About this episode

Karen Martel discusses the challenges of weight loss during midlife and the importance of hormonal intervention during perimenopause.

If you've been eating well, exercising consistently, and still watching your body change in ways that don't make sense, this episode is for you. Karen Martel is a Certified Hormone Specialist, Certified Thyroid Specialist, and host of the globally ranked Hormone Solution Podcast. She went through early menopause at 42, rebuilt her health twice, and has spent the last decade helping women understand what's really happening during perimenopause, and what to do about it before symptoms steal years of their vitality. In this candid, science-forward conversation with Dr. Shivani Gupta, Karen breaks down the most common myths around HRT, explains why women are being undertreated, and makes a compelling case for why perimenopause, not menopause, is the critical window for hormonal intervention. What You'll Learn Why testosterone pellets aren't the right starting point for most women, and what to use instead How a genetic variation common in women of Asian descent affects testosterone metabolism and can cause unexpected side effects The real difference between oral and transdermal progesterone — and why sensitivity to one doesn't mean you can't benefit from the other Why most…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Shivani Gupta

Guest: Karen Martel

Topics covered

• weight loss
• hormones
• HRT
• perimenopause
• women's health
• myths about HRT

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Hormone Solution Podcast

More episodes of The Inflammation Code

• Why Trendy Supplements Don’t Work: Dr. Shivani Gupta Explains · June 9, 2026 · 29 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Inflammation Code podcast page.