Hopeful Hints

Tara Harding

Walking through women's health concerns and infertility often leaves us feeling lonely, confused, and overwhelmed. Join doctorate nurse practitioner and infertility warrior Dr. Tara Harding, DNP, FNP-C weekly as she provides short hopeful hits on all things women's health and infertility with the occasional special guest. Each episode contains empowering information to help you better navigate your healthcare, take back control, and move forward with hope.

  1. 2d ago

    Every Root Cause of Hair Loss in Women: Hormones, Thyroid, Iron, GLP-1, and 10 More (Part 2)

    There are more than a dozen documented, treatable root causes of hair loss in women. Most women are evaluated for one or two of them and sent home with a biotin supplement. In this episode, Dr. Tara Harding, DNP, FNP-C maps every single root cause of female hair loss in plain clinical language so that women and hairdressers understand not just what is causing hair loss, but why. Mechanism, not just name. This is the episode to share with the woman who has been told her hair loss is just stress. The one whose labs came back normal. The one who has been losing more hair since starting a GLP-1 medication and cannot get a straight answer about why. Covered in this episode:  Hormonal hair loss: DHT sensitivity, estrogen decline, progesterone deficiency, PCOS, cortisol  Thyroid and hair loss: why TSH alone misses most cases  Iron and Ferritin: why below 70 matters even when you are 'not anemic' GLP-1 and Ozempic Hair Loss: it is a nutrition problem, not a drug problem Postpartum, perimenopause, and menopause hair loss  Medications, autoimmune, gut health, and more Every woman who has ever been dismissed deserves this episode. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take the free Hormone Symptom Quiz ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Let Dr. Tara help you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LEARN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for FREE from Dr. Tara ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Tara on TikTok Come say hi over on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tara's Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Disclaimer: Dr. Tara Harding is a Doctor of Nursing Practice and licensed Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C). This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your own healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment tailored to your individual needs.

    25 min
  2. 6d ago

    Hair Loss in Women: What Your Hairdresser Noticed Before Your Doctor Did (Part 1)

    If your hair is falling out and you have been told your labs are normal, this episode is for you. Dr. Tara Harding, DNP, FNP-C opens the 'Why Is My Hair Falling Out?' series with the conversation that rarely happens in a doctor's office: why hair loss in women is one of the most dismissed symptoms in medicine, and why the person most likely to notice it first is your hairdresser. Women's hair loss including female pattern hair loss, diffuse thinning, and sudden shedding affects the majority of women at some point in their lives. Yet 72% of women say hair shedding is their biggest unmet hair care need. The system is not meeting this moment. In this episode: What normal shedding looks like vs. pathological female hair loss  The hair loss patterns hairdressers are uniquely positioned to spot  Why women with hair thinning are routinely dismissed — and the research behind it  The emotional weight of hair loss and why it is not a vanity issue How hairdressers can use their trusted role to start conversations that change lives This series was built for women who want real answers, and the hairdressers who often see the problem first. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take the free Hormone Symptom Quiz ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Let Dr. Tara help you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LEARN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for FREE from Dr. Tara ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Tara on TikTok Come say hi over on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tara's Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Disclaimer: Dr. Tara Harding is a Doctor of Nursing Practice and licensed Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C). This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your own healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment tailored to your individual needs.

    14 min
  3. May 21

    POTS, Dysautonomia & Long COVID: The Syndrome Hidden Behind Brain Fog, Palpitations & Fatigue

    POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) is one of the most underdiagnosed conditions affecting women today. It doesn't show up on standard tests, it mimics anxiety, and it's dismissed constantly. But it's real, it's systemic, and it's treatable. In this episode, Dr. Tara Harding, DNP, FNP-c breaks down the four types of POTS, the diagnostic tools practitioners actually use, its connection to Long COVID and co-occurring conditions like MCAS and hypermobility, and the proven management strategies that get results. Whether you're newly diagnosed or still searching for answers, this episode gives you the language and the framework to advocate for yourself. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Take the free Hormone Symptom Quiz ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Let Dr. Tara help you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LEARN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for FREE from Dr. Tara ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Tara on TikTok Come say hi over on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tara's Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Disclaimer: Dr. Tara Harding is a Doctor of Nursing Practice and licensed Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C). This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your own healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment tailored to your individual needs.

    16 min
  4. May 15

    Is It ADHD or Perimenopause? How Estrogen Steals Your Dopamine & What to Do About It

    If you've been feeling scattered, forgetful, emotionally raw, and completely unlike yourself and you're in your 40s or 50s, this episode will change how you understand what's happening in your brain. Dr. Tara Harding, DNP, FNP-C explores the science behind the estrogen-dopamine connection and explains why perimenopause doesn't cause ADHD, but frequently unmasks it in women who spent decades building coping strategies that no longer work. She breaks down the three distinct groups of women navigating this hormonal shift and explains why receiving a late-in-life diagnosis often brings equal parts grief and relief. This is the episode for the woman who was told she was fine and knew she wasn't. ⁠⁠⁠Take the free Hormone Symptom Quiz ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Let Dr. Tara help you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LEARN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for FREE from Dr. Tara ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Tara on TikTok Come say hi over on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tara's Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Disclaimer: Dr. Tara Harding is a Doctor of Nursing Practice and licensed Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C). This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your own healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment tailored to your individual needs.

    16 min
  5. May 6

    The Vascular Cause of Pelvic Pain No One Is Talking About | Dr. Brooke Spencer, MD, FSIR

    If you suffer from pelvic pain that no one can figure out and nothing has worked this episode might be the one that changes everything. Today's guest is Dr. Brooke Spencer is a board-certified interventional radiologist, Fellowship of the Society of Interventional Radiology honoree, and the Medical Director and CEO of Minimally Invasive Procedure Specialists (MIPS) in Denver, Colorado. With over 7,000 venous interventions under her belt, Dr. Spencer has dedicated her career to uncovering the vascular causes of chronic pelvic pain causes that most providers, including well-trained ones, are simply not trained to see. In this episode, we go deep on pelvic venous disorders, pelvic congestion syndrome, and why women continue to be misdiagnosed for years before anyone orders the right imaging, interpreted by the right person, for the right reasons. In this episode, we cover: What vascular causes of pelvic pain actually are and how common they are The diagnoses women receive before someone finally looks at their veins The symptom patterns that should make any provider stop and think "vascular", including pain that worsens with standing, after intercourse, or at certain points in the cycle Why standard imaging so often misses the diagnosis and what should actually be ordered Why who reads that imaging is just as important as which imaging is ordered What minimally invasive procedures can resolve sometimes after years of failed treatment And so much more!  Recent Research Publications Discussed by Dr. Brooke: https://safire.health/https://mipscenter.com/ ⁠⁠Take the free Hormone Symptom Quiz ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Let Dr. Tara help you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LEARN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for FREE from Dr. Tara ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Tara on TikTok Come say hi over on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tara's Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Disclaimer: Dr. Tara Harding is a Doctor of Nursing Practice and licensed Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C). This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your own healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment tailored to your individual needs.

    58 min
  6. May 2

    Your UTIs Aren't Bad Luck — They're Hormonal

    If you've been on antibiotics two, three, four times in the last year for recurrent UTIs and no one has ever asked about your hormone levels, this episode is the conversation you've been waiting for. Dr. Tara Harding, DNP, FNP-C breaks down why recurrent UTIs are often a hormone problem, not a hygiene problem, and what the FDA's February 2026 removal of the black box warning from vaginal hormones means for every woman who was told these treatments were dangerous. We cover the hormonal root of recurrent UTIs, why Genitourinary Syndrome (GSM and GSL) affects women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s not just those in menopause. The role of testosterone in women's urinary and sexual health, and why your birth control or acne medication may be the source of the problem you've been trying to solve for years. You'll leave this episode with three specific questions to bring to your next provider appointment and a clearer picture of what optimal hormonal care actually looks like. ⁠Take the free Hormone Symptom Quiz ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Let Dr. Tara help you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LEARN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for FREE from Dr. Tara ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Tara on TikTok Come say hi over on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tara's Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Disclaimer: Dr. Tara Harding is a Doctor of Nursing Practice and licensed Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C). This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your own healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment tailored to your individual needs.

    13 min
  7. Apr 1

    The Pain You Were Told Was Normal: The Truth About Endometriosis Your Doctor Missed

    If you’ve been told your pain is “normal” or your labs look fine  but you know something is wrong, this episode is for you. Dr. Tara Harding, DNP, FNP-C breaks down the truth about endometriosis, why it takes 9–11 years to diagnose, and how it impacts your hormones, gut, brain, and fertility. This is not just a period problem, it’s a full-body condition that is often missed, dismissed, and misunderstood. If you’re dealing with painful periods, bloating, infertility, fatigue, or symptoms no one can explain, this episode will help you start connecting the dots and advocate for real answers. Take the free Endometriosis Assessment Quiz ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Let Dr. Tara help you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LEARN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for FREE from Dr. Tara ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Tara on TikTok Come say hi over on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tara's Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Disclaimer: Dr. Tara Harding is a Doctor of Nursing Practice and licensed Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C). This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your own healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment tailored to your individual needs.

    28 min
  8. Mar 10

    Doctors Told Me It Was Anxiety. It Was Hormones.

    Have you been told your anxiety or depression is "all in your head" or strictly a psychiatric issue? You are not alone and you might have been misdiagnosed. In this episode of Hopeful Hints, Dr. Tara Harding DNP, FNP-C reveals the hidden connection between your mental health and your hormones. We’re breaking down the 6 specific hormonal imbalances that silently mimic anxiety and depression, including hidden thyroid issues, estrogen dominance, and cortisol spikes. Tune in to discover how to track your symptom patterns, ask your doctor for the right tests, and finally get the answers you deserve. This episode is for any woman who feels dismissed, told her labs are “normal,” or suspects her anxiety or depression may actually be rooted in hormone imbalance. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Let Dr. Tara help you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LEARN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for FREE from Dr. Tara ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Tara on TikTok Come say hi over on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tara's Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Disclaimer: Dr. Tara Harding is a Doctor of Nursing Practice and licensed Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C). This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your own healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment tailored to your individual needs.

    18 min
4.8
out of 5
24 Ratings

About

Walking through women's health concerns and infertility often leaves us feeling lonely, confused, and overwhelmed. Join doctorate nurse practitioner and infertility warrior Dr. Tara Harding, DNP, FNP-C weekly as she provides short hopeful hits on all things women's health and infertility with the occasional special guest. Each episode contains empowering information to help you better navigate your healthcare, take back control, and move forward with hope.

You Might Also Like