Ep. 579: Normal Isn’t Optimal – The Shocking Truth About Progesterone, Brain Health & Hormone Timing with Dr. Felice Gersh | Menopause & HRT

About this episode

Dr. Felice Gersh discusses the complexities of progesterone, brain health, and hormone therapy during menopause.

I am delighted to welcome Dr. Felice Gersh for part two of our conversation on progesterone, brain health, and cognition. Dr. Gersh is a valued colleague, friend, and mentor. She is a board-certified OBGYN in integrative medicine. She taught at the USC Keck School of Medicine for 12 years and is the founder and director of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine. Today, we continue our conversation by exploring the liver's role in detoxification, dosing, and alternative routes of administration for progesterone. We cover the effects of allopregnanolone, the timing hypothesis, how to optimize hormones during perimenopause and menopause, the impact of cycling hormones in menopause, optimal estradiol levels, progesterone intolerance, and paradoxical effects. We also discuss growth factors in estrogen cycling, mitochondrial health and inflammation, how shift work disrupts circadian rhythms, and immune system changes in menopause. This is a conversation you will definitely want to revisit. Dr. Gersh truly challenged my thinking about hormone therapy with her simple but powerful message about the importance of considering the bigger picture when it comes to hormone replacement therapy…

People in this episode

Host: Cynthia Thurlow

Guest: Dr Felice Gersh

Topics covered

• progesterone
• brain health
• hormone timing
• menopause
• HRT
• detoxification
• cognition
• estradiol levels
• progesterone intolerance
• circadian rhythms
• immune system changes

Keywords

• allopregnanolone
• cognitive changes
• memory lapses
• perimenopause
• menopause

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Places: Irvine

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