The Midlife Hormone Guide: HRT, Libido, Brain Fog & How to Feel Like You Again

Feeling foggy, flat, or just not yourself? You’re not alone — and your hormones could be the reason. In this insightful episode, Dr Sunita Chelva, Dr Aoife O’Sullivan, and Dr Rachel Rubin explain how hormonal changes in perimenopause affect your brain, mood, sleep, libido, and energy — and how HRT, testosterone, and vaginal hormones can help restore balance and wellbeing.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why there’s no “too young” age to explore HRT when symptoms impact life.How the pill differs from HRT and when body-identical hormones matter.What testosterone can (and can’t) do for libido, focus, and fatigue.The role of estrogen and progesterone in brain, bones, sleep, and heart.How to balance benefits and risks when deciding how long to stay on HRT.Why vaginal hormones (estrogen, DHEA, testosterone) support comfort, continence, and sex at any age.Practical guidance for monitoring and dosing without over-testing.A fresh look at what “natural menopause” means today.Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawattshttps://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.00:00 – Introduction & “Too young for HRT?”02:19 – Pill vs HRT: what’s the difference?04:26 – Testosterone for women: why and when05:23 – How to use testosterone cream & what to expect11:52 – Blood tests, PCOS cautions & prescribing14:16 – How long should you stay on HRT?15:23 – Brain health, dementia risk & estrogen16:18 – Personalising HRT: continue, pause, or stop?17:56 – “Menopause is natural”—but is modern life?19:55 – Vaginal hormones: comfort, UTIs & continence25:18 – Rediscover You: program overview26:22 – Hormone basics & perimenopause physiology29:54 – Testosterone reality check (levels vs estrogen)30:33 – Why body shape & fat distribution change31:34 – Estrogen’s systemic roles (vessels, joints, brain)33:20 – Progesterone’s role: balance, bones, GABA, sleep35:05 – HRT: making the decision with evidence35:24 – Progesterone for sleep: who benefits?36:23 – Contraception during perimenopause on HRT37:54 – Estrogen + progesterone: tailoring treatment39:18 – Dosing: treat symptoms, not numbers41:43 – Bloods & monitoring: limits of testing42:57 – HRT & breast cancer: context and nuance45:42 – WHI, media, and risk communicationperimenopause symptomsHRT benefits riskstestosterone for womenvaginal estrogen DHEAUTIs after menopausebrain fog menopausesleep and progesteronebody-identical hormonespill vs HRTgenitourinary syndrome menopausemidlife weight gainestrogen brain healthosteoporosis preventionWHI breast cancer studymenopause is natural myth