Episode 636: The Wellness One: Perimenopause, Performance, and Hormones with Dr. Carla DiGirolamo

Today on the Wellness Series, I’m joined by Dr. Carla DiGirolamo, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist who focuses on female athletic performance and menopause health. She’s also a CrossFit Level 1 trainer, certified nutrition coach, and endocrine consultant for Eternal (the sponsor for this series!). We dig into what women’s performance endocrinology actually is, why many active women feel unseen in typical medical settings, and how to think about testing, training, fueling, and recovery through our reproductive continuum. We also get practical on perimenopause, hot flashes, bone health, strength work for runners, weighted vests, and a quick cortisol 101.

What we talked about:

• How Dr. Carla blended endocrinology with sport to serve athletic women
• The athlete’s frustration in standard care and how to choose a provider who “gets” training and nutrition
• Hormone testing 101: test to answer a specific question, not “everything”
• Perimenopause basics: a 6–8 year transition, why it feels “chaotic,” and what to do first
• HRT vs hormone therapy: who needs replacement, who is treating symptoms, and risk/benefit basics
• Sleep, hot flashes, and why symptom relief can indirectly support body composition
• Bone health: fueling first, protein, heavy lifting, plyometrics, and running as load for bone
• Weighted vests: when they help, when they hurt, practical rules to use them safely
• Strength for runners: carving out on- and off-seasons, keeping a base, and using coaching wisely
• Body types, goals, and social media noise; Cortisol 101 and why recovery brings the gains

Resources Mentioned:

• Provider directory: menopause.org (look for MSCP-credentialed clinicians)

• Community: Feisty Menopause and the Hit Play Not Pause ecosystem

• Reading: Stacy Sims’ books for nutrition and training guidance for active women

• Blog: Dr. Carla’s Athletic Aging blog on evidence-based training and menopause

• Eternal: eternal.co with code ANOTHER10

Support our sponsors:

Eternal

Use code another10 for 10% off at checkout at eternal.co and book your performance physical today.

Lagoon

Use the code “Lindsey” for 15% off your order