Is Hormone Replacement Therapy in Menopause Helpful or Harmful: Sifting Through the Science for a Personalized Approach to Relieve Suffering and Improve Your Healthspan

Mar 15, 2024

Dr. Cindy Geyer, an integrative medicine physician with a wealth of experience in women's health, dives deep into menopause management. She discusses how a personalized approach, including lab testing and tailored nutrition, can improve symptoms ranging from hot flashes to mood changes. Geyer critiques traditional hormone replacement therapy methods, stressing the importance of understanding individual hormonal needs and the impact of lifestyle factors like insulin resistance. Listeners gain insights into navigating this complex life transition smoothly.

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INSIGHT

Healthy User Effect

The Nurses' Health Study had a "healthy user effect": women taking hormones were also health-conscious.
This skewed the study, leading to a false belief that hormones benefited everyone.

INSIGHT

Menopause as a Transition

Menopause is a gradual, personal transition, not an abrupt change.
Women experience it differently, so a personalized approach is crucial.

ADVICE

Early Menopause Signs

Pay attention to early signs like irregular periods, hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep disruption.
Address lifestyle factors like nutrition, stress, and sleep to manage symptoms.

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An estimated 85% of women experience symptoms of menopause that vary from hot flashes to weight gain, brain fog, low mood, sex drive, chronic fatigue, and more. Recognizing menopause as a gradual, uniquely personal transition rather than an abrupt change is crucial. This insight can help empower women to take proactive, supportive measures early on, ensuring a smoother journey through this natural phase of life.

Today, Dr. Cindy Geyer from the UltraWellness Center joins me as we unravel the Functional Medicine perspective and approach to menopause. Our conversation highlights the crucial role of lab testing in uncovering the root causes of symptoms, paving the way for tailored nutrition and lifestyle interventions. Moreover, we critically examine the limitations of traditional medical approaches and discuss the nuances of hormone replacement therapy, the different forms, and who may benefit the most from this treatment.

Dr. Cindy Geyer received her Bachelor of Science and her Doctor of Medicine degrees, with honors, from the Ohio State University. She completed residency in internal medicine at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y. and is triple board certified in internal medicine, integrative medicine, and lifestyle medicine. She joined The Ultrawellness Center in 2021 after practicing and serving as the medical director at Canyon Ranch for 23 years.

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In this episode we discuss:

How the Nurse’s Health Study caused backlash about hormone replacement therapy (3:35)
The issues with how menopause is treated in our society today (6:35)
Symptoms of menopause and their root causes (8:20)
The conventional medicine approach to menopause (17:57)
The functional medicine approach to menopause (19:38)
Lab testing (24:00)
The importance of the Estrobolome and gut microbiome testing (27:11)
The role of insulin, sleep, and stress (31:49)
Dr Cindy Geyer’s patient case study (34:21)
Bioidentical hormones explained (41:52)
The nuances of hormone replacement therapy (47:21)
Addressing low libido (51:00)

Learn more about The UltraWellness Center