Ep. 197 - The Menobesties Roundtable: Navigating the Wilds of Perimenopause, HRT & Advocacy

In this lively and unfiltered gathering, Dr. Fiona Lovely is joined by her beloved "Meno Besties," hormone specialist Karen Martel and longevity expert Zora Benhamou. This is a candid conversation between three leading voices who've been in the menopause advocacy space long before it was trending. They tackle the frustrating realities women still face, from doctors dismissing requests for hormone testing to the enduring stigma around the word "menopause" itself. The discussion delves into the critical need for education and self-advocacy, emphasizing that despite increased awareness, a shockingly low percentage of women are actually on hormone therapy. Fiona, Karen, and Zora break down the early, subtle signs of perimenopause that often go unrecognized and explain the rollercoaster of "wonky periods." They also provide crucial insights into the practicalities of hormone therapy, addressing why some women don't feel better initially, the importance of dosage adjustments, and why partnering closely with your prescriber is non-negotiable. The conversation takes a fascinating turn into how past trauma and nervous system health may influence one's response to HRT, highlighting the profound mind-body connection during this transition. This episode is a masterclass in navigating midlife health with clarity, humor, and the supportive solidarity of friends who truly get it. Connect with Karen and Zora: Karen Martel: karenmartel.com | Instagram: @karenmartelhormones Zora Benhamou: hackmyage.com | Instagram: @hackmyage Thank you to our sponsors for this episode: 🩻If you are finding gut changes to be happening and not in the best way, you are not alone. Women experiencing perimenopause often find these issues to be part of their daily lives. There is support out there! LVLUP Health offers a comprehensive peptide formulation that can repair your gut beyond what a probiotic does. 💪Low energy and muscles feeling less strong? Let me share a favourite - Timeline's Longevity gummies, a breakthrough for healthy aging. Using patented Mitopure, their products re-energize muscles and cells helping to slow down the aging process and boost mitochondria giving stronger muscles and more energy! ⚡️ Dr. Fiona Lovely is a longevity, health and wellness expert with specialties in menopause medicine, functional neurology and functional medicine. She is speaking to the topics of women's health around perimenopause and menopause. How to work with Dr. Lovely: We get many requests for this info, so here it is! First off, thank you for listening to the NYMM podcast. It's because of your support, we can continue to dispense this information.❤️ Follow Dr. Lovely on IG and TikTok: @drfionalovely Follow the podcast on Facebook: www.facebook.com/@notyourmothersmenopausepodcast There are resources available on our website: www.drlovely.com Please sign up for our newsletter - Fiona's Friday Favourites! This is where we make the first announcements, share course offerings, drop new episodes, blog posts and the coveted 'Fiona's Favourites' column, etc. drlovely.com Finally, a humble request: If you love the podcast, please leave us a review! Thank you! 💕🤗 Partnerships by Category3 Media Group