Are you confused about hormone replacement therapy and knowing which hormones your body actually needs? How can you navigate perimenopause and menopause symptoms, bioidentical hormones, progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone without feeling overwhelmed by all the conflicting information? In this episode, I’m joined by women’s health nurse practitioner Deanna Woodroffe, who has been working with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for more than 20 years. We’re getting into the details of what personalized hormone care actually looks like — from testing and choosing the right hormones to understanding why what works beautifully for one woman may make another woman feel worse. We also talk about something that I think gets missed far too often: hormones are only one piece of the puzzle. Stress, gut health, nutrition, magnesium, vitamin D, iron, and other factors can all influence how you feel and how your body responds to hormonal support. Deanna explains perfectly why hormone therapy often involves some trial and error, what symptoms may tell you that something needs to be adjusted, and why staying in communication with your provider is so important. Deanna and I have also both experienced something called progesterone intolerance, which affects a lot more women than you might think and comes with symptoms like mood changes, anxiety, brain fog, headaches, and more. We talk about different doses and delivery methods, alternatives like Vitex, and why there isn’t one hormone protocol that works for everyone. Finally, we get into DHEA and pregnenolone, different forms of hormone replacement therapy, and what happens when hormones improve some symptoms but don’t completely get you where you want to be. If you’re navigating perimenopause, menopause, or changing hormones and wondering how to make sense of all your options, this episode will help you understand why finding the right support is really about putting your individual health puzzle together. Disclaimer: This information is being provided to you for educational and informational purposes only. It is being provided to educate you about how to take care of your body and as a self-help tool for your own use so that you can reach your own health goals. It is not intended to treat or cure any specific illness and is not to replace the guidance provided by your own medical practitioner. If you are under the care of a healthcare professional or currently use prescription medications, you should discuss any dietary changes or potential dietary supplement use with your doctor, and should not discontinue any prescription medications without first consulting your doctor. This information is to be used at your own risk based on your own judgment. If you suspect you have a medical problem, we urge you to take appropriate action by seeking medical attention. In This Episode: [04:45] Deanna’s 20+ years working with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy[06:15] Why so many women are still afraid of hormone replacement therapy despite new research[08:00] How direct primary care creates more personalized hormone care[12:15] Which hormone labs are most useful during perimenopause[14:00] Why hormones aren’t the whole picture and HRT is a trial and error process[18:00] How chronic stress affects hormones, blood sugar, and gut health[22:15] How to know when your hormone replacement therapy needs adjusting[24:45] Understanding progesterone intolerance and why some women feel worse taking it[29:00] What to do if you realize you can’t tolerate progesterone[32:15] Using Vitex and cycling progesterone in younger women[35:30] How long to wait before adjusting hormone replacement therapy[38:15] Choosing between pellets, creams, patches, and other forms of HRT[39:00] The role of DHEA and pregnenolone in perimenopause[41:00] What to do when hormone replacement therapy isn’t enough[41:45] The long-term benefits of hormones for bone, heart, and brain health Find more from Deanna online: Website: https://vibranthealthofcolorado.com/ Office #: 303-730-2229 Instagram: @vibranthealthofcolorado Connect with Sophie: Instagram: @shetalkshealth Website: shetalkshealth.com Thyroid Breakthrough Call: https://thyroidhealthaudit.shetalkshealth.com/thyroid-health-audit Apply to work with us: www.shetalkshealth.com/call The Mineral Reset (HTMA): https://shethrives.shetalkshealth.com/htma-package Mineral Mocktail (get your energy back now!: https://shetalkshealth.com/mineral-mocktail-guide/ Stop guessing with your thyroid & Get Answers Now: https://ace.shetalkshealth.com/home-front