HRT and Hormonal Decline, Explained | Dr. Sukhpreet Patel | Ep. 6

What really happens to our hormones during perimenopause and menopause, and why does it affect so much more than our periods?In this episode of Menopause: It Was This All Along, Roshini sits down with Dr. Sukhpreet Patel, an HRT specialist, to unpack the hormonal changes that happen during perimenopause and menopause, and what they can mean for women’s health beyond the reproductive years.From estrogen and progesterone to HRT, bone health, cardiovascular health, sleep, mood and sexual health, this conversation looks at menopause as a whole-body transition — not simply the point when periods stop.Dr. Sukhpreet also breaks down some of the biggest questions and misconceptions around hormone therapy: what the evidence actually tells us, how to understand relative versus absolute risk, what the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study really found, and why not all estrogens, progesterones or hormone therapies are the same.The conversation also explores bioidentical hormones, individual risk assessment, shared decision-making, lifestyle, weight, supplements and why there is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to menopause or HRT.Most importantly, Dr. Sukhpreet explains why women need to understand their “why” before making decisions about hormone therapy — and why menopause care should be built around the individual woman, her symptoms, her risks and her quality of life.