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Navigating Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

The Hormone Solution Podcast with Karen Martel

Release Date: 05/11/2024

Estrogen Dominance… or Estrogen Deficiency? Is It Safe to Start Estrogen in Perimenopause?

The Hormone Solution Podcast with Karen Martel

Welcome to the very first Hormone Hotline episode of The Hormone Solution! I’m getting straight into your real-life questions about estrogen—because why, in 2026, are we still being told we’re “estrogen dominant” with rock-bottom levels? If your doctor has warned you against HRT, this episode is for you. Have you been told you can’t start estrogen until you hit full menopause? Or that perimenopause is just too much of a “hormone rollercoaster” to treat? I break down what’s actually happening in your brain and ovaries during late perimenopause, and why adding estrogen might...

From Toe Curling Orgasms to Healthy Poops: Why Oxytocin Is Essential for Midlife Women with Dr. Lindsey Berkson

The Hormone Solution Podcast with Karen Martel

What if your mood swings, anxiety, sleep issues, or loss of motivation aren’t just “getting older?” What role does oxytocin really play in midlife, and why has it been overlooked for so long? In this episode, I’m joined by the brilliant hormone scholar Dr. Lindsey Berkson, and we dive into a part of menopause that almost no one is talking about—what’s happening in your brain. We explore how hormones act as the body’s Wi‑Fi system, and what happens when that signal gets disrupted. Could environmental toxins be hijacking not just estrogen and progesterone, but oxytocin too? And...

Inflammaging Is Hijacking Your Hormones: The Ancient Reset Women Need in Midlife with Dr. Shivani Gupta

The Hormone Solution Podcast with Karen Martel

Do you know whether you’re Vata, Pitta, or Kapha...and could that explain your stubborn symptoms in midlife? In this episode, I’m joined by my brilliant friend Dr. Shivani Gupta, and we dive into Ayurveda, inflammation, and why your body might be asking for a completely different approach right now. Have you ever wondered why turmeric seems to work like magic for pain, migraines, or inflammation? Or why the same routines that used to work suddenly don’t anymore in perimenopause? We unpack how ancient Ayurvedic wisdom meets modern science—and why that combination matters so much for...

Why So Many Hormone Providers Get It Wrong (And How to Find One Who Doesn’t)

The Hormone Solution Podcast with Karen Martel

This episode comes straight from my own lived experience of spiraling before doctor’s appointments and feeling dismissed when it comes to hormones. I dig into why so many hormone providers get it wrong and what’s actually happening behind those rushed, frustrating conversations. Why does advocating for ourselves feel so hard? I walk you through what most doctors are (and aren’t) trained to do when it comes to perimenopause and menopause. How much of this is about lack of education versus lack of time? And how do you stop blaming yourself when you’re told your labs are “normal,”...

Why You’re Not Healing: Stress, Insomnia, Weight Gain & the Vagus Nerve with Dr. Navaz Nabib

The Hormone Solution Podcast with Karen Martel

Have you’ve tried everything from protocols, to supplements, to experts and the healing still hasn’t happened? Why do so many of us stay stuck despite doing “all the right things”? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Navaz Habib, aka "The Vagus Nerve Doc," to explore what might be missing. What if the real issue isn’t another diagnosis, hormone imbalance, or gut protocol? What if it’s your nervous system itself? I share my own journey of chasing answers and why discovering the vagus nerve made me question everything I thought I knew about healing. Why does stress seem to override...

Why Waiting for Menopause Is a Mistake: The Case for Earlier HRT and Replacing Hormones the Right Way

The Hormone Solution Podcast with Karen Martel

I’m diving into why waiting until menopause to address hormones can be an incredibly costly mistake for so many women. Why are we told to “wait it out” when symptoms often start years earlier? And what’s really happening inside our bodies long before our periods stop? I walk through the often-missed perimenopausal years and explain why this phase matters more than most of us realize. What if heavy periods, anxiety, weight gain, or insomnia aren’t things you just have to tolerate? Could early hormone shifts be driving them? We also explore timing, myths, and fears around hormone...

Why Your Gut Is Sabotaging Your Hormones (and Your Hormones Are Sabotaging Your Gut) with Kiran Krishnan

The Hormone Solution Podcast with Karen Martel

I’m sitting down with microbiome expert Kiran Krishnan to explore a question I see come up all the time: why do hormones sometimes stop responding the way they used to? But what if the real issue isn’t your hormones at all, rather what’s happening in your gut? In this episode, we dig into the powerful gut-hormone connection. How can gut bacteria influence estrogen metabolism, inflammation, weight gain, and even mood? Why do so many women struggle more during perimenopause and menopause despite “doing all the right things”? We also talk about why hormone therapy sometimes backfires,...

Goodbye 2025: A Year of Healing, Hard Truths, and Growth

The Hormone Solution Podcast with Karen Martel

It’s time to say goodbye to 2025, so let’s get real about a year that looked successful for me on the outside, but sometimes felt like a reckoning on the inside. What happens when your body forces you to slow down? And what do you do when growth starts to cost you your peace? I open up about identity shifts, burnout, and the uncomfortable realization that I couldn’t keep working the way I was. How much of my worth was tied to helping others? What happens when you’re asked to step out of the role that once defined you? I also unpack the chaos of the menopause conversation in 2025. With...

Part 2 Q&A with Karen: Cortisol Replacement, Optimal Levels, HRT Absorption Issues, Estrogen Detox, BIEST Troches, Perimenopause Confusion & More!

The Hormone Solution Podcast with Karen Martel

This episode picks up right where part one leaves off as I dive into more of your thoughtful, honest questions in the second-part of this year-end Q&A. What happens when hormone therapy doesn’t seem to be working the way you expected? And how do you know if your dose is actually doing what you need it to do? I answer questions about achy joints, stubborn symptoms, cortisol replacement, thyroid interactions, and why some delivery methods work beautifully for one person and fail another. Why do absorption issues happen? What does “optimal” really mean when it comes to hormone levels?...

Q&A with Karen: High Ferritin, Injectable HRT, Breakthrough Bleeding, Optimizing Hormones, Histamine Intolerance and MORE!

The Hormone Solution Podcast with Karen Martel

I’m wrapping up the year by answering your questions in this first of a two-part Q&A, and we cover a lot of ground. From confusing lab results to hormone dosing debates, I dig into the questions so many of you are quietly wondering about. What does high ferritin really mean? Is it iron—or something else entirely? We’ll also take a look at hormone replacement frustrations. Why do some people still bleed months into HRT? Are injections better than patches or creams? And how do you know if your body is actually absorbing what you’re taking? I share real-world context, common patterns...

More Episodes

Today I present to you a special replay of myself appearing as a guest on The Resetter Podcast with Dr. Mindy Pelz as we chat about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. We discuss the misconceptions stemming from a Women's Health Initiative study in the 90s and talk about the unique roles of sex hormones in menopause. We then examine the various methods of administering bioidenticals, such as creams and injections, explaining how hormone therapy can be customized to meet each person's unique needs. We’ll also highlight the importance of a holistic lifestyle alongside hormone replacement therapy for optimal health.

In this episode:

Hormone replacement therapy versus bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, and their respective histories.
Why the Women's Health Initiative study significantly impacted perceptions of HRT.
How sex hormones like testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone uniquely affect the body.
Why administration methods of bioidenticals matter.
How individualized care in hormone therapy is essential for managing menopause effectively.
Why progesterone is vital for symptom management and overall protective benefits.
How estradiol contributes to bone density and should be monitored in therapy.
Why testosterone is crucial for energy and vitality during menopause.
Why a holistic lifestyle, including diet and stress management, is crucial alongside HRT.
How environmental factors play a role in achieving hormonal harmony.
Why health coaching and community support can be powerful resources in navigating hormonal health.
How bioidentical hormone therapy is not one-size-fits-all and requires personalization.
Why ongoing education and awareness are needed to dispel myths around HRT and menopause.

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