There's so much debate on whether functional testing like the DUTCH test is helpful for women trying to sort out their hormone issues. I use it frequently, but like serum testing, it has its place and it's limitations. However, the biggest thing that burns me up is when a woman goes out of pocket for this test and then have so much info misinterpreted or merely just left on the table. This means you come away with way less value than you should have - I hate that! In this episode I talk about what I see most often missed or misunderstood on the DUTCH test.

If you've ever had a DUTCH test, have it in hand for this episode! And if you're thinking about getting one, listen to this first.

For more info on how I can help you visit my site BetterByDrBrooke.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Estrogen & Progesterone: Episode #428 - How Estrogen & Progesterone Impact Your Sleep

Estrogen & Progesterone: Episode #444 - Should You Be Cycling Your HRT?

Better by Dr. Brooke: Clear + Normalize, Androgen Balance Support

Grab the Midlife Is More Than HRT guide free right here if, like me, midlife didn't feel quite like you expected. And be sure to listen to episodes #438 and #439, which were all about the mess that midlife can be, and my 3G + 4R process to tackle it!

Stuff I Know You Will Love

If you are looking for an expert prescriber for HRT during your perimenopause or menopause journey but are at odds with your local provider being a bit behind current best practices or you simply can't find anyone near you to help, it is MIDI to the rescue! I've worked with a number of telehealth services in my search for providers that are up to date on modern menopause medicine, have great customer service, and are licensed in all 50 states and I'm so thrilled to have found my provider with MIDI. If you too need help with getting HRT please use this link bit.ly/drbrookemidi to try MIDI with no membership fees and insurance billing available.

Be sure you connect with me in my FREE PRIVATE Facebook group: Hormones & Happiness with Dr. Brooke where other amazing, like-minded women like YOU are already hanging out! Join us!

Follow Dr. Brooke on Instagram and get signed up for my awesome emails here. Seriously, I write really great emails, or so 1000s of women tell me and I'd like to send you one too.

To work with Dr. Brooke click here and if you loved this episode, please leave a review!

Some of the more frustrating symptoms of midlife hormone decline and perimenopause is stubborn fat loss, weight gain, and fat redistribution around the midsection. HRT is often part of what's promoted to manage these metabolic changes, and many women expect to lose weight when they start it. While replacing hormones like estrogen, progesterone and testosterone can help with fat loss and muscle gain, some women will experience weight gain for a variety of reasons when they begin using hormones. In this episode I cover the five biggest reasons this happens and what you can do about it.

For more info on how I can help you visit my site BetterByDrBrooke.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Progesterone cycling: Episode #444 - Should You Be Cycling Your HRT?

Better by Dr. Brooke: adapt + cope - optimal adaptogen blend

Better by Dr. Brooke: better + b active - activated b complex

Better by Dr. Brooke: better + magnesium - magnesium glycinate complex

Grab the Midlife Is More Than HRT guide free right here if, like me, midlife didn't feel quite like you expected. And be sure to listen to episodes #438 and #439, which were all about the mess that midlife can be, and my 3G + 4R process to tackle it!

Stuff I Know You Will Love

If you are looking for an expert prescriber for HRT during your perimenopause or menopause journey but are at odds with your local provider being a bit behind current best practices or you simply can't find anyone near you to help, it is MIDI to the rescue! I've worked with a number of telehealth services in my search for providers that are up to date on modern menopause medicine, have great customer service, and are licensed in all 50 states and I'm so thrilled to have found my provider with MIDI. If you too need help with getting HRT please use this link bit.ly/drbrookemidi to try MIDI with no membership fees and insurance billing available.

Be sure you connect with me in my FREE PRIVATE Facebook group: Hormones & Happiness with Dr. Brooke where other amazing, like-minded women like YOU are already hanging out! Join us!

Follow Dr. Brooke on Instagram and get signed up for my awesome emails here. Seriously, I write really great emails, or so 1000s of women tell me and I'd like to send you one too.

To work with Dr. Brooke click here and if you loved this episode, please leave a review!

Whether you know what to do for your nutrition or this high protein-high veggie way of eating is new, there are a few basics that women need to keep doing, over and over. Let's face it, that can get tedious, but with a few simple hacks, tricks and upgrades you will always have veggies on hand, cooked proteins at the ready, and you suprising yourself with how delicious it all is. If you're overwhelmed, bored or just getting started, this episode will make the basics less borning and increase your success in pulling it all off over and over. I also cover how to take these Dr Brooke Basics and customize it to work better for you.

For more info on how I can help you, visit my site BetterByDrBrooke.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Dr. Brooke Show #304 - Protein Muscle Synthesis

Learn more about the book and program from Hangry

5 Potent Garlic Recipes

Marinade Recipes mentioned in this episode can be found in this article.

Grab the Midlife Is More Than HRT guide free right here if, like me, midlife didn't feel quite like you expected. And be sure to listen to episodes #438 and #439, which were all about the mess that midlife can be, and my 3G + 4R process to tackle it!

Stuff I Know You Will Love

If you are looking for an expert prescriber for HRT during your perimenopause or menopause journey but are at odds with your local provider being a bit behind current best practices or you simply can't find anyone near you to help, it is MIDI to the rescue! I've worked with a number of telehealth services in my search for providers that are up to date on modern menopause medicine, have great customer service, and are licensed in all 50 states and I'm so thrilled to have found my provider with MIDI. If you too need help with getting HRT please use this link bit.ly/drbrookemidi to try MIDI with no membership fees and insurance billing available.

Be sure you connect with me in my FREE PRIVATE Facebook group: Hormones & Happiness with Dr. Brooke where other amazing, like-minded women like YOU are already hanging out! Join us!

Follow Dr. Brooke on Instagram and get signed up for my awesome emails here. Seriously, I write really great emails, or so 1000s of women tell me and I'd like to send you one too.

To work with Dr. Brooke click here and if you loved this episode, please leave a review!

PCOS has a new name, but will women struggling with this lifelong, complex condition have a new experience? Women struggle both with diagnosis and adequate treatment for this condition, and while the new name honors the significance of the widespread endocrine problems of PCOS, we have a long way to go. In this epeisode I cover the nitty gritty hormone issues of PCOS, or rather PMOS (polyendocrine metabolic ovairan syndrome), what risk factors women still don't fully understand with this condition, as well as dispelling the popular myth that PCOS goes away with menopause.

In honor of this big news, I am offering a ONE WEEK only 30% off flash sale for my most valuable and helpful PCOS/PMOS specific supplements: balanced+beautiful multi, clear+normalize androgen balancer and better+berberine for insulin resistance.

Use code PCOSPOD30 at checkout. Good through 5/29/26!!

better + berberine highly researched, effective insulin sensitizer for blood sugar balance

clear + normalize supports androgen balance with PCOS/PMOS

balanced + beautiful metabolic multi geared towards blood sugar balance

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Dr. Brooke Show #459 - Q&As Part II: HRT, Progesterone Cycling + More

Dr. Brooke Show #431 - PCOS + Perimenopause

Dr. Brooke Show #432 - PCOS + Perimenopause Follow-Up Q&A

Dr. Brooke's FREE Guide to PCOS + Perimenopause

Grab the Midlife Is More Than HRT guide free right here if, like me, midlife didn't feel quite like you expected. And be sure to listen to episodes #438 and #439, which were all about the mess that midlife can be, and my 3G + 4R process to tackle it!

Stuff I Know You Will Love

If you are looking for an expert prescriber for HRT during your perimenopause or menopause journey but are at odds with your local provider being a bit behind current best practices or you simply can't find anyone near you to help, it is MIDI to the rescue! I've worked with a number of telehealth services in my search for providers that are up to date on modern menopause medicine, have great customer service, and are licensed in all 50 states and I'm so thrilled to have found my provider with MIDI. If you too need help with getting HRT please use this link bit.ly/drbrookemidi to try MIDI with no membership fees and insurance billing available.

Be sure you connect with me in my FREE PRIVATE Facebook group: Hormones & Happiness with Dr. Brooke where other amazing, like-minded women like YOU are already hanging out! Join us!

Follow Dr. Brooke on Instagram and get signed up for my awesome emails here. Seriously, I write really great emails, or so 1000s of women tell me and I'd like to send you one too.

To work with Dr. Brooke click here and if you loved this episode, please leave a review!

In this episode, we get into more of Q&As that you've emailed to me, posted in the Facebook group, and some directly from my patients. A few more related to HRT, plus we'll cover SHBG, progesterone cycling, and more. These episodes are always my favorite, so be sure to listen in!

For more info on how I can help you, visit my site BetterByDrBrooke.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Episode #457 - HRT + Joint Pain, Irregular Bleeding, Indigestion & More

Episode #450 Tools For Embracing Change, Navigating Choas + Resetting for 2026

Episode #444 - Should You Be Cycling Your HRT?

Grab the Midlife Is More Than HRT guide free right here if, like me, midlife didn't feel quite like you expected. And be sure to listen to episodes #438 and #439, which were all about the mess that midlife can be, and my 3G + 4R process to tackle it!

Stuff I Know You Will Love

So many of you take magnesium already but it's often citrate or glycinate only, and while that might be checking a couple of boxes, it might not hit support for muscles and cellular energy. Enter BIOptimizers with 7 forms of magnesium to support sleep, digestion and energy. Try it for 15% off with this link and code DRBROOKE knowing there is a 365, no questions asked, money back guarantee!

Be sure you connect with me in my FREE PRIVATE Facebook group: Hormones & Happiness with Dr. Brooke where other amazing, like-minded women like YOU are already hanging out! Join us!

Follow Dr. Brooke on Instagram and get signed up for my awesome emails here. Seriously, I write really great emails, or so 1000s of women tell me and I'd like to send you one too.

To work with Dr. Brooke click here and if you loved this episode, please leave a review!

Most women underestimate the bizarre, surprising symptoms that can crop up during perimenopause — such as itchy ears, voice changes, and even unusual body odors. If you thought menopause was just hot flashes, sleep issues, night sweats, zero energy and weight gain, think again. In this episode, we'll unpack some of the lesser-known signs and symptoms that hormone shifts are taking a toll on your body — and the more burning question... just what the heck can we do about them?

For more info on how I can help you, visit my site BetterByDrBrooke.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Episode #454 - Why Bone Health Is A Marker of HEALTH Not Just Disease

Grab the Midlife Is More Than HRT guide free right here if, like me, midlife didn't feel quite like you expected. And be sure to listen to episodes #438 and #439, which were all about the mess that midlife can be, and my 3G + 4R process to tackle it!

Stuff I Know You Will Love

If you are looking for an expert prescriber for HRT during your perimenopause or menopause journey but are at odds with your local provider being a bit behind current best practices or you simply can't find anyone near you to help, it is MIDI to the rescue! I've worked with a number of telehealth services in my search for providers that are up to date on modern menopause medicine, have great customer service, and are licensed in all 50 states and I'm so thrilled to have found my provider with MIDI. If you too need help with getting HRT please use this link bit.ly/drbrookemidi to try MIDI with no membership fees and insurance billing available.

Be sure you connect with me in my FREE PRIVATE Facebook group: Hormones & Happiness with Dr. Brooke where other amazing, like-minded women like YOU are already hanging out! Join us!

Follow Dr. Brooke on Instagram and get signed up for my awesome emails here. Seriously, I write really great emails, or so 1000s of women tell me and I'd like to send you one too.

To work with Dr. Brooke click here and if you loved this episode, please leave a review!

Often, when symptoms or side effects arise on HRT, the immediate reaction is to adjust the dosage. In this Q&A episode, I cover what irregular bleeding, GI symptoms like nausea and joint pain might indicate when you're on HRT and options to feel better that go beyond just a bump up or step down of your dose.

For more info on how I can help you, visit my site BetterByDrBrooke.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Episode #426 - Why Some Women Can't Tolerate Progesterone

Episode #441 - Why Your Progesterone to Estrogen Ratio Matters

Episode #451 - Using Birth Control Instead of HRT in Perimenopause

Grab the Midlife Is More Than HRT guide free right here if, like me, midlife didn't feel quite like you expected. And be sure to listen to episodes #438 and #439, which were all about the mess that midlife can be, and my 3G + 4R process to tackle it!

Stuff I Know You Will Love

So many of you take magnesium already but it's often citrate or glycinate only, and while that might be checking a couple of boxes, it might not hit support for muscles and cellular energy. Enter BIOptimizers with 7 forms of magnesium to support sleep, digestion and energy. Try it for 15% off with this link and code DRBROOKE knowing there is a 365, no questions asked, money back guarantee!

If you are looking for an expert prescriber for HRT during your perimenopause or menopause journey but are at odds with your local provider being a bit behind current best practices or you simply can't find anyone near you to help, it is MIDI to the rescue! I've worked with a number of telehealth services in my search for providers that are up to date on modern menopause medicine, have great customer service, and are licensed in all 50 states and I'm so thrilled to have found my provider with MIDI. If you too need help with getting HRT please use this link bit.ly/drbrookemidi to try MIDI with no membership fees and insurance billing available.

Be sure you connect with me in my FREE PRIVATE Facebook group: Hormones & Happiness with Dr. Brooke where other amazing, like-minded women like YOU are already hanging out! Join us!

Follow Dr. Brooke on Instagram and get signed up for my awesome emails here. Seriously, I write really great emails, or so 1000s of women tell me and I'd like to send you one too.

To work with Dr. Brooke click here and if you loved this episode, please leave a review!

Whether age, experience or tough times - sometimes you just "get something" in a way you didn't before. There are a few popular, Instagram-meme-worthy concepts that have taken on a deeper meaning for me lately. I'm sharing how I understand ideas like forgiveness, boundaries and the every popular "choose yourself" in this rather personal episode. I hope this helps if you're going through something really big or just the daily self love and kindness that we often struggle to do.

For more info on how I can help you, visit my site BetterByDrBrooke.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Dr. Brooke's Guide to Why You Need an Inner Compass

Grab the Midlife Is More Than HRT guide free right here if, like me, midlife didn't feel quite like you expected. And be sure to listen to episodes #438 and #439, which were all about the mess that midlife can be, and my 3G + 4R process to tackle it!

Stuff I Know You Will Love

So many of you take magnesium already but it's often citrate or glycinate only, and while that might be checking a couple of boxes, it might not hit support for muscles and cellular energy. Enter BIOptimizers with 7 forms of magnesium to support sleep, digestion and energy. Try it for 15% off with this link and code DRBROOKE knowing there is a 365, no questions asked, money back guarantee!

If you are looking for an expert prescriber for HRT during your perimenopause or menopause journey but are at odds with your local provider being a bit behind current best practices or you simply can't find anyone near you to help, it is MIDI to the rescue! I've worked with a number of telehealth services in my search for providers that are up to date on modern menopause medicine, have great customer service, and are licensed in all 50 states and I'm so thrilled to have found my provider with MIDI. If you too need help with getting HRT please use this link bit.ly/drbrookemidi to try MIDI with no membership fees and insurance billing available.

Be sure you connect with me in my FREE PRIVATE Facebook group: Hormones & Happiness with Dr. Brooke where other amazing, like-minded women like YOU are already hanging out! Join us!

Follow Dr. Brooke on Instagram and get signed up for my awesome emails here. Seriously, I write really great emails, or so 1000s of women tell me and I'd like to send you one too.

To work with Dr. Brooke click here and if you loved this episode, please leave a review!

For more info on how I can help you, visit my site BetterByDrBrooke.

Magnesium is likely in your supplement regimen right now, as its benefits are widely known. However, many of us take one form, such as citrate or glycinate, only and miss out on other important forms of magnesium that benefit our vessels, heart, and energy production. As well, most of us, even with supplementation, might be dosing too low for our needs. In this episode, Wade Lightheart, co-founder of BIOptimizers joins me to talk about the creation of Magnesium Breakthrough and the science that sets it apart fom most magneisum spplements out there.

Try Magnesium Breakthrough fro 15% off and a 365-day money-back guarantee with code DRBROOKE, using this link!

Grab the Midlife Is More Than HRT guide free right here if, like me, midlife didn't feel quite like you expected. And be sure to listen to episodes #438 and #439, which were all about the mess that midlife can be, and my 3G + 4R process to tackle it!

Stuff I Know You Will Love

So many of you take magnesium already but it's often citrate or glycinate only, and while that might be checking a couple of boxes, it might not hit support for muscles and cellular energy. Enter BIOptimizers with 7 forms of magnesium to support sleep, digestion and energy. Try it for 15% off with this link and code DRBROOKE knowing there is a 365, no questions asked, money back guarantee!

Be sure you connect with me in my FREE PRIVATE Facebook group: Hormones & Happiness with Dr. Brooke where other amazing, like-minded women like YOU are already hanging out! Join us!

Follow Dr. Brooke on Instagram and get signed up for my awesome emails here. Seriously, I write really great emails, or so 1000s of women tell me and I'd like to send you one too.

To work with Dr. Brooke click here and if you loved this episode, please leave a review!

For more info on how I can help you, visit my site BetterByDrBrooke.

Women today are becoming more aware of the value of both strength training and HRT on their bone health. Most screening, though, takes place much later and often when osteoporosis and osteopenia have already set in. In this episode, I challenge the ideas that bone loss is only a symptom of osteoporosis, we simply need to take more calcium to build bone, and that HRT alone - or even strength training alone - are all we need to think about when it comes to protecting and rebuilding our bones. Other hormones like cortisol and thyroid, oxidative stress and inflammation, and other nutrients like protein, fiber, magnesium, and vitamin D are all crucial to address as well. Learn why we need to reconsider how and when we test for bone loss, how specifically we are lifting, and what we can eat to improve our bone health.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Dr Brooke Show #254 How To Get Better at Stress, Part 1

Dr Brooke Show #408 Value Driven Stress Skills (Part 2 to Episode 254)

Dr Brooke's Guide to Finding Your Inner Compass

Grab the Midlife Is More Than HRT guide free right here if, like me, midlife didn't feel quite like you expected. And be sure to listen to episodes #438 and #439, which were all about the mess that midlife can be, and my 3G + 4R process to tackle it!

Stuff I Know You Will Love

If you are looking for an expert prescriber for HRT during your perimenopause or menopause journey but are at odds with your local provider being a bit behind current best practices or you simply can't find anyone near you to help, it is MIDI to the rescue! I've worked with a number of telehealth services in my search for providers that are up to date on modern menopause medicine, have great customer service, and are licensed in all 50 states and I'm so thrilled to have found my provider with MIDI. If you too need help with getting HRT please use this link bit.ly/drbrookemidi to try MIDI with no membership fees and insurance billing available.

So many of you take magnesium already but it's often citrate or glycinate only, and while that might be checking a couple of boxes, it might not hit support for muscles and cellular energy. Enter BIOptimizers with 7 forms of magnesium to support sleep, digestion and energy. Try it for 15% off with this link and code DRBROOKE, knowing there is a 365, no questions asked, money-back guarantee!

Be sure you connect with me in my FREE PRIVATE Facebook group: Hormones & Happiness with Dr. Brooke where other amazing, like-minded women like YOU are already hanging out! Join us!

Follow Dr. Brooke on Instagram and get signed up for my awesome emails here. Seriously, I write really great emails, or so 1000s of women tell me and I'd like to send you one too.

To work with Dr. Brooke click here and if you loved this episode please leave a review!