"It's not just about HRT or not...it's about realizing that the landscape has changed, and the playbook has changed. Full stop." 

Powerful words from Dr. Kirsten Smith set the stage for an enlightening conversation about what women really need during the menopause transition. Drawing on her extensive 15+ years of experience as a naturopathic doctor specializing in women's hormonal health, Dr. Smith challenges the simplistic narratives around hormone therapy and offers insights you likely won't hear in a standard medical appointment.

In This Episode: 

• The true role of hormone therapy—valuable but just one tool in your health toolkit 
• The shocking connection between hormonal changes and mental health, including increased suicide risk in women aged 45-55 
• Why conventional antidepressants might fail during perimenopause 
• The art and science of hormone dosing, and why your perfect dose might be completely different from your friend's 
• Red flags that your hormone dose might need adjustment 
• The critical gaps in medical training around women's health 
• How to find healthcare providers who understand the complexities of menopause 
• Practical strategies for building a complete approach to lasting health during menopause and beyond

Dr. Smith expands the conversation beyond hormones to address the complete picture of women's health during this transition, acknowledging that midlife health "does require more work.” But she also offers the reassurance that perfection isn't required—just consistent attention to the foundations of health. Whether you're currently on hormone therapy, considering it, or seeking alternatives, this conversation provides important information to help you advocate for yourself and make informed decisions about your health.

This podcast is brought to you by IRIS. Daily care products made with clean ingredients for hydrated vulva and vaginas. Use code TIP20 for 20% off at lovemyIRIS.com. 

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Dr. Kirsten Smith, ND | MSCP (cand.) | Visionary Women’s Health Expert | Integrative Hormone Specialist

For over 16 years, Dr. Kirsten Smith has redefined care for women navigating perimenopause and menopause, blending cutting-edge evidence-informed science with the wisdom of naturopathic medicine. Her pioneering work bridges the gap between conventional diagnostics and holistic healing, offering women a third path - one where bioidentical hormones (HRT), targeted nutrition, and evidence-backed botanicals work in harmony to restore vitality.

Based between Ontario’s forests and Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, Dr. Smith aims for the balance she teaches: mornings analyzing menopause research and doing patient consults, afternoons surfing with her son. This synergy of science and nature fuels her mission to reclaim midlife as a launchpad for women - not an expiration date. Dr. Smith's mission goes beyond treating patients; her legacy is cultivating a movement where women approach menopause with knowledge and agency, not fear. By mentoring practitioners and advocating for systemic change, she hopes future generations will inherit a healthcare model that honours hormonal transitions as important times in a woman's life that deserve, research, training and care. ️

Links for this episode

Work with Dr. Kirsten Smith

Dr. Kirsten Smith on Instagram