All About You With Dr Shauna Watts

The BIGGEST Menopause Misunderstanding of the Last 20 Years

For more than 20 years, women have been told that hormone therapy causes breast cancer but what if the science was misunderstood from the very beginning? The conversation around menopause and hormone replacement therapy has been shaped by fear for decades. In this episode, Dr. Avrum Bluming and social psychologist Carol Tavris unpack the study that changed women’s health forever and explain why many doctors, researchers and patients are now re-examining what we thought we knew about estrogen, breast cancer and HRT.T hey explored the lasting impact of the Women’s Health Initiative study, the difference between observational studies and randomized trials, and why so many women still struggle to access informed menopause care today. We also discuss the growing evidence around estrogen’s role in brain health, osteoporosis prevention, cognitive decline, cardiovascular health and quality of life during perimenopause and menopause. If you’ve ever been told you’re “too young” for HRT, that hormones are dangerous because of breast cancer, or that menopause is just something women should suffer through, this conversation will challenge a lot of assumptions. In this episode: ➡️ Why the fear around HRT and breast cancer became so widespread ➡️ The real findings behind the Women’s Health Initiative study ➡️ Whether estrogen actually increases breast cancer risk ➡️ Vaginal estrogen and why the science remains controversial ➡️ What the evidence says about HRT after breast cancer ➡️ Estrogen’s impact on brain health and cognitive decline ➡️ The connection between menopause, osteoporosis and fractures ➡️ Why menopause education is still missing in medical training ➡️ The psychology and stigma around taking hormone therapy ➡️ Why many women still struggle to find doctors informed about menopause This is a nuanced and evidence-based discussion about menopause, estrogen, and the future of women’s health care and why so many women are demanding better conversations around HRT. ------------- Follow Dr. Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrum-bluming-64259a10/ https://tavris.socialpsychology.org/contact ------------- Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social: Podcast Website: ⁠ www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatt https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247 Disclaimer: 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. ----------------- Chapters 00:00 – Why Vaginal Estrogen Is Misunderstood 00:40 – Does Vaginal Estrogen Really Enter the Bloodstream 01:17 – Family History of Breast Cancer: Does It Matter? 02:01 – BRCA1, Ovaries Removal, and Breast Cancer Risk Reduction 03:03 – Why Estrogen Doesn’t Increase Breast Cancer Risk (Evidence Explained) 04:07 – Why Women Feel Shut Down by Doctors on HRT 05:14 – When Hormone Questions Get Ignored in Medicine 06:19 – What Happens When Women Stop Tamoxifen to Get Pregnant 07:10 – Can Breast Cancer Survivors Safely Use Vaginal Estrogen? 08:20 – The Controversial Denmark Study on Vaginal Estrogen 10:19 – “Minuscule Absorption Makes No Sense” — The Core Debate on Vaginal Estrogen 11:32 – Why Randomized Controlled Trials Aren’t the Only Gold Standard 13:31 – The $1 Billion Women’s Health Initiative Study: What Went Wrong ----------------- Keywords Menopause hormone replacement therapy HRT estrogen and breast cancer menopause symptoms Perimenopause women’s health vaginal estrogen breast cancer risk hormone therapy menopause WHI study estrogen therapy menopause doctor menopause treatment cognitive decline menopause osteoporosis menopause menopause education estrogen brain health breast cancer myths menopause podcast menopause research hormone therapy safety women’s hormones menopause expert

The REAL Story Behind Hormone Replacement Therapy

What if one of the biggest fears women have about hormone therapy was built on misunderstanding, misinformation, and decades of outdated advice? In this episode, Dr. Shauna Watts is joined by medical oncologist Dr. Avrum Bluming and social psychologist Carol Tavris, co-authors of Estrogen Matters, for a conversation that challenges decades of fear surrounding hormone replacement therapy. Together, they unpack the lasting impact of the 2002 Women’s Health Initiative study, why so many doctors still hesitate to prescribe HRT, and what the research actually says about estrogen, breast cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, dementia, and women’s longevity. This episode explores not just the science, but the psychology behind why women have been taught to fear breast cancer more than the diseases statistically far more likely to kill them. If you’ve ever felt confused, dismissed, or anxious about hormone therapy, this conversation will leave you far more informed and far more empowered. In This Episode: ➡️ Why the fear around HRT exploded after 2002 ➡️ What the Women’s Health Initiative study actually found ➡️ The difference between estrogen alone and combined hormone therapy ➡️ Why heart disease remains the leading killer of women ➡️ The psychological impact of breast cancer fear ➡️ How estrogen affects the brain, bones, heart, skin, and overall longevity ➡️ Why so many women suffer unnecessarily during menopause ➡️ The truth about “lowest dose for the shortest time” ➡️ How misinformation continues to shape menopause care today ➡️ What women should discuss with their doctors about HRT Whether you’re in perimenopause, postmenopause, or simply trying to make informed decisions about your future health, this episode is essential listening. Follow Dr. Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrum-bluming-64259a10/ https://tavris.socialpsychology.org/contact ------------- Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social: Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247 Disclaimer: 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. ----------------- Chapters 01:20 - The Truth About Hormone Replacement Therapy 03:27 - Dr. Avrum Bluming’s Breast Cancer Story 05:33 - How Estrogen Became Central to Menopause Care 07:58 - Why Menopause Symptoms Are Often Dismissed 10:07 - The 2002 HRT Study That Changed Everything 13:30 - Does Estrogen Really Increase Breast Cancer Risk? 16:12 - Menopause, Heart Disease & The Missing Conversation 18:07 - Why Doctors Still Fear Prescribing HRT 22:16 - The “Lowest Dose, Shortest Time” Myth 26:25 - The Dramatic Impact Estrogen Can Have on Women 27:38 - Why Women Fear Breast Cancer More Than Heart Disease 31:59 - Should Women Without Symptoms Still Take HRT? ----------------- Keywords hormone replacement therapy HRT and breast cancer estrogen therapy menopause symptoms perimenopause health estrogen and heart disease menopause treatment women’s health initiative estrogen matters Dr Avrum Bluming Carol Tavris menopause podcast breast cancer myths hormone therapy safety menopause and estrogen women’s health after 40 menopause education HRT benefits osteoporosis prevention menopause menopause expert podcast

The Perimenopause Nutrition Advice Women Actually Need

Learn more about the Rediscover You Program here: https://youbydrshaunawatts.com.au/16-week-rediscover-you-menopause-program/16-week-rediscover-you-program/ You can eat all the “healthy” food in the world, but if your body is stuck in stress mode, your hormones, digestion and energy will still struggle. In this episode, Dr Shauna Watts is joined again by functional practitioner, women’s hormone expert and author Dr. Mariza Snyder for a practical conversation about nutrition during perimenopause and why so many women feel overwhelmed trying to figure out what their bodies actually need. Together, they unpack the growing confusion around protein, the overlooked importance of fiber, how gut health shifts during midlife and why blood sugar regulation has such a profound impact on energy, mood, cravings and long-term metabolic health. This conversation moves beyond trendy nutrition advice and focuses on sustainable habits women can realistically implement in busy lives without perfection, restriction or guilt. What we cover in this episode: ➡️ Why the gut microbiome changes during perimenopause ➡️ The connection between gut health, estrogen and inflammation ➡️ Why fiber may be more important than most women realise ➡️ The truth about the current protein obsession ➡️ How ultra-processed “health foods” can worsen symptoms ➡️ Why blood sugar balance matters for hormones and energy ➡️ The impact of stress on digestion and nutrient absorption ➡️ Why eating slowly and intentionally changes how your body responds to food ➡️ The role of circadian rhythm in metabolism, sleep and recovery ➡️ Why women need muscle-supporting nutrition in midlife ➡️ How to create realistic healthy habits without overwhelm Dr Mariza also shares practical strategies for building balanced meals, supporting metabolic health and reconnecting with your body during a season where many women feel completely disconnected from themselves. This episode is a reminder that women do not need another impossible wellness overhaul. They need practical, evidence-based strategies that help them feel stronger, calmer and more energised in the body they live in every day. Follow Dr. Mariza Snyder https://www.instagram.com/drmariza/ https://drmariza.com/ https://www.facebook.com/drmarizasnyder/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmariza https://www.amazon.com/Perimenopause-Revolution-Reclaim-Hormones-Metabolism/dp/1401997406 ------------- Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social: Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatt https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247 Disclaimer: 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. ----------------- Chapters 00:00 — Introduction 02:15 — What Happens to the Gut Microbiome During Perimenopause 04:08 — Blood Sugar, Protein & “No Naked Carbs” Explained 05:21 — Why Fiber Matters More Than Women Think 06:02 — The Hidden Impact of Stress on Digestion & Hormones 08:02 — The Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Women Make in Midlife 10:00 — Ultra-Processed Foods, Inflammation & Hormone Health 13:20 — Why Real Food Matters More Than Protein Trends 17:42 — How Much Protein Women Actually Need in Perimenopause 22:00 — Why Muscle Health Matters During Menopause 24:03 — Why Skipping Breakfast Worsens Energy & Hormones 31:02 — Feeling Disconnected From Yourself During Perimenopause 33:10 — Small Habit Changes That Actually Work For Women ----------------- Keywords perimenopause nutrition gut health menopause protein in perimenopause fiber for women over 40 women’s health podcast hormone health blood sugar balance menopause gut health inflammation and hormones Dr Mariza Snyder Dr Shauna Watts menopause nutrition tips midlife wellness

The Medical System Is FAILING Women in Midlife

Learn more about the Rediscover You Program here: https://youbydrshaunawatts.com.au/16-week-rediscover-you-menopause-program/16-week-rediscover-you-program/ You’ve been told your blood tests are normal. That it’s stress or it’s aging. But what if the real reason you feel exhausted, anxious, and unlike yourself is perimenopause and it’s being completely missed? In this episode, Dr. Shauna Watts sits down with Dr. Mary Claire Haver, a board-certified OB/GYN, Certified Culinary Medicine Specialist, Certified Menopause Provider and the founder of Mary Claire Wellness, to break down how perimenopause is actually diagnosed, why so many women are misdiagnosed, and what’s really happening with your hormones in midlife. This conversation goes far beyond common menopause symptoms. It explains why perimenopause symptoms can show up years before menopause, why standard hormone blood tests often fail, and how declining estrogen impacts your brain, metabolism, sleep, and overall health. This is the episode to share with any woman who’s been told “everything looks fine” but knows something isn’t right. What we cover in this episode: • Why perimenopause symptoms are unpredictable and why hormone fluctuations create chaos in the body • Why blood tests are not reliable for diagnosing perimenopause and what doctors should look at instead • The importance of listening to symptoms and why women are often dismissed in healthcare • Lesser-known perimenopause symptoms like vertigo, tinnitus, joint pain, anxiety, and brain fog • The truth about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and how the Women’s Health Initiative changed menopause care • Why HRT risks were overstated and why many women are still not being offered treatment • The difference between birth control and hormone therapy in perimenopause treatment • What causes weight gain in perimenopause, including insulin resistance and visceral fat • Why sleep disruption is one of the earliest and most important symptoms to address Perimenopause is not just about hot flashes or missed periods. It is a full-body hormonal transition that affects your energy, mood, metabolism, and long-term health. This episode challenges outdated medical advice and gives you a clearer understanding of what’s happening in your body and what options you actually have.. ------------- Follow Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.instagram.com/drmaryclaire/ https://www.tiktok.com/@drmaryclaire https://www.facebook.com/drmaryclaire https://ph.pinterest.com/thepauselife/ https://www.amazon.com/shop/drmaryclairehaver?ccs_id=301bff2e-33b9-4318-988e-e1026d2192e7 ------------- Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social: Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247 Disclaimer: 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. ----------------- Chapters 00:00 – Why Perimenopause Is Being Missed 02:10 – It’s Not Just Hot Flashes: Hidden Symptoms 04:00 – Estrogen Affects Your Entire Body 05:30 – Why Doctors Aren’t Trained in Menopause 08:00 – Misdiagnosis and Why Women Are Dismissed 10:15 – Why Blood Tests Don’t Detect Perimenopause 16:50 – What’s Really Happening to Your Hormones 23:30 – How to Actually Diagnose Perimenopause 28:00 – HRT vs Birth Control: What’s the Difference 33:00 – Why Doctors Are Afraid of Hormone Therapy 35:00 – The Study That Changed Everything 40:00 – HRT Risks vs Benefits Explained 41:30 – Weight Gain and Belly Fat in Perimenopause ----------------- Keywords perimenopause symptoms perimenopause diagnosis hormone replacement therapy HRT menopause symptoms explained why blood tests don’t show perimenopause menopause fatigue brain fog anxiety women’s health misinformation

Why You're So Tired in Perimenopause (And What to Do About It)

Learn more about the Rediscover You Program here: https://youbydrshaunawatts.com.au/16-week-rediscover-you-menopause-program/16-week-rediscover-you-program/ If you are eating well, exercising, cutting alcohol, doing everything right, and your body is still not cooperating, this episode is the one you have been waiting for. Dr. Shauna Watts sits down with Dr. Mariza Snyder, functional practitioner and hormone specialist, for one of the most clinically grounded conversations about what perimenopause is actually doing to your body. Your brain, your metabolism, your stress response, your gut, your immune system. All of it. This is the episode to send to every woman in your life who has been told her symptoms are just stress, just aging, or just life. What is covered in this episode: ➡️ Why perimenopause symptoms are so unpredictable, and why the chaos is completely physiological, not psychological ➡️ What declining estrogen and progesterone are doing to your insulin sensitivity, and why eating less and moving more has stopped working ➡️ The cortisol connection: why chronic stress and declining hormones are a compounding combination that makes every symptom louder ➡️ What "tired but wired" actually means physiologically ➡️ The mitochondria piece: why perimenopause fatigue is not ordinary tiredness, it is cellular, and what that means for your energy ➡️ Why so many women are gaining visceral fat despite doing everything right, and what the research actually says about metabolism in midlife ➡️ Dr Marisa's most practical daily habits for rebuilding energy, including her take on electrolyte water ➡️ Why addressing your nervous system is not a wellness add-on. It is a clinical priority. If this episode made something click for you, send it to one woman in your life who keeps saying she just does not feel like herself anymore. She probably has not had anyone explain it to her like this. And if you found it useful, leave a review so more women can find the show. Dr. Mariza is coming back for part two, where the conversation goes deep on food, gut health, protein, and how to eat in a way that actually supports your midlife body. You will not want to miss it. Follow Dr. Mariza Snyder https://www.instagram.com/drmariza/ https://drmariza.com/ https://www.facebook.com/drmarizasnyder/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmariza https://www.amazon.com/Perimenopause-Revolution-Reclaim-Hormones-Metabolism/dp/1401997406 ------------------ Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social: Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247 Disclaimer: 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. ----------------- Chapters 01:14 — Meet Dr Mariza Snyder: hormone specialist and author 02:17 — Why perimenopause symptoms are so unpredictable 06:04 — The woman who thought she was a fraud for feeling better 18:21 — Gaining weight despite doing everything right 20:01 — Insulin resistance in perimenopause: what is actually happening 23:37 — Cortisol explained: what it is, why it matters, what to do 31:06 — What role does inflammation play in perimenopause 39:18 — What is going wrong with energy in perimenopause 42:48 — The vicious cycle: fatigue, cravings, and mitochondria explained 44:41 — Tired but wired: why your brain energy feels scattered 49:58 — Daily habits that make the biggest difference to energy 56:20 — Three takeaways from Dr Shauna ----------------- Keywords perimenopause fatigue why am i so tired female 40s perimenopause symptoms explained hormone imbalance women midlife exhaustion causes why women gain weight in 40s chronic stress and hormones mitochondria energy women perimenopause mood swings