Hump Day Hormones

Dr. Jill Jennings & Kortney Spann, APRN
  • 5.0 (41)
  • MEDICINE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

This is a podcast about all things hormones! Dr. Jill Jennings and Kortney Spann, APRN are so excited to share their knowledge and expertise about menopause, perimenopause, and hormone imbalances.

  1. Birth Control is NOT Hormone Replacement Therapy

    APR 15

    Birth Control is NOT Hormone Replacement Therapy

    “I’ve been told to just stay on birth control—it’s basically the same thing.” “But I still don’t feel better.” If you’ve ever been confused about the difference between birth control and hormone therapy, this episode is for you. Because these two are not interchangeable—and using one in place of the other can leave women feeling worse, not better. In this episode, we break down: 🧬 The fundamental difference between suppression vs support 💊 How birth control actually shuts down your natural hormones 🩺 What hormone therapy is designed to replace and restore ⚖️ Why the type of estrogen matters more than most people realize 📉 Why your labs look “off” on birth control 🔄 Why symptoms often persist when the root cause isn’t addressed We also talk through what many women experience: Low energy Brain fog Poor sleep Low libido Mood changes …and being told their hormones are “fine” while on birth control. But here’s the truth: Birth control overrides your system. Hormone therapy supports it. Later in the episode, we walk through who each option is actually for—and why using the wrong approach in midlife can lead to poor symptom control, unnecessary risks, and missed opportunities to truly feel better. Because you deserve more than symptom masking. You deserve hormone care that actually makes sense. Share this with the woman who’s been told, “It’s basically the same thing.”

    40 min
  2. Just Check the Labs: Why Labs Matter and Why You Should Follow Your Levels on Therapy

    APR 8

    Just Check the Labs: Why Labs Matter and Why You Should Follow Your Levels on Therapy

    “I’ve been told my labs are fine.” “But I still feel awful.” If you’ve ever wondered whether you even need lab work—or if you’ve been overwhelmed by endless testing—this episode is for you. Labs are powerful tools, but they’re not the whole story. Ignoring them completely? That’s also not good medicine. In this episode, we break down: 🧬 Why “normal” labs don’t always mean optimal 🩺 When labs are actually necessary ⏱ Why baseline labs before therapy matter 🔄 How hormones and labs work together, not in isolation 📉 What can go wrong when labs are treated as the goal instead of a tool 💉 How following labs on therapy helps personalize treatment safely We also cover the reality many women face on therapy: Persistent fatigue Brain fog Mood swings Unexplained weight gain Sleep disturbances …and how labs help differentiate what’s really happening. Later in the episode, we discuss evidence-based targets and why monitoring estradiol, testosterone, and other hormones can improve bone health, cardiovascular protection, and overall well-being. Because you deserve more than “everything looks normal.” You deserve to feel your best. Share this with a friend who’s been told, “Your labs are normal…but you know something isn’t right.”

    49 min
  3. Why You Need a GYN and a Hormone Provider

    APR 1

    Why You Need a GYN and a Hormone Provider

    “I’ve been told everything looks fine.” “But I don’t feel fine.” If you’ve ever left an appointment feeling dismissed, confused, or still searching for answers, this episode is for you. There is a gap in women’s healthcare, especially in midlife. Your gynecologist and your hormone provider are not the same role, and expecting one visit to cover everything often leaves women without the support they actually need. In this episode, we break down what each role is designed to do and why both matter. We walk through: 🩺 What a Gynecologist Focuses On 🧬 What Hormone Care Actually Addresses ⏳ Why Midlife Symptoms Get Missed 🧠 The Difference Between “No Disease” and Not Feeling Well 🔄 Why Hormones Don’t Work in Isolation 📉 The Limitations of “Normal” Lab Work We also talk about the reality many women face: Fatigue Brain fog Weight gain Anxiety Poor sleep …and being told nothing is wrong. But these symptoms are not random, and they are not something you just have to “push through.” They are often part of a bigger hormonal picture. Later in the episode, we discuss what better care can actually look like. • Why longer, more in-depth visits matter • Why hormone care requires follow-up, not just annual exams • How combining gynecologic care with hormone support improves outcomes • The shift toward focusing on healthspan, not just disease Because women deserve more than being told they are “fine.” They deserve to understand what is happening in their body and have options to feel better. Share this with the woman who’s been told, “Everything looks normal.”

    33 min
  4. “WHY CAN’T I SLEEP ANYMORE?” - Sleep in Perimenopause and Menopause

    MAR 25

    “WHY CAN’T I SLEEP ANYMORE?” - Sleep in Perimenopause and Menopause

    “I used to sleep fine. What happened?” “Why am I waking up at 2 or 3 AM?” “Why does my brain turn on the second my head hits the pillow?” If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Sleep disruption is one of the most common and earliest symptoms of perimenopause, affecting up to 40–60% of women and increasing even more after menopause. And despite what you have been told: It is not just stress. It is not just aging. It is hormonal neurobiology. In this episode, we break down what is actually happening in the body when sleep starts to fall apart. We walk through: 🧠 Estrogen & the Brain 😴 Serotonin, Melatonin, and Sleep Signaling 🌙 Progesterone and Deep Sleep 🔥 Hot Flashes and Sleep Fragmentation ⚡ Cortisol and the 2–3 AM Wake-Up 🏋️ Insulin Resistance and Blood Sugar Crashes We also explain why perimenopause sleep feels so different. Hormones are not just lower. They are unstable. And that instability affects the brain, nervous system, metabolism, and stress response all at once. Later in the episode, we cover what to actually do about it. • When hormone therapy may help • How progesterone supports sleep • Why cortisol and blood sugar matter • What to look for beyond hormones • Why nutrients like magnesium and vitamin D still play a role • When to consider sleep apnea, thyroid, or iron levels Sleep is not a luxury. It is foundational to mood, metabolism, memory, and long-term health. If you are waking in the middle of the night, feeling wired at bedtime, or exhausted during the day, there is a reason. And more importantly, there are solutions.

    49 min
  5. Magnesium in Perimenopause & Menopause

    MAR 18

    Magnesium in Perimenopause & Menopause

    “I can’t sleep.” “My brain won’t shut off.” “I feel anxious for no reason.” “I’m exhausted but wired.” What if one overlooked nutrient is quietly contributing to all of it? In this week’s episode of Hump Day Hormones, we’re talking about magnesium. It is one of the most under-recognized hormone helpers in the body, yet it is involved in more than 300 enzymatic reactions that influence sleep, stress response, metabolism, muscle function, and hormone signaling. And here is the surprising part. Magnesium deficiency is incredibly common, especially in women navigating perimenopause and menopause. Stress, modern food systems, hormonal changes, and metabolic shifts can all contribute to lower magnesium levels, which may leave the nervous system feeling overstimulated and the body struggling to recover. In this episode, we walk through how magnesium influences multiple systems in the body. 🧠 Nervous System & Anxiety 😴 Sleep Regulation 🧠 Migraines & Brain Excitability 🏋️ Metabolism & Insulin Resistance 🦴 Bone Health & Vitamin D Activation We also talk about the practical side of magnesium that many women are curious about. Which types of magnesium are best for sleep, brain health, or digestion. Why lab tests can look normal even when the body is functionally low. How much magnesium women may actually need in midlife. And why correcting simple nutrient gaps can sometimes create meaningful improvements in how women feel. Magnesium is not flashy. It is not trendy. But it is foundational physiology. And sometimes the biggest shifts in health happen when we support the basics first. Share this with the friend who says, “I’m exhausted but my brain won’t turn off.”

    37 min
  6. Vitamin D — Better Bones, Less Groans, and Psychiatric Overtones. Why Vitamin D is the Unsung Hormone Helper in Perimenopause; Menopause

    MAR 11

    Vitamin D — Better Bones, Less Groans, and Psychiatric Overtones. Why Vitamin D is the Unsung Hormone Helper in Perimenopause; Menopause

    “I already take vitamin D.” “It’s just for bones, right?” “My labs were normal.” Before you tune this one out, stay with us. Vitamin D is not just a vitamin. It acts like a hormone. It binds to receptors, enters the nucleus of your cells, and turns genes on and off. In fact, research shows it influences about 5 percent of our genome and impacts roughly 1,000 genes. And deficiency is incredibly common. If optimal is considered 40 to 60 ng/mL, up to 60 to 90 percent of people fall below that range depending on the population and season. In this episode, we break down why vitamin D matters even more in perimenopause and menopause, when hormone fluctuation, sleep disruption, anxiety, bone loss, muscle decline, and insulin resistance are already in play. We walk through: 🦴 Bone Health • How vitamin D supports calcium absorption and bone mineralization • Why bone loss accelerates in the first 5 to 7 years after menopause • What the fracture data actually shows 🌸 Hormone Signaling • How vitamin D supports follicle development and ovulation • Its role in progesterone production • Why low vitamin D is associated with worse PMS and heavier cycles • How it improves hormone receptor sensitivity 🧠 Mood & Brain Health • Why vitamin D receptors are all over the brain • Its role in serotonin and dopamine signaling • The association between low levels and depression, anxiety, fatigue, and brain fog • What supplementation studies show 🏋️ Metabolism & Insulin Resistance • How vitamin D supports insulin secretion and receptor function • The bi-directional relationship between visceral fat and vitamin D • The link between low vitamin D and metabolic syndrome, fatty liver, and type 2 diabetes 🦠 Inflammation & Immune Function • How vitamin D modulates inflammatory cytokines • Its role in autoimmune risk, gut health, and healing 🎗 Breast Cancer & Long-Term Risk • What observational data suggests about higher vitamin D levels and improved outcomes • Why this is about immune surveillance and cell regulation, not “prevention” claims We also cover practical guidance: • What level is actually considered optimal in hormone medicine • How sunlight production works and why modern life makes deficiency common • Who may need higher doses • Why D3 is preferred • Why magnesium and K2 matter • Why taking it with fat improves absorption If you are dealing with fatigue, low mood, body aches, frequent illness, bone concerns, or stubborn metabolic changes, vitamin D may be one of the most foundational pieces of your hormone puzzle. It is not hype. It is not trendy. It is basic physiology. Share this with the friend who says, “I’m exhausted but my labs are normal.”

    51 min
  7. Why Are My Periods Doing This? Understanding Perimenopause Bleeding Changes

    MAR 4

    Why Are My Periods Doing This? Understanding Perimenopause Bleeding Changes

    “My periods have changed… and I don’t understand what’s happening.” “They’re heavier than ever.” “They’re closer together.” “I’m skipping months.” “I feel terrible before my period now.” And the only explanation you’re given is: “That’s just perimenopause.” Which is true — but wildly incomplete. In this week’s episode of Hump Day Hormones, we’re breaking down why bleeding changes happen in perimenopause — and what’s actually driving them hormonally. Because periods are not controlled by estrogen alone. They are controlled by ovulation. In this episode, we walk through: • Why perimenopause is about inconsistent ovulation — not just “low estrogen” • The progesterone gap — and why progesterone declines first • Why you can still bleed regularly even when you’re not ovulating • Why heavy bleeding, shorter cycles, and worse PMS are so common • Why anxiety, sleep disruption, and migraines often worsen in this phase We also explain why perimenopause often feels harder than menopause itself. Hormones aren’t necessarily low — they’re unpredictable. And the brain, nervous system, blood sugar, and sleep cycles don’t like unpredictability. Then we get into what to actually do about it: • What needs to be ruled out first (fibroids, polyps, thyroid dysfunction, structural causes) • Why most bleeding in your 40s is hormonal but still deserves evaluation • How progesterone support can stabilize the lining and calm the nervous system • Why treatment is not one-size-fits-all • Why birth control isn’t the only solution If your cycles feel heavier, closer together, more chaotic — or you just don’t feel like yourself before your period anymore — this episode will help you understand why. Your body isn’t failing. Your ovaries are changing how they signal. And understanding that opens the door to real strategy. Share this with the friend who keeps saying, “Something feels off… but I don’t know what.”

    52 min
  8. When Does Menopause End? (And What’s Actually Happening in Your Body Along the Way)

    FEB 25

    When Does Menopause End? (And What’s Actually Happening in Your Body Along the Way)

    “Just get through menopause.” “It’ll pass.” “Your hormones will settle down.” But what if that framing is completely wrong? In this week’s episode of Hump Day Hormones, we’re answering one of the most common questions we hear: When does menopause actually end? Here’s the truth: Menopause isn’t a moment. It’s not a finish line. And it doesn’t “end” the way most women have been led to believe. Instead, menopause is a biologic transition that affects every major organ system — and those effects evolve over time. In this episode, we walk through: • The phases of menopause — premenopause, perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause • What’s happening hormonally in each stage • Why progesterone declines early • How testosterone has been declining quietly since your 20s • Why perimenopause often feels chaotic and unpredictable We also break down how menopause shows up in different systems of the body: 🧠 The Brain ❤️ The Heart 🦴 Bones 🦠 The Gut 🏋️ Metabolism & Muscle 🩺 Pelvic Floor & Bladder If you’ve ever been told: “This is just aging.” “You’ll have to live with it.” “Menopause is over — you shouldn’t still feel this way.” This episode is for you. Because menopause isn’t something to “get through.” It’s a new physiologic era — and you deserve to understand what’s happening in your body. Share this with the friend who keeps asking, “When will this end?”

    58 min
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5
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41 Ratings

About

This is a podcast about all things hormones! Dr. Jill Jennings and Kortney Spann, APRN are so excited to share their knowledge and expertise about menopause, perimenopause, and hormone imbalances.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Jill Jennings & Kortney Spann, APRN
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    96
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Hump Day Hormones

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