About this episode

Tamsen Fadal discusses the role of estrogen during menopause and the implications of hormone therapy.

If you’ve ever wondered what estrogen actually does, or whether hormone therapy (HRT) is right for you, this episode is for you. During perimenopause and menopause, falling estrogen levels can contribute to brain fog, hot flashes, night sweats, joint pain, sleep problems, mood changes, and even long-term bone health. Yet most women are never told how one hormone can affect nearly every system in the body. This episode is part of Tamsen’s series breaking down the biggest topics from her New York Times bestselling book, How to Menopause, one conversation at a time. This week, it’s estrogen. In just 20 minutes, Tamsen takes everything she’s learned from interviewing the world’s leading menopause doctors and hormone experts and breaks it down into simple, easy-to-understand language. No confusing medical jargon. No overwhelm. Just the information you need to understand your options and make the best decisions for your own health. Inside the episode: - What estrogen actually does in your body - Why estradiol changes during perimenopause and menopause - How hormone therapy (HRT) can help relieve menopause symptoms - The truth about the Women’s Health Initiative study - Who is a…

People in this episode

Host: Tamsen Fadal

Topics covered

• estrogen
• menopause
• hormone therapy
• women's health
• symptoms
• health decisions

Keywords

• estrogen
• hormone therapy
• menopause
• perimenopause
• symptoms
• health
• Women’s Health Initiative

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Women’s Health Initiative

Books & works: How to Menopause

More episodes of The Tamsen Show

• 5 Relationship Red Flags Even Smart Women Ignore · July 20, 2026 · 32 min
• What No One Tells You About Grief After Losing Your Mother · July 16, 2026 · 55 min
• The Fertility Expert: Egg Freezing, Perimenopause & GLP-1s Explained · July 9, 2026 · 42 min
• Belly Fat 101: The 5 Simple Habits That Changed Everything · July 6, 2026 · 27 min
• The Longevity Doctor: The 5 Simple Tests That Predict How You'll Age · July 2, 2026 · 1h 12m
• Progesterone 101: The Hormone Behind Your 3am Wake-Ups, Your Anxiety & Your Worst PMS · June 29, 2026 · 21 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Tamsen Show podcast page.