If your doctor has ever told you, "Your labs look normal," while you're struggling with exhaustion, brain fog, weight gain, anxiety, poor sleep, or hot flashes, this episode is for you.
Millions of women navigating perimenopause and menopause are told their symptoms are simply part of aging. But what if there was more to the story?
In this podcast, we sit down with Jackie Roberts, a midlife health educator with more than 30 years of experience in laboratory medicine and the pharmaceutical industry, to uncover why so many women feel unheard, misunderstood, and left searching for answers during the menopause transition.
Together, we explore why hormone symptoms are often treated one at a time instead of looking at the bigger picture. Jackie explains how the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) changed the conversation around hormone replacement therapy (HRT), what we've learned since that landmark study, and the important differences between synthetic hormones and bioidentical progesterone. Most importantly, she shares how women can have informed, personalized conversations with their healthcare providers instead of accepting, "You're just getting older," as the final answer.
We also take a practical deep dive into menopause hormone testing and discuss:
• The hormone labs that may help tell the bigger story, including FSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone
• Why timing your lab work during your cycle can make a significant difference
• Additional labs that may help rule out other conditions, including thyroid function, iron, ferritin, prolactin, A1C, and glucose
• How chronic stress, cortisol, inflammation, and body composition affect your health after 40
• Why strength training, adequate protein, and lifestyle habits become increasingly important during midlife
• The powerful role that community, emotional support, and spiritual wellness play in thriving—not just surviving—through menopause
Whether you're in perimenopause, menopause, or postmenopause, this conversation will leave you with practical questions to ask, greater confidence when talking with your healthcare provider, and a deeper understanding of what your body may be trying to tell you.
If you're ready to stop guessing and start advocating for your health, press play today.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a woman who deserves to know she's not imagining her symptoms—and she's certainly not alone.
Bio
I bridge the gap between science and spirit in menopause care. With 30+ years in Laboratory Medicine and pharmaceuticals, including Hormone Replacement Therapy, and a background in award-winning coaching leadership, I help women stop fighting their bodies and start working with them. After navigating my own menopause challenges, I now guide women to restore strength, clarity, and connection—physically, mentally, and spiritually.
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