The Hormone Solution | Menopause, Perimenopause, & Women's Midlife Health
Health, Fitness & Longevity
About
The Hormone Solution is a top-ranked women's health podcast focused on perimenopause, menopause, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), weight gain, metabolism, thyroid health, and midlife transformation.Hosted by Certified Hormone Specialist Karen Martel, this show helps women in their 40s and 50s understand what's really happening with their hormones — and what to do about it.If you're struggling with perimenopause symptoms, menopause weight gain, estrogen dominance, low progesterone, testosterone decline, brain fog, poor sleep, thyroid dysfunction, or metabolic slowdown, this podcast breaks it down in a clear, practical, no-nonsense way.Each episode features:• Evidence-based hormone education• Expert interviews• Real-world HRT guidance• Midlife weight loss strategies• Thyroid and metabolic health insightsWith over 2.5 million downloads and ranked in the Top 30 on iTunes, The Hormone Solution is trusted by women worldwide who want real answers about bioidentical hormones, menopa
Episodes
- Quick Hits: GLP-1s (Ozempic & Mounjaro) Masterclass: Busting Myths, Mastering Micro Dosing, Retaining Muscle and Unlocking Benefits Beyond Weight Loss with Dr. Gus Vickery
Welcome to Quick Hits — where we bring you the most impactful moments from past episodes in under 15 minutes. Today's clip comes from one of our most replayed conversations. If you want the full episode, check the link in the description b…
- The Brain Fog Fix No One Is Talking About: Nicotine, Methylene Blue and the Midlife Brain with Dr. Scott Scherr
We talk a lot about hormones in midlife, hot flashes, weight gain, sleep issues, low libido. But one of the biggest complaints I hear from women is actually about their brain. The brain fog. The anxiety that comes out of nowhere. The flat…
- Quick Hits: The Histamine Connection to Estrogen Dominance, Acid Reflux, Insomnia, & MORE with Joanne Kennedy
Welcome to Quick Hits — where we bring you the most impactful moments from past episodes in under 15 minutes. Today's clip comes from one of our most replayed conversations. If you want the full episode, check the link in the description b…
- The Problem With 'I Did Menopause Naturally, So Should You'
Menopause is finally having a moment, but with more conversation has come a whole lot more confusion. In this solo episode, Karen breaks down the three camps she sees in the menopause conversation: women who are informed and empowered, wom…
- Quick Hits: The Great Estrogen Debate with Dr. Felice Gersh, Dr. Daved Rosensweet, Dr. Lindsey Berkson, Dr. Julie Taguchi & Karen Martel
Welcome to Quick Hits — where we bring you the most impactful moments from past episodes in under 15 minutes. Today's clip comes from one of our most replayed conversations. If you want the full episode: https://karenmartel.com/blogs/podca…
- The Thyroid Myths That Keep Women Tired, Fat, and Dismissed with Dr. Amie Hornaman
Dr. Amie Hornaman joins The Hormone Solution to discuss the shortcomings in thyroid care for women, particularly during midlife. The episode highlights the inadequacy of only testing TSH and emphasizes the importance of women advocating fo…
- Quick Hits: Are Toxins Hijacking Your Hormones? What Every Woman Needs to Know with Dr. Paul Anderson
This episode clip from The Hormone Solution discusses how environmental toxins affect hormonal balance and introduces therapies such as low-dose naltrexone and light therapy for detoxification and immune system support.
- Meno Besties Unfiltered: Bones, Hormones & Hot Hockey Players
This episode features a roundtable discussion with menopause podcasters covering bone health, hormone testing, HRT, libido, and the cultural narrative around menopause. It explores women's midlife health concerns, including osteopenia, hor…
- Quick Hits: Breaking the Silence: Andrea Donsky on 103 Menopause Symptoms and Taking Control
This episode features nutritionist Andrea Donsky discussing 103 menopause symptoms and strategies for managing them through nutrition, lifestyle changes, and supplements. It covers topics such as personalized intermittent fasting, sleep qu…
- The Menopause Gut: What Hormone Loss Is Really Doing to Digestion, Inflammation, and Weight with Cynthia Thurlow
This episode features nurse practitioner Cynthia Thurlow discussing the gut-hormone connection during menopause. It covers how declining estrogen and progesterone affect digestion, leading to issues like bloating, constipation, and food se…
- Quick Hits: Metals & Menopause: The Impact of Heavy Metals on Your Sex Hormones, Thyroid, and Energy with Dr. Chris Shade
Join our FREE upcoming masterclass: Why Midlife Weight Gain Won't Budge A smarter way to use GLP-1s in midlife without wrecking muscle or metabolism When: April 30th 11 am PST Register here: https://coaching.karenmartel.com/glp1-masterclas…
- We've Used GLP-1s for 3 Years: What Worked, What Backfired, and What Women Need to Know
Three years ago, GLP-1 peptides were barely being talked about in the midlife women's health space. Since then, Jessica and I have personally used them, experimented with different approaches, and helped over a thousand women inside our pe…
- The Real Reason Your Menopause Belly Shows Up Even When You're Doing Everything Right with Siobhan Mitchell
Join our FREE upcoming masterclass: Why Midlife Weight Gain Won't Budge A smarter way to use GLP-1s in midlife without wrecking muscle or metabolism When: April 30th 11 am PST Register here: https://coaching.karenmartel.com/glp1-masterclas…
- Part 2: What Midlife Women Need to Know About Testosterone & Steroids with Victoria Felkar
In this second of two parts, I sit down with Victoria Felkar again to unpack the complicated, often glamorized world of androgens, testosterone therapy, and anabolic steroids for women. Are these hormones empowering tools—or ticking time b…
- Quick Hits: Cracking the Genetic Code: Unlocking the Link Between Genetics, Hormones, Detox, Diets, Mood, and More
Welcome to Quick Hits — where we bring you the most impactful moments from past episodes in under 15 minutes. Today's clip comes from one of our most replayed conversations. If you want the full episode, check the link in the description b…
- Part 1: Women Have Been Lied To About Testosterone with Victoria Felkar
In this episode, I'm joined by the brilliant Victoria Felkar, and we go where most conversations in women's health simply don't: anabolic steroids. Why has this topic been so misunderstood—and even feared—by women, especially in midlife? A…
- Quick Hits: The Hidden Role of Melatonin in Hormones, Aging, and Sleep with Deanna Minich
Welcome to Quick Hits — where we bring you the most impactful moments from past episodes in under 15 minutes. Today's clip comes from one of our most replayed conversations. If you want the full episode, check the link in the description b…
- The Menopause Metabolic Storm: Why Estrogen Loss Makes Weight Gain So Hard to Escape
Are you ready for a true masterclass? In this solo episode, I'm diving deep into estrogen and metabolic health—and trust me, this one challenged even me. Is estrogen really making you gain weight, or is the real problem what happens when i…
- Quick Hits: From Breast Cancer to Bone Health: The Uncharted Territory of HRT & Chronic Diseases in Menopause with Dr. Elizabeth Yurth
Listen to the full peptide here: https://karenmartel.com/blogs/podcast/from-breast-cancer-to-bone-health-the-uncharted-territory-of-hrt-chronic-diseases-in-menopause-with-dr-elizabeth-yurth Download on Apple and on your favorite podcast pl…
- The Mental Health Crisis No One Is Linking to Hormones with Dr. Louise Newson
Why are so many of us blindsided by anxiety, depression, rage, or even suicidal thoughts in midlife? And why are hormones so often left out of the conversation? I'm joined by the incredible Dr. Louise Newson, a UK-based GP and menopause sp…
- Copper Peptides & Exosomes: The Skin Regeneration Breakthrough for Women Over 40
Have you looked in the mirror lately and wondered, when did my skin change like this? In this episode, I'm joined by Debbi Barber (founder of Vitali Regenerative Skincare) and Dr. Jordan Plews (a stem cell scientist and co-founder of Xytog…
- The Hormone–Histamine Connection Doctors Aren't Talking About
In this Hormone Hotline episode, I'm answering a powerful question about estrogen HRT, histamine intolerance, and mast cell activation during perimenopause and long COVID. Why do histamine flares explode when hormones start shifting? Is es…
- Quick Hits: The New Science of Midlife Fat Gain + The Top Strategies for Menopause Weight Loss with Dr. Bill Campbell
Welcome to Quick Hits — where we bring you the most impactful moments from past episodes in under 15 minutes. Today's clip comes from one of our most replayed conversations. Listen to the full episode here: https://karenmartel.com/blogs/po…
- The Gut–Vagina–Brain Connection: The Hidden Reason Women Lose Libido After 40 with Dr. Betsy Greenleaf
Vaginal dryness, recurrent infections, low libido...why are we told this is "just hormones" and something we have to tolerate? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Betsy Greenleaf, founder of the International Pause Institute, and we unpac…
- Quick Hits: The Women's Hormone Masterclass: A Deep Dive Into Testosterone, Dutasteride, SHBG, & Menopause Weight Gain with Dr. Kyle Gillett
Listen to the full episode Download the full episode on Apple or on your favorite podcast platforms. In this quick hits I sit down with Dr. Gillett, to exam the complex world of women's hormones today. We'll be focusing on androgens like t…
- Am I in Perimenopause? How to Tell What Phase You're In
If you had told me at 40 that perimenopause would turn my world upside down, I would've laughed. As a nutritionist specializing in women's hormones, I thought I had it handled. So why did I gain 15 pounds, lose my sleep, and feel like a st…
- Quick Hits: Navy SEAL Health Hacks: Sleep, Peptides, Psychedelics, Brain Health, and Hormones with Dr. Kirk Parsley
Welcome to Quick Hits — where we bring you the most impactful moments from past episodes in under 15 minutes. Today's clip comes from one of our most replayed conversations. If you want the full episode, check the link in the description b…
- The Peptide Revolution: GLP-1s — What Works, What's Hype, What's Risky with Jay Campbell
Jay Campbell—five-time international bestselling author, founder of BioLongevity Labs, and one of the original voices in the peptide world—is here to unpack what's really going on behind the GLP-1 explosion. Are these drugs miracle tools o…
- Menopause Ages You 9–20 Years… Unless You Do This with Nikolina Lauc
In this episode, I sit down with Nikolina Lauc, CEO and Co-Founder of GlycanAge, and we dive into a questions that should stop every midlife woman in her tracks: is menopause actually accelerating your biological aging? What if the shift f…
- Estrogen Dominance… or Estrogen Deficiency? Is It Safe to Start Estrogen in Perimenopause?
Welcome to the very first Hormone Hotline episode of The Hormone Solution! I'm getting straight into your real-life questions about estrogen—because why, in 2026, are we still being told we're "estrogen dominant" with rock-bottom levels? I…
- From Toe Curling Orgasms to Healthy Poops: Why Oxytocin Is Essential for Midlife Women with Dr. Lindsey Berkson
What if your mood swings, anxiety, sleep issues, or loss of motivation aren't just "getting older?" What role does oxytocin really play in midlife, and why has it been overlooked for so long? In this episode, I'm joined by the brilliant ho…
- Inflammaging Is Hijacking Your Hormones: The Ancient Reset Women Need in Midlife with Dr. Shivani Gupta
Do you know whether you're Vata, Pitta, or Kapha...and could that explain your stubborn symptoms in midlife? In this episode, I'm joined by my brilliant friend Dr. Shivani Gupta, and we dive into Ayurveda, inflammation, and why your body m…
- Why So Many Hormone Providers Get It Wrong (And How to Find One Who Doesn't)
This episode comes straight from my own lived experience of spiraling before doctor's appointments and feeling dismissed when it comes to hormones. I dig into why so many hormone providers get it wrong and what's actually happening behind…
- Why You're Not Healing: Stress, Insomnia, Weight Gain & the Vagus Nerve with Dr. Navaz Nabib
Have you've tried everything from protocols, to supplements, to experts and the healing still hasn't happened? Why do so many of us stay stuck despite doing "all the right things"? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Navaz Habib, aka "The…
- Why Waiting for Menopause Is a Mistake: The Case for Earlier HRT and Replacing Hormones the Right Way
I'm diving into why waiting until menopause to address hormones can be an incredibly costly mistake for so many women. Why are we told to "wait it out" when symptoms often start years earlier? And what's really happening inside our bodies…
- Why Your Gut Is Sabotaging Your Hormones (and Your Hormones Are Sabotaging Your Gut) with Kiran Krishnan
I'm sitting down with microbiome expert Kiran Krishnan to explore a question I see come up all the time: why do hormones sometimes stop responding the way they used to? But what if the real issue isn't your hormones at all, rather what's h…
- Goodbye 2025: A Year of Healing, Hard Truths, and Growth
It's time to say goodbye to 2025, so let's get real about a year that looked successful for me on the outside, but sometimes felt like a reckoning on the inside. What happens when your body forces you to slow down? And what do you do when…
- Part 2 Q&A with Karen: Cortisol Replacement, Optimal Levels, HRT Absorption Issues, Estrogen Detox, BIEST Troches, Perimenopause Confusion & More!
This episode picks up right where part one leaves off as I dive into more of your thoughtful, honest questions in the second-part of this year-end Q&A. What happens when hormone therapy doesn't seem to be working the way you expected? And…
- Q&A with Karen: High Ferritin, Injectable HRT, Breakthrough Bleeding, Optimizing Hormones, Histamine Intolerance and MORE!
I'm wrapping up the year by answering your questions in this first of a two-part Q&A, and we cover a lot of ground. From confusing lab results to hormone dosing debates, I dig into the questions so many of you are quietly wondering about.…
- From Belly Fat to Brain Fog: The Top Peptides, & Hormones Helping Women in Menopause with Dr. Aleksandra Gajer
What's really driving the sudden belly fat, brain fog, and sleep chaos so many women hit in midlife? And why do the usual "eat less, move more" solutions stop working overnight? In this episode featuring Dr. Aleksandra Gajer, we dig into t…
- Hair Loss, Chin Whiskers & More: How to Avoid the Not-So-Pretty Side Effects of Testosterone HRT for Women
Are you curious about the buzz surrounding testosterone therapy for women, but wondering about the side effects? In this episode, we dive deep into the world of testosterone replacement therapy's unwanted side effects, and more importantly…
- The Surprising Root Cause of the Dreaded 3 A.M. Wake-Up—And the Fix No One Told You About
Are you one of those people who wakes up at 3 A.M. and can't fall back asleep? Have you ever wondered if there's a deeper reason behind those late-night wake-ups? In this episode, we explore the shocking link between blood sugar fluctuatio…
- The Most Asked HRT Questions of 2025 — Answered by Karen (a.k.a. The Ones She Hears 10,000 Times a Year)
Curious about the future of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and its impact on menopause? This episode features my answers to the most common HRT questions of 2025. Can HRT be your secret weapon for a healthier, longer life, even if you a…
- Reverse Dieting, Metabolic Recovery, and the Real Way to Fix Your Fat Loss Plateaus with Philip Pape
Are you struggling with weight loss despite following a strict diet? Ever wondered if eating more could actually help you lose weight? Join us in this episode as we dive into the intriguing world of reverse dieting and metabolic recovery w…
- Tesofensine: The Next Big Weight Loss Compound That Boosts Dopamine, Burns Fat and Lights up the Midlife Brain
Ready to hear about a new revolutionary weight loss strategy tailored for midlife women? Ever wondered how cutting-edge peptides and hormones can transform your wellness journey? This episode dives deep into the world of tesofensine, a fas…
- The Forgotten Molecule That 98% of Women Lose in Midlife—And How It Can Revive Your Libido, Energy & Glow with Cathy Eason
Curious about the molecule that's been dubbed the "molecule of energy?" Ever wonder how it impacts women's health, especially during midlife? Join us as we dive into the world of nitric oxide with Cathy Eason, Chief Science Officer at Berk…
- Menopause Besties Q&A: Hormone Testing, Progesterone Truths, Late-Start HRT & More with Zora Benhamou
Are you curious about the mysteries of menopause and how to navigate this transformative life stage with confidence? In this Q&A episode, we sit down with Zora Benhamou to answer all your burning questions about hormone management and repl…
- Beyond Estrogen & Progesterone: The Hidden Hormones That Transform Aging
Learning how to harness the power of the lesser-known hormones is an important part in your overall hormone health. Dr. Thierry Hertoghe joins today to discuss some of these hormones and how he uses them in his medical practice. Dr. Hertog…
- This Is Your Bones on HRT: How Estrogen, Progesterone & Testosterone Protect—and Why Cycling HRT May Be the Secret to Stronger Bones with Dr. Doug Lucas
Are your bones as strong as they could be? In this episode, Dr. Doug Lucas, a renowned orthopedic surgeon turned hormone specialist, dives deep into the world of bone health. Have you ever wondered how hormone replacement therapy impacts y…
- Irregular Periods in Perimenopause: What's Normal, What's Not, and How HRT Really Plays In
Are you baffled by the rollercoaster of irregular periods during perimenopause? Wondering why your cycle seems to have a mind of its own, even when you're on hormone replacement therapy? This episode is your guide to navigating the tumultu…