144: "HOT" Hormones & Exactly What to Ask Your Doctor with Dr. Stephanie Gray

If part one of my conversation with Dr. Stephanie Gray made you question what you thought you knew about hormones, buckle up. Part two goes even deeper.

Dr. Gray is the author of The Hormone Blueprint, and she has spent years researching and working with women on hormones, thyroid health, metabolism, and hormone replacement therapy.

And moms, this conversation is especially for us.

We get incredibly practical about testing, what may actually be hiding inside hormone prescriptions, and why Dr. Gray believes women need a much more nuanced conversation about HRT, breast cancer, brain health, bones, and aging.

We talk about:

• The hormone and thyroid tests Dr. Gray recommends women ask about, including one metabolic marker your doctor may not routinely check
• Why she says a “normal” lab result and an optimal result can be two very different things
• The surprising inactive ingredients she found inside some hormone prescriptions, including dyes, preservatives, and other ingredients you might never think to look for
• Why the way you take hormones matters, from pills and creams to patches and pellets
• What happens when you wear an estrogen patch in a sauna. Yes, Dr. Gray actually researched this!
• The complicated relationship between HRT and breast cancer, including research Dr. Gray says challenges some long-held assumptions
• Why she believes women should consider not only the possible risks of taking hormones, but also the risks of going without them
• How hormones may fit into the bigger picture of protecting our bones, brains, cardiovascular health, metabolism, and quality of life as we age

There is a LOT here, and this is definitely an episode where you may want to grab a notebook, jot down questions, and bring them to a healthcare provider who understands hormone health. You can also print off the cheat sheet of the episode – grab it here! 

Because “I guess feeling terrible is just part of getting older” is not a health plan.

Here’s part two of my conversation with Dr. Stephanie Gray.

Resources We Mention for Hormone Replacement Therapy and Hormone Testing

• Grab one of Dr. Stephanie’s books: Your Longevity Blueprint (Amazon/Bookshop.org); Your Fertility Blueprint (Amazon/Bookshop.org); Your Hormone Blueprint (Amazon/Bookshop.org).
• Get 10% off supplements at Dr. Stephanie’s site with the code KIDS.
• Perimenopause could be the best years of your life! with Jenn Pike
• More about menopause and hormones with Cynthia Thurlow here and here
• How to start and keep with a new habit

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