Pellets, Periods, and Not Giving a Damn: A Midlife Hormone Roundtable with Dr. Amie Hornaman & Elle Russ

Pellets, Periods, and Not Giving a Damn: A Midlife Hormone Roundtable with Dr. Amie Hornaman & Elle Russ

July 11, 2026 · 1h 41m

About this episode

A roundtable discussion on the physical and emotional changes women face during perimenopause and menopause, featuring insights on hormone therapy and societal perceptions of aging.

This is not just a conversation about hormones. It is a conversation about what it means to age as a woman in a culture that is obsessed with youth, terrified of wrinkles, and wildly uncomfortable with female power after 40. In this roundtable episode, I sit down with Dr. Amy Horniman and Elle Russ to talk about the very real physical, emotional, and identity shifts that happen as women move through perimenopause and menopause. We get into everything from early perimenopause symptoms, thyroid issues, SHBG, testosterone, progesterone, estrogen, libido, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, pelvic floor changes, and how all of these things can affect the way women feel in their bodies. But we also go deeper into the emotional side of all of it. What happens when you are no longer getting the same attention? What happens when your face changes, your body changes, and you realize how much of your worth was tied to being seen as young or desirable? We also have a very honest conversation about hormone replacement therapy, why individualized care matters so much, why pellets are not always the answer, and why so many women are still being failed by outdated medical thinking. And from there, we…

People in this episode

Host: Karen Martel

Guests: Dr. Amie Hornaman, Elle Russ

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