Ask Me About My Estrogen

Sex, Desire & Perimenopause

Charlotte and Megan talk to Dr. Dori Gatter about all things sex and perimenopause. 

Nutrition Best Practices with Heidi Harris

We are back with Heidi, this time discussing nutrition and how our needs change during perimenopause. 

High Cholesterol During Perimenopause

 
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Your Hormones and Your Heart: What Every Woman Needs to Know About Cholesterol
Your hormones and your heart are more connected than you think — and perimenopause may be changing your cardiovascular risk right now, without you even knowing it.
In this episode, Charlotte and Megan break down everything women need to know about cholesterol, estrogen, and heart health: why heart disease is still the #1 killer of women in the US, how declining estrogen during perimenopause shifts your cholesterol profile, what your numbers actually mean, and why "you're fine" from your doctor isn't always enough. Whether you're in your 30s, 40s, or beyond, this is the conversation about women's cardiovascular health that should have been happening all along.
In this episode:
How estrogen protects your heart — and what happens when it declines
LDL, HDL, triglycerides, ApoB, and Lp(a) explained simply
Updated cholesterol screening guidelines for women
The cholesterol myths that could be putting your health at risk
What to ask your doctor at your next appointment
Heart disease. Cholesterol in women. Perimenopause and heart health. Women's cardiovascular health. Cholesterol screening guidelines. Estrogen and cholesterol. Preventative health for women.

Exercise Best Practices During Perimenopause With Heidi Harris

Your body didn't break — the rules just changed. In this episode, Charlotte and Megan sit down with registered dietitian and strength coach Heidi Harris to cut through the noise on perimenopause, metabolism, and why your old routine stopped working. From protein targets and heart rate zones to the supplements actually worth taking, this is the practical, no-BS conversation you've been waiting for.

Perimenopause + Aging Gracefully with a Plastic Facial Surgeon and Aesthetician

Why Am I So Angry? Perimenopause Rage, Hormones & What Actually Helps

The Big Theme: Perimenopause-related rage is real, common, and rooted in biology — not a character flaw.
The Science: Estrogen acts as a neuromodulator, affecting serotonin, dopamine, and GABA (the brain's calming chemical). When estrogen fluctuates during perimenopause, emotional regulation suffers. Declining progesterone removes another layer of calm. The amygdala becomes more reactive, meaning small stressors can feel like major threats.
Key Takeaways:
It's the variability of estrogen — not just the decline — that drives mood volatility
Rage often isn't intellectual; it's hormone-driven and can feel out-of-body
Women are socialized to feel shame about anger, which compounds the problem
Rage can also signal depression or thyroid issues, so see a clinician if it feels constant or scary
Practical Strategies Discussed:
Sleep hygiene, blood sugar stability, strength training, and reducing alcohol
Nervous system tools like paced breathing and cold water on the face
Cycle tracking to predict and prepare for rage windows
Medical options, including SSRIs/SNRIs and hormone therapy
Setting boundaries and reducing invisible labor
The Closing Thought: Some midlife rage may actually be clarity — a dropping away of people-pleasing and a clearer view of what you've been carrying. Dysregulation is treatable, and you don't have to white-knuckle your way through midlife.

Cycle Syncing With Amy Dave

Ever feel like your body is working against you — one week you're crushing it, and the next you can barely think straight? In this episode, we're sitting down with Amy Dave from The Wealth of Wellness to talk all things cycle syncing during perimenopause.
Amy breaks down how fluctuating hormones impact your mood, energy, focus, and that pre-period rage — and how to actually work with your cycle, even when it's unpredictable. We cover how to track your cycle, when to adjust your workouts and diet, and simple strategies you can start using right away.
Whether your cycles are regular or all over the place, this one's for you.
 
Music by FreeMusicForVideo from Pixabay

Brain Fog

In this episode of Ask Me About My Estrogen, Charlotte and Megan tackle one of perimenopause's most frustrating and underestimated symptoms: brain fog. They push back hard on the clinical definition — arguing that "brain fog" wildly undersells what women are actually experiencing — and dig into the real neuroscience behind it. From estrogen's role as a brain hormone to MRI studies showing changes in how the brain uses glucose, they explain why cognitive struggles during perimenopause are biological, not imaginary. They address the fear many women quietly carry — is this early dementia? — and offer a clear-eyed way to think about the difference. The conversation gets honest about how brain fog collides with the mental load women already carry, how it quietly erodes confidence at exactly the moment many women are hitting their professional stride, and why generic advice like "just sleep more" and "reduce stress" falls spectacularly short. Charlotte and Megan round out the episode with real, practical micro-strategies and a candid conversation about what is — and isn't — within our control, including a discussion of HRT as a legitimate option worth exploring with a knowledgeable provider.

Vaginal Symptoms in Perimenopause

Irregular bleeding, nonstop bleeding, vaginal dryness, itching, painful sex — perimenopause can bring a wave of symptoms no one warned us about. In this episode, we break down how declining estrogen affects vaginal and urinary health, what Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) really means, and why these changes impact intimacy, libido, and confidence.
We share our personal experiences with IUDs, oral birth control, vaginal estrogen, lubrication, and navigating hard conversations with partners and providers. No shame. No whispering. Just real talk about vaginal health in midlife.

OB/GYN Answers Your Biggest Perimenopause Questions (Hot Flashes, Mood, HRT)

This week on Ask Me About My Estrogen, Megan and Charlotte sit down with board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Williams to talk all things perimenopause — no fluff, no fear-mongering, just real answers.
From “How do I know I’m in perimenopause?” to “Is weight gain inevitable?” and “Are hormones actually safe?” — we’re diving into the questions women are asking in group chats and Google at 2 a.m. Dr. Williams separates fact from fiction, breaks down the truth about bloodwork, birth control, and hormone therapy, and explains what’s really happening when your body starts to feel unfamiliar.
We also tackle the emotional side of this transition — the symptoms women blame on themselves, what often gets dismissed, and what OB/GYNs wish more patients understood. Plus, an honest conversation about how to advocate for yourself at your next appointment so you leave feeling heard, not brushed off.
If you’ve ever been told your labs are “normal” but you don’t feel normal — this episode is for you.