DeepSummary
In this episode, Dr. Mark Hyman and Dr. Cindy Geyer from the UltraWellness Center discuss the complex issue of menopause and hormonal changes in women's lives. They explore the symptoms women experience during this transition, including hot flashes, weight gain, brain fog, and more. They delve into the conventional medical approach, which often oversimplifies the matter to a binary choice of whether to take hormones or not, and contrast it with the functional medicine approach that takes a holistic, personalized view.
The doctors emphasize the importance of looking beyond just hormones and considering factors like nutrition, gut health, toxin exposure, genetics, and lifestyle. They discuss the role of lab testing, including estrogen metabolites, gut microbiome analysis (the 'estrobolome'), and nutrigenetic testing, in uncovering root causes and tailoring interventions. They also address the nuances of hormone replacement therapy, different forms of hormones, and who may benefit most based on individual risk factors and genetics.
Through a patient case study, the doctors illustrate how addressing underlying issues like gut dysbiosis, nutrient deficiencies, and lifestyle factors can often resolve menopausal symptoms without needing hormones. However, they acknowledge that for some women, bioidentical hormone therapy introduced during the appropriate window may be beneficial, particularly in reducing risks of conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Menopause is a complex, multifaceted transition that affects women differently based on various factors including genetics, nutrition, gut health, toxin exposure, and lifestyle.
- The conventional medical approach often oversimplifies menopause to a binary choice of hormone therapy or not, while the functional medicine approach takes a personalized, holistic view.
- Lab testing like estrogen metabolites, gut microbiome analysis, nutrigenetics, and other advanced markers can uncover underlying root causes and guide personalized interventions.
- Addressing issues like gut dysbiosis, nutrient deficiencies, sleep, stress, and lifestyle factors can often resolve menopausal symptoms without needing hormones.
- For some women, bioidentical hormone therapy introduced during the appropriate window may be beneficial, particularly in reducing risks like Alzheimer's disease, based on individual risk factors and genetics.
- Monitoring hormone levels and tailoring dosages based on bloodwork and individual response is crucial when using hormone therapy.
- A holistic, personalized functional medicine approach is key to optimizing a woman's health trajectory through the menopause transition.
- Openness to the nuances of hormone therapy and willingness to look beyond simplistic conclusions from flawed past research is important.
Top Episodes Quotes
- โSo there can be genetic pieces to it. So for some women, we don't understand exactly why, but genetics can play a role. If your mother had a rockier course with a lot of symptoms, you might be more predisposed to that. We know that women who have a history of hormonally related symptoms, for example, PMS, PMDD, postpartum depression, may also be more likely to have the mood swings as the perimenopause transition occurs as well.โ by Cindy Geyer
- โWe want to see does it help the symptoms? But we also want to see what is your blood level, because that can help you gauge, for example, if I start at a given dose of a patch and she comes back and she's still having hot flashes, how well is she absorbing that patch? Is it enough to get a measurable rise in her estrogen or not? Because then that can guide the dosing.โ by Cindy Geyer
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Episode Information
The Doctor's Farmacy with Mark Hyman, M.D.
Dr. Mark Hyman
3/15/24
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An estimated 85% of women experience symptoms of menopause that vary from hot flashes to weight gain, brain fog, low mood, sex drive, chronic fatigue, and more. Recognizing menopause as a gradual, uniquely personal transition rather than an abrupt change is crucial. This insight can help empower women to take proactive, supportive measures early on, ensuring a smoother journey through this natural phase of life.
Today, Dr. Cindy Geyer from the UltraWellness Center joins me as we unravel the Functional Medicine perspective and approach to menopause. Our conversation highlights the crucial role of lab testing in uncovering the root causes of symptoms, paving the way for tailored nutrition and lifestyle interventions. Moreover, we critically examine the limitations of traditional medical approaches and discuss the nuances of hormone replacement therapy, the different forms, and who may benefit the most from this treatment.
Dr. Cindy Geyer received her Bachelor of Science and her Doctor of Medicine degrees, with honors, from the Ohio State University. She completed residency in internal medicine at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y. and is triple board certified in internal medicine, integrative medicine, and lifestyle medicine. She joined The Ultrawellness Center in 2021 after practicing and serving as the medical director at Canyon Ranch for 23 years.
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In this episode we discuss:
- How the Nurseโs Health Study caused backlash about hormone replacement therapy (3:35)ย
- The issues with how menopause is treated in our society today (6:35)ย
- Symptoms of menopause and their root causes (8:20)ย
- The conventional medicine approach to menopause (17:57)ย
- The functional medicine approach to menopause (19:38)ย
- Lab testing (24:00)ย
- The importance of the Estrobolome and gut microbiome testing (27:11)ย
- The role of insulin, sleep, and stress (31:49)ย
- Dr Cindy Geyerโs patient case study (34:21)ย
- Bioidentical hormones explained (41:52)ย
- The nuances of hormone replacement therapy (47:21)ย
- Addressing low libido (51:00)ย
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