In this episode, host Dr. Peter Weir speaks with Molly Becky, DNP, a women’s health nurse practitioner at the University of Utah Health Midlife Women’s Health & Menopause Program. As a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, Molly brings expertise in evidence-based care for women in midlife, including the use of hormone therapies and management of menopausal symptoms. Their conversation covers a broad range of health concerns affecting women during this stage of life, while also highlighting recent FDA changes and exploring how these updates influence clinical practice and decision-making to ensure safe, effective, and up-to-date care.

Topics discussed include:

• Why HRT Was Renamed

• Perimenopause vs Menopause

• Diagnosing and Lab Panels - When Symptoms Beat Labs

• What Counts as MHT

• Progesterone and the Uterus

• Who Should Start MHT

• Contraindications Overview

• MHT vs Birth Control

• Clot Risk and Dosing

• WHI Study Revisited

• Modern Hormone Formulations

• Misconceptions and Counseling

• Nonhormonal Medication Options

• Future Therapies - Testosterone

• Compounding Pros and Cons

• Online Influencers and Resources

At the conclusion of the podcast, learners should be able to:

1. Have a greater understanding of perimenopause and menopause and be able to evaluate appropriate patient selection for traditional menopause hormone therapy (MHT), including FDA-approved indications for estrogen and progesterone.

2. Assess the individual risks and contraindications of MHT to patients, support safe, evidence-based prescribing and effective patient counseling.

Learn More – Links to Resources

Upcoming CME Training about Menopause Care 2026

• June and October CME sessions in 2026, hosted by University of Utah Health

Hormone Therapy Resources

Women's Health Research Studies

Women’s Health Midlife Care

Episode Timeline

00:53 Why MHT Not HRT

01:36 Perimenopause vs Menopause

04:19 Diagnosing

05:05 Lab Interpretation Pitfalls

07:20 Treating Symptoms Despite Normal Labs

08:58 Estrogen Progesterone Basics

12:52 Who Should Avoid MHT

15:03 Contraindications and OCP Differences

17:19 Clot Risk and Patch Safety

19:22 WHI Study Revisited

22:23 Modern Hormone Formulations

23:24 Top Menopause Symptoms

25:39 Misconceptions and Counseling

26:53 Nonhormonal Medication

33:15 Future Therapies - Testosterone

35:01 Compounding and DHEA

37:57 Influencers