Hump Day Hormones

What happens when you have your last baby in your late 30s or early 40s and your hormones never seem to “go back to normal”?

Pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding, and perimenopause are often treated like completely separate stages. But for women having babies later in life, those transitions can overlap in ways that make it difficult to understand what is actually happening.

In this episode, we look at the dramatic hormonal changes that happen during pregnancy and after delivery, what breastfeeding does to estrogen and ovarian function, and why a woman who has a baby at 39 may not be returning to the same reproductive stage she was in before pregnancy.

In this episode, we break down:

• Why having a baby later in life can bring the postpartum and perimenopause transitions closer together

• Just how dramatically estrogen and progesterone rise during pregnancy and fall after delivery

• How breastfeeding can keep estrogen levels low and affect the return of ovulation

• Why ovarian aging continues during pregnancy and breastfeeding

• The symptoms that can overlap between postpartum hormone changes and perimenopause

• What may point more toward perimenopause once breastfeeding has decreased or ended

• Why perimenopause is primarily a clinical diagnosis and cannot be ruled in or out by one FSH or estradiol test

• How a history of PMS, PMDD, or postpartum depression may relate to sensitivity to reproductive hormone changes

We also clear up an important misconception: having a baby at 39 does not cause perimenopause or suddenly age the ovaries. Pregnancy may simply hide the reproductive changes that are already happening as a woman gets older.

Instead of asking, “Why haven’t my hormones recovered from having the baby?” we need to ask a bigger question: What changed, and where is this woman in her reproductive stage now?

Because sometimes, postpartum doesn’t mean you’re stuck in the postpartum stage.

Sometimes, postpartum becomes perimenopause.

Share this episode with a woman who had a baby in her late 30s or early 40s and has wondered why she still doesn’t feel like herself.

Postpartum Hormones | Perimenopause | Hormone Changes After Pregnancy | Breastfeeding And Hormones | Perimenopause Symptoms | Women’s Hormonal Health | Reproductive Aging | Women’s Health

#HumpDayHormones #Perimenopause #Postpartum #PostpartumHormones #HormoneHealth #WomensHealth #Breastfeeding #PerimenopauseSymptoms #WomensHormones

Postpartum psychosis is rare, but it is a real psychiatric emergency. And despite the increased attention around postpartum mental health, many people still don’t know what postpartum psychosis actually looks like or how different it is from postpartum depression.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Shona L. Ray Griffith, a psychiatrist with UAMS Women’s Mental Health Clinic, for a conversation focused on the science behind postpartum psychosis. We talk about why it can appear in women with no previous psychiatric diagnosis, the connection with bipolar disorder, hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, genetics, and what families need to know.

In this episode, we break down:

• What postpartum psychosis actually is and how it differs from postpartum depression

• Why postpartum psychosis is so closely associated with bipolar disorder

• Why it can sometimes appear in women with no previous psychiatric diagnosis

• The potential roles of reproductive hormones, sleep deprivation, and genetics

• How newer treatments involving the allopregnanolone and GABA A pathways have changed postpartum mental health care

• Current treatment strategies and where medications like SSRIs and hormones fit

• Warning signs families and clinicians should recognize

• When symptoms become an emergency and immediate psychiatric evaluation is needed

We also talk about prevention, what can be done before and immediately after a future pregnancy for someone who has experienced postpartum psychosis, and what researchers are learning about this condition.

Postpartum psychosis is not simply postpartum depression that has become more severe. Knowing the difference can help families recognize warning signs sooner and understand when it is time to seek urgent help.

Share this episode with a partner, family member, or healthcare provider who should know more about postpartum mental health.

Postpartum Psychosis | Postpartum Mental Health | Bipolar Disorder | Women’s Mental Health | Postpartum Depression | Maternal Mental Health | Perinatal Psychiatry | Women’s Health

#HumpDayHormones #PostpartumPsychosis #PostpartumMentalHealth #MaternalMentalHealth #WomensHealth #BipolarDisorder #PerinatalMentalHealth #PostpartumDepression

Pregnancy creates one of the biggest hormonal shifts the human body experiences. Estrogen and progesterone rise dramatically during pregnancy, then drop rapidly after delivery when the placenta is gone.

So what happens when the brain has to adapt to that sudden change?

In this episode, we take a closer look at postpartum depression and the connection between progesterone, allopregnanolone, GABA, and the brain. We also talk about why postpartum depression is not simply a matter of having “low hormones” and why some women may be more sensitive to reproductive hormone changes than others.

In this episode, we break down:

• How postpartum depression differs from the baby blues and postpartum psychosis

• What happens to estrogen, progesterone, and allopregnanolone after delivery

• How the GABA A receptor may be involved in the brain’s response to hormonal changes

• Why postpartum depression probably has multiple biological and environmental contributors

• Why simply giving progesterone is not as straightforward as it might seem

• What brexanolone and zuranolone do differently from traditional antidepressants

• Why bipolar screening is important before starting medication for postpartum depression or anxiety

• What future research could tell us about identifying women who are particularly sensitive to reproductive hormone withdrawal

Postpartum depression is real, common, treatable, and not a sign that a woman is weak or that she doesn’t love her baby.

The more we understand the biology behind postpartum depression, the more we can move away from asking whether a woman is depressed or whether her hormones are responsible and start asking how hormones, neurosteroids, neurotransmitters, genetics, sleep, stress, and other factors interact in a particular woman.

That shift could lead to much more targeted treatment for postpartum mental health.

Share this episode with a new mom or anyone who wants to better understand the biology behind postpartum depression.

Postpartum Depression | Postpartum Hormones | Progesterone | Allopregnanolone | GABA A Receptors | Postpartum Mental Health | Women’s Health | Hormone Health

#HumpDayHormones #PostpartumDepression #PostpartumMentalHealth #PostpartumHormones #Progesterone #WomensHealth #HormoneHealth #MaternalMentalHealth

Have you ever said, “I swear I become a completely different person the week before my period”?

Maybe you’re suddenly irritable, anxious, emotional, exhausted, unable to concentrate, or you just don’t want to be around anyone. Then your period starts, a few days pass, and you’re wondering what just happened.

That pattern matters.

In Season 2, Episode 84, we’re breaking down the difference between PMS, PMDD, and premenstrual exacerbation, or PME. We’re also diving into why PMDD is much more complicated than simply having “bad hormones.”

In this episode, we break down:

• The difference between common PMS symptoms and PMDD

• Why PMDD can occur even when reproductive hormone levels are completely normal

• What premenstrual exacerbation, or PME, is and why it can be missed

• How progesterone, allopregnanolone, and GABA may influence the brain

• Why a hormone panel cannot diagnose PMDD

• Why daily symptom tracking can be more useful than trying to remember how you felt last month

• Current treatment options, including SSRIs, hormonal contraception, lifestyle approaches, and emerging therapies

• What researchers are learning about the connection between reproductive hormones and women's mental health

One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is that your hormones may be completely normal, but your brain's response to those hormonal changes may not be.

If you feel like you become a completely different person every month, don't simply dismiss it as “being hormonal.” Track your symptoms, look for the pattern, and find someone who will listen.

And if symptoms ever become severe, especially if you're experiencing suicidal thoughts, PMDD deserves immediate medical and psychiatric attention.

Share this episode with a woman who has ever wondered why she feels completely different before her period.

PMS | PMDD | Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder | Premenstrual Exacerbation | Hormone Health | Women's Mental Health | Progesterone | Menstrual Health

#HumpDayHormones #PMS #PMDD #WomensHealth #HormoneHealth #WomensMentalHealth #MenstrualHealth #Progesterone #HormoneHealth

For more than 20 years, women have often heard one of two messages about hormone therapy: that it is dangerous and should be avoided, or that it is the answer to everything. Neither tells the full story.

The research has changed, and menopause care has evolved. But not every headline on social media represents a true change in clinical practice.

In this episode, we look at what has changed over the past 10 years, five years, and especially the past year, and what those changes actually mean for women navigating menopause.

In this episode, we break down:

• Why hormone therapy should no longer be treated as one medication with one universal risk profile

• Why age, timing, dose, route, and type of hormone all matter when evaluating risks and benefits

• How our understanding of genitourinary syndrome of menopause and vaginal estrogen has changed

• What the evidence now says about vaginal estrogen for some breast cancer survivors

• Where testosterone actually fits into evidence based menopause care

• What has changed with compounded hormones, FDA warnings, and newer nonhormonal treatments for hot flashes

• Why modern menopause care is moving away from rigid age based rules and toward individualized, risk based treatment

We also talk about what hasn't changed. Hormone therapy is not a universal longevity drug, hormone levels alone should not diagnose perimenopause, systemic estrogen still requires appropriate endometrial protection when a woman has a uterus, and unexplained postmenopausal bleeding still needs evaluation.

The biggest shift isn't that hormones are completely safe or completely dangerous. It's that we're finally moving beyond treating hormone therapy as one drug with one risk profile.

The better question is: For this woman, for this indication, using this formulation, do the expected benefits outweigh the potential risks?

That's what evidence based, patient centered menopause care should look like.

Share this episode with a woman who has ever been told that hormone therapy is simply “good” or “bad.”

Menopause Care | Hormone Replacement Therapy | Hormone Therapy Research | Menopause Treatment | Vaginal Estrogen | Testosterone Therapy | Women's Health | Evidence Based Menopause Care

#HumpDayHormones #Menopause #HormoneReplacementTherapy #HormoneHealth #WomensHealth #MenopauseCare #VaginalEstrogen #TestosteroneTherapy #MenopauseResearch #HealthyAging

Progesterone can be incredibly helpful for some women. It can support sleep, calm the nervous system, regulate bleeding, and play an important role in hormone therapy. But for some women, taking progesterone can bring on anxiety, depression, fatigue, dizziness, brain fog, bloating, or that frustrating feeling of simply not feeling like themselves.

So what is actually happening?

In Episode 82, we’re diving into progesterone intolerance, why some women can have such a different response to the same hormone, and what options exist when oral micronized progesterone simply doesn’t work for you.

In this episode, we break down:

• What progesterone intolerance actually is and how it differs from progestin intolerance

• Why allopregnanolone and the GABA A receptor may play a role in how women respond to progesterone

• Why some women tolerate their own natural progesterone but struggle with oral progesterone

• How the timing, dose, and route of progesterone can change your experience

• What other options may provide endometrial protection when oral progesterone isn't tolerated

• Why progesterone creams may not provide adequate uterine protection

• How options like an IUD, different progestins, or Duavee may fit into the conversation

One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is that “I can’t tolerate progesterone” doesn’t mean the conversation is over. Your response to hormones is individual, and the goal is to find a safe, effective treatment plan that you can actually live with.

If progesterone has ever made you feel worse instead of better, this is an episode you’ll want to hear.

Share this with a woman who has ever wondered why progesterone makes her feel awful.

Progesterone Intolerance | Progesterone Therapy | Hormone Replacement Therapy | Menopause Care | Micronized Progesterone | Hormone Health | Perimenopause | Women's Health

#HumpDayHormones #Progesterone #ProgesteroneIntolerance #HormoneReplacementTherapy #Menopause #Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealth #MicronizedProgesterone #MenopauseEducation

If you've been talking with friends about hormone therapy or scrolling social media lately, you've probably heard someone say they switched from estrogen pills to a patch.

It's not just a trend.

Recent prescription data shows estrogen patch use continues to rise, and there's a good reason why. As we've learned more about menopause medicine, we've also learned that how estrogen gets into your body matters.

In this episode, we break down:

• Why estrogen patches have become increasingly popular in menopause care

• How patches and pills work differently inside the body

• What current research says about blood clot risk and cardiovascular health

• Which women may benefit most from transdermal estrogen

• The pros and cons of patches, pills, and estrogen gels

• Common questions about absorption, dosing, and where to place your patch

• How to decide which form of hormone therapy may be right for you

The biggest takeaway? There isn't one "best" form of estrogen. The best choice depends on your health history, symptoms, lifestyle, and long term goals.

As always, we break down the latest research so you can have informed conversations with your healthcare provider and make decisions that are right for you.

Share this episode with a friend who's wondering whether an estrogen patch or pill is the better option.

Estrogen Patch | Hormone Replacement Therapy | Menopause Treatment | Estradiol Patch | Menopause Symptoms | Women's Health | Hormone Therapy | Transdermal Estrogen

#HumpDayHormones #Menopause #EstrogenPatch #HormoneReplacementTherapy #Estradiol #HormoneHealth #WomensHealth #MenopauseEducation #HealthyAging #TransdermalEstrogen

This week we're introducing the newest nurse practitioner at The Women's Clinic, Amy Wilson, APRN, and giving you the chance to get to know the person behind the provider.

With years of experience in women's health and specialized training in urogynecology, Amy shares why she dedicated her career to helping women feel heard, understood, and empowered through every stage of life.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Amy's journey into women's health and what led her to our practice

• Why so many women feel dismissed and how compassionate care can change that

• Common hormone myths and what every woman should know about hormone therapy

• What urogynecology is and when women should seek care for pelvic floor concerns

• The symptoms women often dismiss as "just aging" that deserve a closer look

• Amy's advice for women who are ready to take control of their health

Whether you're navigating menopause, hormone concerns, pelvic floor symptoms, or simply looking for a provider who truly listens, this episode is a chance to meet someone who's passionate about providing personalized, evidence based care.

We're thrilled to welcome Amy to the team and can't wait for you to get to know her.

Share this episode with someone who's looking for a women's health provider who truly listens.

Women's Health Provider | Hormone Therapy | Menopause Care | Urogynecology | Pelvic Floor Health | Hormone Optimization | Women's Wellness | Menopause Specialist

#HumpDayHormones #AmyWilson #WomensHealth #HormoneHealth #Menopause #Urogynecology #PelvicFloorHealth #HormoneTherapy #HealthyAging #WomensWellness

"Should your estradiol level be checked while you're on hormone therapy?"

"Or do your symptoms tell us everything we need to know?"

It's one of the biggest debates in menopause medicine.

Some providers say blood levels don't matter. Others want to see your estradiol above a certain number. So... who's right?

In this episode, we unpack what the research actually says and explain why the answer depends on what you're trying to accomplish. While symptoms remain the best guide for relieving hot flashes and night sweats, optimizing long term health may be a different conversation.

In this episode, we break down:

• Why routine estradiol testing isn't recommended for every woman on hormone therapy

• What estradiol levels may tell us about bone health and osteoporosis prevention

• How estrogen supports cardiovascular health, healthy blood vessels, and cholesterol

• The connection between estradiol, insulin resistance, and metabolic health

• What we know, and don't yet know, about estrogen and brain health after menopause

• Why treating symptoms and optimizing long term health aren't always the same goal

• How to think about estradiol numbers without chasing a "perfect" lab value

The biggest takeaway? We don't treat lab numbers, we treat women. Hormone therapy should always be individualized, using both symptoms and the best available evidence to support long term health.

Share this episode with someone navigating menopause or a healthcare provider who wants to stay up to date on the evolving science of hormone therapy.

#HumpDayHormones #Menopause #Estradiol #HormoneReplacementTherapy #HormoneHealth #BoneHealth #HeartHealth #Women'sHealth #MenopauseEducation #HealthyAging

A new Penn Medicine study is making headlines after researchers found that women taking GLP-1 medications had about 30% lower odds of being diagnosed with breast cancer compared to similar women who were not taking these medications.

So what does that actually mean?

In this episode, we separate the headlines from the science and explain why researchers are excited, while also discussing what we still don't know.

In this episode, we break down:

• What the new Penn Medicine breast cancer study actually found

• Why a 30% lower risk does not mean 30 out of 100 women avoided breast cancer

• How obesity, insulin resistance, inflammation, and estrogen influence breast cancer risk

• The biologic reasons GLP-1 medications may help reduce cancer risk

• The important limitations of this research and why it does not prove cause and effect

• What these findings could mean for women with obesity, insulin resistance, or a family history of breast cancer

The most exciting part of this research isn't that we suddenly have a new breast cancer prevention drug. It's that improving metabolic health may impact far more than the number on the scale.

As always, we'll discuss what the evidence supports today, what questions remain unanswered, and where the research is headed next.

Share this with someone who's been seeing the headlines and wondering what they really mean.

#HumpDayHormones #GLP1 #BreastCancerResearch #Semaglutide #Tirzepatide #WomensHealth #HormoneHealth #MetabolicHealth #BreastCancerAwareness #MedicalResearch