Fresh Take: Gillian Goddard on How Hormones Affect Our Health At All Ages

About this episode

Dr. Gillian Goddard discusses the impact of hormones on health and the importance of understanding hormonal changes throughout life.

What do hormones actually do—and why are they often misunderstood? We talk with Dr. Gillian Goddard, an endocrinologist and author of The Hormone Loop: An Empowering Guide to Restoring Hormonal Harmony from Puberty to Menopause. Dr. Goddard explains how hormones affect far more than reproduction, influencing everything from metabolism and sleep to mood, stress responses, and cardiovascular health. She breaks down the concept of the "hormone loop" and explains the four major hormonal systems that work together to keep our bodies functioning: reproductive, thyroid, growth hormone, and adrenal (stress) loops. The conversation explores how hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause can affect the entire body—not just reproductive health. We also discuss why women's symptoms are so often dismissed, how cultural attitudes about hormones can prevent women from seeking care, and why tracking symptoms can help patients advocate for themselves more effectively. Other topics include: The relationship between estrogen, the immune system, and thyroid disorders Hormone replacement therapy: benefits, misconceptions, and current research The role of GLP-1…

People in this episode

Hosts: Amy Wilson, Margaret Ables

Guest: Gillian Goddard

Topics covered

• hormones
• health
• endocrinology
• women's health
• hormonal systems
• menopause
• advocacy

Keywords

• hormones
• metabolism
• sleep
• mood
• stress responses
• hormone replacement therapy
• GLP-1 medications
• thyroid disorders

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Savvy Patient

Books & works: The Hormone Loop: An Empowering Guide to Restoring Hormonal Harmony from Puberty to Menopause

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