The Female Health Solution Podcast

772. What Really Happens After 6 Months of Hormone Support

In this episode of the Female Health Solution Podcast, I break down what happens when women commit to six months of targeted hormone support using DUTCH testing, personalized protocols, and real lifestyle shifts. I'm sharing real client examples and the behind-the-scenes reasons why so many symptoms finally start to resolve when we stop chasing quick fixes. We talk about why hormone changes don't happen overnight, why six months is the sweet spot for real, measurable progress, and how testing takes the guesswork out of your symptoms so you're not wasting time, energy, or money on things that miss the mark. In this episode, I cover: * Why DUTCH testing gives us clarity that standard labs miss * What actually changes between your initial DUTCH test and your 6-month retest * Why symptoms like low libido, fatigue, anxiety, weight gain, and terrible periods often trace back to cortisol, not what you've been told * The difference between capacity and living in survival mode * Why regulating your nervous system can feel uncomfortable before it feels better * How women regain energy, mood stability, creativity, libido, and resilience * What it looks like when your period stops running your life * Why seeing your progress on paper helps rebuild trust with your body I also explain why so many women have been dismissed, gaslit, or told to "just deal with it," and how retesting helps you stay connected to what your body actually needs long-term. If you're tired of white-knuckling your way through exhaustion, mood swings, brain fog, painful periods, or feeling like you don't recognize yourself anymore, this episode is for you. Ready to see what six months could change for you? The Hormone Foundations Program is our most popular 1:1 program where we: * Run an initial DUTCH Complete test * Support you with personalized recommendations for six months * Address cortisol, nutrient deficiencies, sleep, cycle issues, and more * Retest at six months so you can see your progress in black and white Learn more: https://drbethwestie.com/hormone-foundations-program/ [https://drbethwestie.com/hormone-foundations-program/]

771. The Supplement Mistake That's Wrecking Your Hormones

What's the worst that could happen if you just start taking a supplement, right? You already don't feel great, so something has to help… right? In this episode, I explain why that mindset often backfires, especially when it comes to hormones. I see this all the time: women taking "hormone balance" supplements, DIM, progesterone support, adrenal formulas, or detox products without testing first. The intention is good, but without knowing what your body actually needs, you can easily make symptoms worse instead of better. In this episode, I break down: * Why supplements are not all the same (foundational vs targeted vs phase-specific) * How taking the wrong supplement at the wrong time can worsen fatigue, anxiety, PMS, cycle issues, and sleep * Why hormones require timing, balance, and sequencing, not random support * How cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, and neurotransmitters all interact and why treating one without the others often fails * Why DIM is one of the most commonly misused hormone supplements (and how it can actually drive estrogen too low) * How adrenal dysfunction can block progesterone support from ever "landing" * Why liver detox, gut health, and hormone clearance matter just as much as hormone production * Why hormones work on a negative feedback loop and why real change takes longer than 30 days I also explain why we use DUTCH testing to look at the full picture: * Hormone production * Hormone metabolism and pathways * Cortisol rhythm * Neurotransmitters * Nutrient markers Testing allows us to answer the real questions: Is the issue production, processing, or clearance? Are adrenals driving hormone imbalance? Is your system overstimulated or suppressed? What phase of healing do you actually need right now? This is exactly why I created the Hormone Foundations Program. Inside the program, we: * Test first with the DUTCH Complete * Build a personalized, phase-based supplement and lifestyle plan * Adjust support as your body moves through healing stages * Retest to confirm progress (because numbers don't lie) * Guide you for a full six months so changes actually stick If you've tried supplements before and felt worse, stalled out, or burned out, this episode is for you. Learn more about the Hormone Foundations Program: https://drbethwestie.com/hormone-foundations-program/ [https://drbethwestie.com/hormone-foundations-program/] Not sure? Book a Discovery call: https://calendly.com/dr-beth-westie/program-discovery-call [https://calendly.com/dr-beth-westie/program-discovery-call]

770. Cortisol, Caffeine & the Energy Rollercoaster with Dr. Jenny

In this episode of the Female Health Solution Podcast, I'm breaking down something I see all the time with the women we work with: the cortisol and caffeine energy rollercoaster. If you feel like you need coffee or energy drinks just to function, crash hard in the afternoon, or plan your day around your next caffeine hit, this conversation is for you. I explain why this pattern is common but not normal, how cortisol actually drives these highs and lows, and why relying on caffeine keeps your body stuck in a stress response. We talk about what cortisol really does in the body, how it impacts blood sugar, energy, sleep, and mood, and what simple shifts can help you create smoother, more reliable energy throughout the day without feeling tethered to caffeine. If you're ready to get off the rollercoaster and support your energy in a way that actually works with your body, I invite you to join our Free 5 Day Revive. It's designed to help you feel strong, steady, and energized with simple, actionable steps you can start right away. Listen in and let's get your energy working for you again. Join the Free 5 Day Revive: https://dr-beth-westie.mykajabi.com/the-5-day-revive [https://dr-beth-westie.mykajabi.com/the-5-day-revive]

769. Why You Wake Up Exhausted, Even After A Great Night Of Sleep

In this episode of the Female Health Solution Podcast, I break down why good sleep doesn't always equal restorative sleep, and why waking up exhausted is often a hormone and cortisol rhythm issue, not a lack of sleep or effort on your part. Yes, sleep matters. But if your body isn't producing or regulating cortisol correctly, you can still wake up tired, foggy, and unmotivated, even after a full night in bed. What we cover in this episode: * Why cortisol plays a major role in how energized (or exhausted) you feel in the morning * The difference between getting sleep and actually restoring your nervous system * How stress, broken sleep, under-fueling, and overexercising quietly drain your energy * Why women need more and different quality sleep than men * The "wired but tired" pattern and how it shows up when cortisol is off * Why pushing through exhaustion works… until it doesn't I also explain why so many women hit a point where they can keep functioning, but feel awful doing it. Just because your body is resilient doesn't mean it should live in survival mode. If you're sleeping but not recovering, something deeper is missing. How we figure out what's actually going on This is where functional testing matters. I walk through why I rely on the DUTCH Test to look at: * Your cortisol pattern throughout the day * Estrogen, progesterone, and androgen balance * Nutrient status that impacts energy and recovery Different cortisol patterns require different support. If your adrenals are flatlined, you need a very different approach than someone whose system is stuck in overdrive. Guessing, or throwing random sleep supplements at the problem, rarely works. A great place to start: the FREE 5-Day Revive If you're not ready for testing yet, I created a free 5-Day Revive Challenge focused on helping your body feel more strong, steady, and energized. Inside the 5-day, we focus on: * Morning and evening routines that support healthy cortisol rhythms * Simple nutrition and protein targets to prevent depletion * How to fuel before and after workouts so you actually recover * Light, movement, and nervous system regulation * A short daily assessment so guidance is targeted, not overwhelming This is not about perfection or adding more to your plate. It's about making small, intentional changes that actually move the needle. 👉 Join the free 5-Day Revive: https://dr-beth-westie.mykajabi.com/the-5-day-revive [https://dr-beth-westie.mykajabi.com/the-5-day-revive] Send it to a friend, do it together, and use it as a reset for your energy.

768. Normal Labs, No Answers: How to Find the Root Cause of Hormone Issues with Dr. Jenny Gerken

Have you ever been told your labs are "normal," but you still feel exhausted, foggy, wired, or not like yourself? I'm Dr. Jenny, one of the docs on the team with Dr. Beth Westie. In this episode of The Female Health Solution Podcast, I share my clinical perspective after working with hundreds of women inside Dr. Beth Westie's practice. We dive into why normal blood work doesn't always mean your hormones are functioning well and how deeper testing helps us uncover what's really happening behind the scenes. I also show the difference between blood work and the DUTCH Test, why cortisol patterns matter more than a single lab value, and how estrogen, progesterone, stress hormones, and nutrient depletion can drive symptoms long before anything shows up as "abnormal." If you're tired of being told everything looks fine while your body says otherwise, this episode will help you understand where answers are often hiding and what to do next. To learn more about getting real clarity and support, explore The Hormone Foundation Program here: https://drbethwestie.com/hormone-foundations-program/ [https://drbethwestie.com/hormone-foundations-program/] Join before Jan 30 for a free Jumpstart Tincture bundle ($250 value)