Why You're Not Sleeping (It's Probably Not Your HRT): A Deep Dive with Hormone Geek Kate Thompson

Jo finally gets answers about her chronic sleep issues and it's not what she (or most women) would expect. Hormone and nutrition specialist Kate Thompson joins to unpack why so many midlife women are misdiagnosed, overtreated for oestrogen, and completely missing the real culprit: cortisol burnout. From the Dutch test to dopamine depletion, this episode connects dots that most GPs simply don't have time to.Key Takeaways:Sleep problems in midlife aren't always hormonal. Chronic high cortisol can suppress melatonin and tank your neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin) long before your HRT needs adjustingThe Dutch test (dried urine comprehensive hormone panel) reveals cortisol patterns, neurotransmitter impact and sex hormones together, giving a far clearer picture than standard blood workHigh-intensity evening exercise spikes cortisol right when your body needs to wind down. Swap it for strength training or yogaYour first hour after waking matters: skip immediate coffee, get natural light and eat before you exerciseProgesterone is chronically underprescribed in the UK. Low progesterone means low GABA, which means an overactive brain at 3amFatty liver disease affects an estimated 70% of midlife people and largely goes undiagnosed. Ask for markers at your next blood test or request a look during any abdominal ultrasoundWomen spend roughly 25% of their lives in poor health. Decisions made in your 40s and 50s directly shape your health spanTimestamps:00:09 Introducing Kate Thompson, the Hormone Geek01:10 Kate's backstory: city career, fertility, perimenopause, and retraining02:24 What a first consultation looks like; why women present with weight gain but leave with a fuller picture03:30 The Dutch test explained: cortisol, sex hormones, and neurotransmitters in one panel04:45 Jo's case: blood sugar monitor ruled out, Dutch test ordered05:45 What Jo's results actually showed (spoiler: it wasn't the HRT)07:20 Progesterone, GABA and the 3am wide-awake brain09:16 Four weeks in: real-world results amid a genuinely stressful period13:00 Why midlife changes everything: oestrogen drop, visceral fat, cortisol receptors, muscle mass14:10 A male CEO case study: what late-stage burnout actually looks like16:00 The exercise problem: why HIIT addicts are often the most cortisol-depleted17:30 Strength training for women and men: testosterone, decision-making, and longevity18:32 Success stories and the 12-week programme philosophy19:45 Simple morning habits: light, smoothie, then coffee; no phone as your first screen21:30 Evening routine: dimmed lights, early eating, no late cardio23:09 8,000 steps and why walking without your phone is stress medicine25:00 The Diet Coke trap: why artificial sweetness makes you crave the real thing26:00 New research on food texture and post-lunch sugar cravings28:00 Longevity vs health span: women live longer but spend more years unwell29:30 Fatty liver disease: the silent midlife epidemic and how to check for ithttps://www.instagram.com/thehormonegeek/https://www.thehormonegeek.co.uk/