbrendanmccarthy

Website: www.protealife.com

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

In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy explores how self-silencing behaviors—putting others first, suppressing your own needs, and avoiding conflict—can contribute to chronic stress and trigger autoimmune conditions in women. From the science of immune misfires to the cultural pressures women face, Dr. McCarthy shares how deep, patient-centered care goes beyond prescriptions to address the root causes of illness. He discusses the link between trauma, vagal tone, hormone balance, inflammation, and lifestyle habits—and why breaking the self-silencing cycle can be a powerful step toward healing. If you’ve been told “your labs look fine” but you still don’t feel well, this conversation will help you understand why.

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: Jump Off the Mood Swing – A Sane Woman’s Guide to Her Crazy Hormones https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-Swing-Hormones/dp/0999649604

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:

Instagram: @drbrendanmccarthy

TikTok: @drbrendanmccarthy

Website: www.protealife.com

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

Welcome to the first episode in a five-part series on self-silencing and its profound effect on women’s health. I’m Dr. Brendan McCarthy, Chief Medical Officer at Protea Medical Center, and in this episode, I break down how self-silencing — the learned suppression of one’s needs, emotions, and voice — directly influences weight gain, hormone disruption, autoimmunity, cardiovascular risk, and more. This is a deeply personal and evidence-backed conversation rooted in decades of clinical experience and medical research. I discuss real patient patterns, the emotional layers behind common health complaints, and why this silent epidemic deserves more space in medicine. If you or someone you love has ever struggled with feeling unheard, unseen, or overwhelmed by caretaking roles, this is for you.

Citations: 13] Jakubowski, K. P., Barinas-Mitchell, E., Chang, Y.-F., Maki, P. M., Matthews, K. A., & Thurston, R. C. (2021). The Cardiovascular Cost of Silence: Relationships Between Self-silencing and Carotid Atherosclerosis in Midlife Women. *Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 56*(3), 282–290. DOI: 10.1093/abm/kaab046 [27] Eyal, M. (2023, October 3). Self-Silencing Is Making Women Sick. *TIME*. [5] Jack, D. C. (2010, March 29). Silencing the Self Theory. *OUPblog*.

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: Jump Off the Mood Swing – A Sane Woman’s Guide to Her Crazy Hormones https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-Swing-Hormones/dp/0999649604

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:

Instagram: @drbrendanmccarthy

TikTok: @drbrendanmccarthy

Website: www.protealife.com

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

In today’s episode, we’re talking about the role men play in fertility and women’s health. Too often, the fertility journey places the burden entirely on women, physically, emotionally, and medically. Dr. McCarthy unpacks why that’s both inaccurate and damaging, and shares what true masculinity looks like during this chapter: support, presence, and courage. From hormone imbalances and sperm health to the overlooked emotional toll men face, this episode is a candid call for men to stay in the room—with their partners and with themselves.

🔍 Topics covered: Why the fertility industry fails couples

The emotional withdrawal reflex many men experience

Microplastics, testosterone, and sperm quality

What lab work men should request

The truth about aging and male fertility

Real steps to support your partner and reclaim your role

Whether you're navigating fertility, supporting someone who is, or simply want to be a better partner, this episode offers insight and grounded advice.

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: Jump Off the Mood Swing – A Sane Woman’s Guide to Her Crazy Hormones https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-Swing-Hormones/dp/0999649604

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:

Instagram: @drbrendanmccarthy

TikTok: @drbrendanmccarthy

Website: www.protealife.com

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

Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!

In this episode, Dr. McCarthy opens up about the psychological hurdles men face when it comes to reproductive health, how avoidance can create deep relationship wounds, and why it's critical for male partners to step into fertility conversations with courage and compassion.

He breaks down:

✔️ The emotional weight women carry in fertility journeys

✔️ How low testosterone and sperm count influence male behavior

✔️ Why fertility has been unfairly framed as a “women’s issue”

✔️ The connection between masculinity and fertility shame

✔️ What men can do TODAY to show up differently

Whether you're a woman looking for tools to help your partner understand the burden you carry, or a man ready to take ownership of your role in this shared journey, this episode offers insight, validation, and hope.

💻 Learn more at https://protealife.com

Dr. Brendan McCarthy founded Protea Medical Center in 2002. While he’s been the chief medical officer, Protea has grown and evolved into a dynamic medical center serving the Valley and Central Arizona. A nationally recognized as an expert in hormone replacement therapy, Dr McCarthy s the only instructor in the nation who teaches BioHRT on live patients. Physicians travel to Arizona to take his course and integrate it into their own practices. Besides hormone replacement therapy, Dr. McCarthy has spoken nationally and locally before physicians on topics such as weight loss, infertility, nutritional therapy and more.

Thank you for tuning in and don't forget to hit that SUBSCRIBE button! Let us know in the COMMENTS if you have any questions or what you may want Dr. McCarthy to talk about next!

Check out Dr. Brendan McCarthy's Book! https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-...

-More Links-

Instagram: www.instagram.com/drbrendanmccarthy

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/drbrendanmccarthy

Clinic Website: www.protealife.com

Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!

PMS isn’t just a hormone issue—it affects relationships too.

In this episode, Dr. McCarthy breaks down how hormone shifts impact emotions, communication, and connection. It’s a message for men who want to understand what’s really going on—and how to show up better.

💡 Topics:

Why PMS can trigger relationship tension

The science behind progesterone and mood

How self-silencing builds resentment

What actually helps (and what doesn’t)

If this episode helps, share it with someone who needs to hear it.

💻 Learn more at https://protealife.com

Dr. Brendan McCarthy founded Protea Medical Center in 2002. While he’s been the chief medical officer, Protea has grown and evolved into a dynamic medical center serving the Valley and Central Arizona. A nationally recognized as an expert in hormone replacement therapy, Dr McCarthy s the only instructor in the nation who teaches BioHRT on live patients. Physicians travel to Arizona to take his course and integrate it into their own practices. Besides hormone replacement therapy, Dr. McCarthy has spoken nationally and locally before physicians on topics such as weight loss, infertility, nutritional therapy and more.

Thank you for tuning in and don't forget to hit that SUBSCRIBE button! Let us know in the COMMENTS if you have any questions or what you may want Dr. McCarthy to talk about next!

Check out Dr. Brendan McCarthy's Book! https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-...

-More Links-

Instagram: www.instagram.com/drbrendanmccarthy

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/drbrendanmccarthy

Clinic Website: www.protealife.com

Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!

Today he continues answering your most pressing questions about testosterone and hormone therapy in Part 2 of our Testosterone Q&A series.

In this episode, Dr. McCarthy dives into:

Why your labs can look "normal" while you still feel terrible

The difference between DHEA and actual testosterone therapy

The role of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in blocking free testosterone

The impact of chronic stress on hormone balance

Why testosterone creams might not be effective for everyone

How estrogen levels affect bone density and hormone optimization

🧬 Featuring insights backed by clinical experience and scientific literature, including:

🔬 Citations Zhu, Z., Zhao, J., Fang, Y. et al. (2021). Association between serum estradiol level, sex hormone binding globulin level, and bone mineral density in middle-aged postmenopausal women. J Orthop Surg Res 16, 648.

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-021-02799-3

Reginster, J.Y., et al. (1992). Minimal levels of serum estradiol prevent postmenopausal bone loss. Calcif Tissue Int, 51(5), 340–343. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00316876

💻 Learn more at https://protealife.com

Dr. Brendan McCarthy founded Protea Medical Center in 2002. While he’s been the chief medical officer, Protea has grown and evolved into a dynamic medical center serving the Valley and Central Arizona. A nationally recognized as an expert in hormone replacement therapy, Dr McCarthy s the only instructor in the nation who teaches BioHRT on live patients. Physicians travel to Arizona to take his course and integrate it into their own practices. Besides hormone replacement therapy, Dr. McCarthy has spoken nationally and locally before physicians on topics such as weight loss, infertility, nutritional therapy and more.

Thank you for tuning in and don't forget to hit that SUBSCRIBE button! Let us know in the COMMENTS if you have any questions or what you may want Dr. McCarthy to talk about next!

Check out Dr. Brendan McCarthy's Book! https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-...

-More Links-

Instagram: www.instagram.com/drbrendanmccarthy

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/drbrendanmccarthy

Clinic Website: www.protealife.com

Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!

In this episode, I’ll be responding to your questions and comments. As always, thank you for being part of this community. Your questions fuel these episodes — and I’m honored to keep showing up for you. 🧪 Have questions about your labs? Drop them in the comments — I may cover them in the next episode. 💬 Yes, I do read them (even in movie previews).

Dr. Brendan McCarthy founded Protea Medical Center in 2002. While he’s been the chief medical officer, Protea has grown and evolved into a dynamic medical center serving the Valley and Central Arizona. A nationally recognized as an expert in hormone replacement therapy, Dr McCarthy s the only instructor in the nation who teaches BioHRT on live patients. Physicians travel to Arizona to take his course and integrate it into their own practices. Besides hormone replacement therapy, Dr. McCarthy has spoken nationally and locally before physicians on topics such as weight loss, infertility, nutritional therapy and more.

Thank you for tuning in and don't forget to hit that SUBSCRIBE button! Let us know in the COMMENTS if you have any questions or what you may want Dr. McCarthy to talk about next!

Check out Dr. Brendan McCarthy's Book! https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-...

-More Links-

Instagram: www.instagram.com/drbrendanmccarthy

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/drbrendanmccarthy

Clinic Website: www.protealife.com

Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!

In this episode, he dives deep into the powerful potential, and the necessary precautions, of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in women. He shares why this once-taboo treatment is gaining traction, how it may reduce the risk of breast cancer by up to 50%, and why lab testing and clinical nuance are absolutely non-negotiable. Dr. McCarthy also addresses medical betrayal, the rise of influencer-driven misinformation, and what it means to receive care rooted in science, safety, and trust. If you've ever been confused, dismissed, or overwhelmed by hormone therapy conversations, this one’s for you.

🧬 Topics covered:

TRT’s anti-proliferative effects on breast tissue

The importance of lab work and metabolite monitoring DHT, estradiol, and aromatization explained

The ethical issues around "lab-free" prescribing

Why nuance matters more than ever in women’s hormone care

Citation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11EPfPIotgAeCTr69wHGvErBNafGUipF5/view?usp=sharing

Dr. Brendan McCarthy founded Protea Medical Center in 2002. While he’s been the chief medical officer, Protea has grown and evolved into a dynamic medical center serving the Valley and Central Arizona. A nationally recognized as an expert in hormone replacement therapy, Dr McCarthy s the only instructor in the nation who teaches BioHRT on live patients. Physicians travel to Arizona to take his course and integrate it into their own practices. Besides hormone replacement therapy, Dr. McCarthy has spoken nationally and locally before physicians on topics such as weight loss, infertility, nutritional therapy and more.

Thank you for tuning in and don't forget to hit that SUBSCRIBE button! Let us know in the COMMENTS if you have any questions or what you may want Dr. McCarthy to talk about next!

Check out Dr. Brendan McCarthy's Book! https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-...

-More Links-

Instagram: www.instagram.com/drbrendanmccarthy

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/drbrendanmccarthy

Clinic Website: www.protealife.com

Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!

In this deeply personal episode, he shares why lab work—especially testing FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone)—is non-negotiable in hormone replacement therapy.

This is not about gatekeeping. It’s about understanding. It’s about caring. Dr. McCarthy recounts a formative memory of meeting a woman who underwent surgical menopause and was never told what would happen to her body afterward. That moment shaped his lifelong mission to treat women with comprehensive, individualized care—not cookie-cutter patches or “blind firing” estrogen without context.

In this episode, he explains:

🧬 Why FSH matters just as much as estrogen

🧠 How FSH affects metabolism, bone density, fat storage, and even Alzheimer’s risk

🩺 What truly responsible hormone therapy should look like

💬 And how we must challenge trends in medicine that ignore the full picture

Citations: Mao L, Wang L, Bennett S, Xu J, Zou J. Effects of follicle-stimulating hormone on fat metabolism and cognitive impairment in women during menopause. Front Physiol. 2022 Dec 5;13:1043237. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1043237. PMID: 36545281; PMCID: PMC9760686.

Spicer J, Malaspina D, Blank SV, Goosens KA. Follicle-stimulating hormone: More than a marker for menopause: FSH as a frontier for women's mental health. Psychiatry Res. 2025 Mar;345:116239. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.116239. Epub 2024 Oct 28. PMID: 39892305; PMCID: PMC12094525.

Sponton CH, Kajimura S. Burning Fat and Building Bone by FSH Blockade. Cell Metab. 2017 Aug 1;26(2):285-287. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2017.07.018. PMID: 28768167; PMCID: PMC9142816

Dr. Brendan McCarthy founded Protea Medical Center in 2002. While he’s been the chief medical officer, Protea has grown and evolved into a dynamic medical center serving the Valley and Central Arizona. A nationally recognized as an expert in hormone replacement therapy, Dr McCarthy is the only instructor in the nation who teaches BioHRT on live patients. Physicians travel to Arizona to take his course and integrate it into their own practices. Besides hormone replacement therapy, Dr. McCarthy has spoken nationally and locally before physicians on topics such as weight loss, infertility, nutritional therapy and more.

Dr. Brendan McCarthy founded Protea Medical Center in 2002. While he’s been the chief medical officer, Protea has grown and evolved into a dynamic medical center serving the Valley and Central Arizona. A nationally recognized as an expert in hormone replacement therapy, Dr McCarthy s the only instructor in the nation who teaches BioHRT on live patients. Physicians travel to Arizona to take his course and integrate it into their own practices. Besides hormone replacement therapy, Dr. McCarthy has spoken nationally and locally before physicians on topics such as weight loss, infertility, nutritional therapy and more.

Thank you for tuning in and don't forget to hit that SUBSCRIBE button! Let us know in the COMMENTS if you have any questions or what you may want Dr. McCarthy to talk about next!

Check out Dr. Brendan McCarthy's Book! https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-...

-More Links-

Instagram: www.instagram.com/drbrendanmccarthy

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/drbrendanmccarthy

Clinic Website: www.protealife.com