Menopause Besties Q&A: Hormone Testing, Progesterone Truths, Late-Start HRT & More with Zora Benhamou
The Hormone Solution | Perimenopause, Menopause, HRT, Weight Loss & Women's Midlife Health
Release Date: 11/01/2025
The Hormone Solution | Perimenopause, Menopause, HRT, Weight Loss & Women's Midlife Health
Download the full episode on or on your favorite podcast platforms. In this quick hits I sit down with Dr. Gillett, to exam the complex world of women's hormones today. We'll be focusing on androgens like testosterone, DHEA, and dihydrotestosterone, and their profound impact on female health. Dr. Gillett provides insights on the role of binding globulins, hormone replacement therapy, and the interplay between insulin and androgens. We also discuss the challenges of menopausal weight gain, the benefits of GLP-1 medications for weight loss, and practical strategies anyone can use for...
info_outlineThe Hormone Solution | Perimenopause, Menopause, HRT, Weight Loss & Women's Midlife Health
If you had told me at 40 that perimenopause would turn my world upside down, I would’ve laughed. As a nutritionist specializing in women’s hormones, I thought I had it handled. So why did I gain 15 pounds, lose my sleep, and feel like a stranger in my own body? In this episode, I’m sharing what I wish someone had told me before the storm hit. Why are so many intelligent, health-conscious women still confused about where they are in perimenopause? Why are we being offered antidepressants, birth control, or told we’re “too young” instead of getting real answers? I break down the...
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Welcome to Quick Hits — where we bring you the most impactful moments from past episodes in under 15 minutes. Today’s clip comes from one of our most replayed conversations. If you want the full episode, check the link in the description below. In this quick hits episode you will hear a clip from my interview with Dr. Kirk Parsley — former Navy SEAL physician and one of the leading voices in sleep optimization — to unpack what chronic sleep deprivation is really doing to your body. We dive into: Why Ambien and common sleep medications can damage long-term brain and hormonal health...
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Jay Campbell—five-time international bestselling author, founder of BioLongevity Labs, and one of the original voices in the peptide world—is here to unpack what’s really going on behind the GLP-1 explosion. Are these drugs miracle tools or misunderstood villains? And why are so many smart people still getting them wrong? We go way beyond the hype and fear, diving into microdosing, metabolic repair, thyroid changes, and why dosing may be the make-or-break factor. Could peptides actually rewire the brain, quiet food noise, and permanently improve metabolism? And what happens when midlife...
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In this episode, I sit down with Nikolina Lauc, CEO and Co-Founder of GlycanAge, and we dive into a questions that should stop every midlife woman in her tracks: is menopause actually accelerating your biological aging? What if the shift from perimenopause to menopause could age you up to nine years in just six months? And more importantly, what can you do about it? We unpack what biological age really means (and why it’s not the same as your chronological age), how inflammation quietly drives aging and disease, and why estrogen may be one of the most powerful longevity tools we have. Is...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,”...
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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...
info_outlineAre you curious about the mysteries of menopause and how to navigate this transformative life stage with confidence? In this Q&A episode, we sit down with Zora Benhamou to answer all your burning questions about hormone management and replacement therapy. How do you know if your hormone levels are optimal, and what can you do if they're not?
Ever wondered about the truths and myths surrounding progesterone? Zora shares invaluable insights into the world of hormone testing and what those numbers really mean for your health. Why is it crucial to consider both estradiol and progesterone, and how do they work together to support your well-being?
Thinking about starting hormone replacement therapy but worried it's too late? Discover the benefits and potential drawbacks of late-start HRT and how it might fit into your menopause journey. What strategies can you adopt to manage weight gain and other post-menopausal challenges?
In this episode, we uncover:
- How hormone testing timing impacts results and what it reveals about your balance.
- Why progesterone is essential even if you don't have a uterus.
- How to differentiate between various hormone delivery methods and their pros and cons.
- Why gut health and lifestyle factors play a critical role in hormone sensitivity.
- How personalized hormone therapy can transform your menopause experience.
Listen now to this enlightening episode filled with practical advice and expert insights. Empower yourself with the knowledge you need to master menopause!
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Are you in peri or post menopause and looking to optimize your hormones and health? At Hormone Solutions, we offer telemedicine services and can prescribe in every U.S. state, as well as in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario in Canada.
Visit karenmartel.com to explore our comprehensive programs:
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Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
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Individualized Weight Loss Programs
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Peptide Therapy for weight loss
Interested in our NEW Peptide Weight Loss Program? Join today and get all the details here.
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Your host:
Karen Martel
Certified Hormone Specialist, Transformational Nutrition Coach, & Weight Loss Expert