Estrogen Dominance… or Estrogen Deficiency? Is It Safe to Start Estrogen in Perimenopause?
The Hormone Solution | Menopause, Perimenopause, & Women's Midlife Health
Release Date: 02/21/2026
The Hormone Solution | Menopause, Perimenopause, & Women's Midlife Health
Three years ago, GLP-1 peptides were barely being talked about in the midlife women’s health space. Since then, Jessica and I have personally used them, experimented with different approaches, and helped over a thousand women inside our peptide program navigate what works, what backfires, and what women in perimenopause and menopause need to know before jumping in. In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on our own GLP-1 journeys, including my rough start with Ozempic, why Tirzepatide worked better for me, Jessica’s experience with Semaglutide and fatigue, and why Retatrutide is...
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Join our FREE upcoming masterclass: Why Midlife Weight Gain Won’t Budge A smarter way to use GLP-1s in midlife without wrecking muscle or metabolism When: April 30th 11 am PST Register here: There comes a point for so many women in their late 30s and 40s when they look in the mirror, or down at their belly, and think, what is happening to my body? You’re still eating well. You’re still exercising. You’re still trying to do all the “right” things. And yet your body suddenly feels like it is playing by a completely different set of rules. In this episode, I sit down with Dr....
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In this second of two parts, I sit down with Victoria Felkar again to unpack the complicated, often glamorized world of androgens, testosterone therapy, and anabolic steroids for women. Are these hormones empowering tools—or ticking time bombs? How do you know the difference? We dive into what’s really happening beneath the surface when women start layering in testosterone or other androgens, especially without a solid hormonal foundation in place. Have you ever wondered why some women feel amazing on testosterone, while others spiral into acne, hair loss, mood swings, or worse? What role...
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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. Have you ever wondered what your DNA says about your diet and hormones? Well in today's episode we are going to explore the connection between genetics and popular diets like keto, vegan, and low carb. Additionally, we'll explore how DNA reports can help us better understand our hormones and their impact on our health. Kashif Khan the Chief...
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In this episode, I’m joined by the brilliant Victoria Felkar, and we go where most conversations in women’s health simply don’t: anabolic steroids. Why has this topic been so misunderstood—and even feared—by women, especially in midlife? Are we lumping very different hormones into one “scary” category without truly understanding them? Victoria shares her own jaw-dropping health story—one that led to sky-high androgens, medical confusion, and even accusations of steroid use. How did a teenage experience with birth control, stress, and recovery from an eating disorder spiral...
info_outlineThe Hormone Solution | Menopause, Perimenopause, & Women's Midlife Health
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. Listen to the full peptide here: Dr. Deanna Minich, is a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, with a Masters of Science degree in Human Nutrition , and a Doctorate in Medical Sciences. She is an international lecturer, educator, and author, with over twenty years of experience in academia and in the food and dietary...
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Are you ready for a true masterclass? In this solo episode, I’m diving deep into estrogen and metabolic health—and trust me, this one challenged even me. Is estrogen really making you gain weight, or is the real problem what happens when it drops? If you’ve hit your 40s or 50s and suddenly nothing works anymore, you need to hear this. Why does belly fat seem to appear overnight in perimenopause? Why does your energy tank, your cravings skyrocket, and your mood feel completely hijacked? I unpack the science behind estradiol and how it impacts insulin, cortisol, thyroid, muscle,...
info_outlineThe Hormone Solution | Menopause, Perimenopause, & Women's Midlife Health
Listen to the full peptide here: Download on Apple and on your favorite podcast platform. 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. Today we're talking about the crucial world of women's hormonal health with Dr. Elizabeth Yurth from the Boulder Longevity Institute. We discuss how hormonal imbalances impact everything from chronic disease to daily vitality. We also demystify hormone replacement therapy, emphasizing its importance beyond just reproductive...
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Why are so many of us blindsided by anxiety, depression, rage, or even suicidal thoughts in midlife? And why are hormones so often left out of the conversation? I’m joined by the incredible Dr. Louise Newson, a UK-based GP and menopause specialist, to talk about something far too many women experience in silence—mental health struggles during perimenopause and menopause. We dive deep into what’s really happening in the brain when estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone start to fluctuate or decline. Could your low mood, brain fog, loss of confidence, or even a new ADHD diagnosis be...
info_outlineThe Hormone Solution | Menopause, Perimenopause, & Women's Midlife Health
Have you looked in the mirror lately and wondered, when did my skin change like this? In this episode, I’m joined by Debbi Barber (founder of Vitali Regenerative Skincare) and Dr. Jordan Plews (a stem cell scientist and co-founder of Xytogen Biotech) to unpack what’s really happening to our skin in midlife—and what we can actually do about it. Is it just aging… or is there something deeper going on at the cellular level? We dive into copper peptides (GHK-Cu) and exosomes—what they are, where they come from, and why they might be the future of regenerative skincare. Can you really...
info_outlineWelcome 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 calm the chaos instead of fueling it.
And what about those scary detox pathways and DUTCH test results? Does favoring a certain estrogen metabolite mean you’re disqualified from HRT? I unpack the myths around estrogen metabolism, aging, bone loss, mood, and even biological age. Could estrogen be one of the most powerful anti-aging tools we have?
In this episode, we uncover:
- Why “estrogen dominance” in menopause often makes no physiological sense.
- How estrogen therapy can stabilize perimenopausal hormone rollercoasters.
- What DUTCH test results really mean for HRT candidacy.
- Why waiting until menopause may accelerate aging and bone loss.
- How estrogen impacts mood, metabolism, and long-term mortality risk.
If you’ve been confused, dismissed, or flat-out denied estrogen, you need to hear this episode!
Have a question for our next Hormone Hotline episode? Fill out our form here.
Or leave us a voice note on our Speak Pipe Channel here.
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Are you in perimenopause or postmenopause and struggling with symptoms—but not getting the support you deserve?
At Midlife Solutions, we specialize in hormone optimization for women in midlife. Our all-female clinical team offers telehealth care across all 50 U.S. states, with the ability to prescribe bioidentical estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid medication.
Book your FREE Hormone Discovery Call
Find out what’s really driving your symptoms and what your next best steps are.
Visit the website: https://karenmartel.com
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Your host:
Karen Martel
Certified Hormone Specialist, Transformational Nutrition Coach, & Weight Loss Expert