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Are you feeling exhausted, irritable, foggy-brained, or experiencing night sweats that leave you drenched? These symptoms aren't just "part of getting older" – they're signs of hormonal changes that can be effectively treated. In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Val Schulte joins midwives Missi and Cara to demystify perimenopause and menopause with straightforward, evidence-based information that healthcare providers often miss.

"I can't describe how excited I am about today," says Missi at the start, acknowledging that many midwives received minimal education about menopause, especially after the Women's Health Initiative study created widespread fear around hormone therapy. Dr. Schulte, who transitioned from traditional OBGYN practice to focusing on hormone therapy and lifestyle medicine, shares how her own perimenopausal symptoms sparked her passion for helping women navigate this transition.

The conversation dives deep into practical aspects of hormone testing and treatment options. Dr. Schulte explains how bioidentical progesterone can improve sleep and mood, why testosterone (often overlooked in women) dramatically affects energy and libido, and how proper estrogen therapy protects heart, brain, and bone health. She details the advantages of different delivery methods – from daily creams to pellet therapy that slowly releases hormones over months – and dispels myths about hormone risks.

What makes this episode especially valuable is the real-talk about symptoms many women experience but rarely discuss: brain fog that interferes with work, anxiety that appears out of nowhere, joint pain, changes in body odor, even ridges in fingernails. Dr. Schulte connects these seemingly unrelated issues to hormonal fluctuations and offers solutions beyond the standard "here's an antidepressant" approach many providers default to.

Whether you're approaching perimenopause, in the thick of menopause, or supporting someone who is, this conversation provides clarity and hope. As Missy realizes toward the end, "I do not have to feel this way for another five years." Listen now to discover how you can reclaim your energy, mood, focus, and quality of life through evidence-based hormone therapy and lifestyle approaches.

#EngagEDMidwife #MidwiferyMatters #HormoneTherapy #MenopauseCare #PerimenopauseSupport #WomensHealth #MidlifeHealth #HotFlashesAndHope #ToolsInOurToolbox

@menopause_society @acog_org @drjennsimmons @drrachelrubin @dlberkson @auria.care