The Shift in Hormone Therapy Prescriptions Among Women

Menopause is finally in the spotlight — but most women still don’t understand what’s happening to their bodies in their late 30s, 40s, and beyond. Even worse, many doctors misdiagnose or dismiss symptoms like brain fog, night sweats, weight gain, and mood swings as “just stress.”

About Dr. Alicia Robbins:

Dr. Alicia Robbins is a board-certified Gynecologist and Lifestyle Medicine physician, founder of The Elm, and creator of The Robbins Method. She is recognized as a leading voice in perimenopause and midlife health, dedicated to providing compassionate, proactive care and rewriting the narrative on women’s midlife.

***

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey.

***

A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts:

Function Health

Visit https://www.functionhealth.com/louisanicola and use code NEURO100 or use gift code NEURO100 at sign-up to own your health. The first 1000 get a $100 credit toward their membership. 

FIGSYou can get 15% off your first order at https://www.wearfigs.com with the code FIGSRX. 

Honeylove

Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to https://www.honeylove.com/neuro.

Cowboy Colostrum

Get 25% Off with code NEURO at https://www.cowboycolostrum.com.

AquaTru

Go to https://www.AquaTru.com now for 20% off (your purifier) using promo code NEURO. AquaTru even comes with a 30-day best-tasting water guarantee. 

Brickhouse Nutrition

Get 20% off when you enter NEURO at https://www.takelean.com.

***

I’m Louisa Nicola — clinical neuroscientist — Alzheimer’s prevention specialist — founder of Neuro Athletics.

My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention.

If you're committed to optimizing your brain — reducing Alzheimer’s risk — and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place.

Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/

Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_

Follow Dr. Alicia Robbins

The Elm: https://theelmgreenwich.com/

Instagram: @aliciarobbinsmd

Topics discussed:

• 00:00:00 — Intro

• 00:01:32:10 — Menopause is “in the spotlight”; what’s actually happening with women’s hormones ~35+

• 00:02:43:11 — Ovaries as the primary source of estrogen/progesterone/testosterone

• 00:11:32:08 — Estrogen’s role in the brain

• 00:13:15:05 — With estrogen loss, chronic low-grade brain inflammation

• 00:15:12:17 — What replaced HRT: rise in sleep aids, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines.

• 00:32:55:20 — Women’s testosterone: low “total T” numbers, variable symptoms/benefit; brain fog and fatigue are multifactorial.

• 00:33:38:00 — Practical regimen notes: layering hormones; balance affected by stress/cortisol

• 00:44:14 — Longevity hype vs reality: trendy biohacks vs basics like walking, resistance training, and consistent diet

• 00:44:34 — Cultural/societal neglect of women’s midlife health; undervaluing cognitive preservation in women

• 00:45:10 — Lack of specialty in menopause medicine; OB/GYN training gaps; bias toward fertility/pregnancy funding

• 00:47:20 — Emerging shift: younger physicians and social media spreading awareness

• 00:48:15 — Longevity basics reaffirmed: lifestyle interventions are more impactful than costly interventions

• 00:49:00 — Empowering women to advocate for care

• 00:50:12 — Future outlook: preventative care, lifestyle foundations, and individualized hormone therapy for healthy aging
  
• 00:54:53: Increase in divorce rate because of hormones?

• 00:55:53: HRT and risk of breast cancer

• 00:58:11: What doctor should a woman in her late 30s/early 40s go see?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices