Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

If you’ve ever logged into your patient portal, opened up your lab results, and thought, “Great… but what am I even looking at?”—you’re not alone.

According to a Gennev survey, two-thirds of midlife women say their doctors never explain what their hormone numbers actually mean.

In today’s episode, I’m peeling back the curtain on how to interpret your perimenopause blood tests, including which hormones to test, and how the timing, type of test, and phase of your cycle can completely impact the results.

In this episode, I‘ll address your most commonly asked questions, including:

✅ What hormones should women check during perimenopause?

✅ Is there a best time or day to get hormones tested?

✅ What’s the best way to test hormones — blood, saliva, or urine?

✅ What’s the difference between “normal” vs “optimal hormone levels”?

✅ What do my hormone test results mean?

✅ What should I do if my doctor won’t order hormone tests?

If you’ve ever asked, “Why is my hormone bloodwork 'normal' when I feel terrible?”—this episode connects the dots between your symptoms and your lab results.

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NEXT STEPS:

Reboot your energy, balance your mood, and move the scale on stubborn weight gain! Apply for my Master Your Midlife Hormones program: bit.ly/fixmyhormonesnow

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“WHAT I WISH I KNEW AT 40” SERIES

98 | When “Normal” Labs Lie: What Doctors Miss About Hormones in Perimenopause & Menopause [What I Wish I Knew Series]: https://pod.fo/e/3419f8

97 | When Anxiety, Anger, or Depression Is a Hormone Imbalance in Disguise [What I Wish I Knew Series]: https://pod.fo/e/33d3f1

96 | 5 Perimenopause Symptoms I Ignored at 40…And Why You Shouldn’t [What I Wish I Knew Series: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

RESOURCES:

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Become a Podcast Insider + Subscribe to The Hot Flash–Weekly hormone hacks, recipes, and lifestyle tips I don’t share anywhere else!: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Tired of Tossing and Turning? Grab my FREE “Better Sleep After 40” Supplement Cheat Sheet: https://monicalanetopete.kit.com/sleepbetter

Record a Question to Be Answered on the Pod: https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife

—

*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me, and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

Ready to reboot your energy, get better sleep, balance your mood, and move the scale on stubborn weight gain? Apply for my Master Your Midlife Hormones program and start seeing results before the holidays: bit.ly/fixmyhormonesnow

Ever wonder why everyone you know seems to be on an antidepressant?

According to the North American Menopause Society, nearly 60 percent of women going through perimenopause experience anxiety or depression—and yet, most of us are never told it could be a symptom of a hormonal imbalance.

In today’s episode, I’m peeling back the curtain on the three hormone imbalances most often mistaken for mood disorders—and what to ask your doctor before saying yes to medication that only masks the real issue.

In this episode, we‘ll address your most commonly asked questions, including:

✅ Why do I feel anxious for no reason in my 40s?

✅ Can a hormone imbalance cause depression?

✅ Is anxiety in perimenopause normal?

✅ Why do antidepressants stop working in midlife?

✅ What hormones cause mood swings in perimenopause?

✅ What’s the difference between hormonal anxiety and real anxiety?

✅ Why does my doctor say my labs are normal when I feel awful?

If you’ve ever thought, “Maybe it’s not me—it’s my hormones,” this episode is for you.

—

NEXT STEPS:

Reboot your energy, balance your mood, and move the scale on stubborn weight gain! Apply for my Master Your Midlife Hormones program: bit.ly/fixmyhormonesnow

—

EPISODES MENTIONED:

96 | 5 Perimenopause Symptoms I Ignored at 40…And Why You Shouldn’t [What I Wish I Knew Series: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

--

RESOURCES:

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Become a Podcast Insider + Subscribe to The Hot Flash–Weekly hormone hacks, recipes, and lifestyle tips I don’t share anywhere else!: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Tired of Tossing and Turning? Grab my FREE “Better Sleep After 40” Supplement Cheat Sheet: https://monicalanetopete.kit.com/sleepbetter

Record a Question to Be Answered on the Pod: https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife

—

*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me, and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

Master Your Midlife Hormones In Less Than 90 Days. Apply To Work With Me: bit.ly/fixmyhormonesnow

Studies show women spend an average of four years dismissing perimenopause symptoms before realizing what’s actually going on.

Four years!!!

That’s 1,460 days of sleepless nights, sweating through your pajamas, and snapping at your partner, your kids, even the dog—because you don’t know what you don’t know, and no one (especially your doctor) is talking about “hormones.”

In today’s episode, I’m peeling back the curtain on the 5 symptoms I ignored at age 40 that came back to bite me in perimenopause—and why you can’t afford to.

In this episode, we‘ll address your most commonly asked questions, including

✅ What are the first signs that perimenopause has started?

✅ What happens to your hormones during perimenopause?

✅ Why am I getting acne in my 40s?

✅ Why has my period suddenly become heavier or more irregular?

✅ Can the birth control pill help my perimenopause symptoms?

✅ Why is my PMS getting worse?

✅ Why do I wake up sweating at 2 a.m.?

✅ Why can’t I remember simple words anymore?

If you’ve been feeling like a stranger in your own body lately, this episode is for you.

—

NEXT STEPS:

Master Your Midlife Hormones In Less Than 90 Days. Apply To Work With Me: bit.ly/fixmyhormonesnow

—

RESOURCES:

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Become a Podcast Insider + Subscribe to The Hot Flash–Weekly hormone hacks, recipes, and lifestyle tips I don’t share anywhere else!: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Tired of Tossing and Turning? Grab my FREE “Better Sleep After 40” Supplement Cheat Sheet: https://monicalanetopete.kit.com/sleepbetter

Record a Question to Be Answered on the Pod: https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife

—

*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me, and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Whole grains, hummus, and meatless burgers…what if your go-to “healthy” foods are actually keeping your hormonal symptoms stuck on repeat?

It’s more common than you think–thanks to hormone shifts in midlife that can change how our bodies process certain proteins, sugars, and plants—turning our go-to favorites into hormone disruptors.

Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on the diet-hormone connection in perimenopause—and why even “healthy” foods can backfire when your hormones are out of balance.

In this episode, we‘ll address your most commonly asked questions, including:

✅ Can “healthy” foods cause hormone imbalance in perimenopause?

✅ Why do foods I used to eat just fine now bloat me?

✅ What’s the connection between food sensitivities and thyroid symptoms like fatigue and weight gain?

✅ How do I know if diet is the root cause of my midlife symptoms, like fatigue or weight gain?

✅ How do hormone changes like estrogen decline make me more sensitive to foods?

✅ How does eating plant-based foods backfire for hormone health?

✅ What practical steps can I take to uncover which foods are making my symptoms worse?

If bloating, brain fog, or stubborn weight gain won’t budge despite ‘clean eating,” this episode’s for you.

—

Next Steps:

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

—

Other FREE Resources:

Become a Podcast Insider + Subscribe to The Hot Flash–Weekly hormone hacks, recipes, and lifestyle tips I don’t share anywhere else!: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Tired of Tossing and Turning? Grab my FREE “Better Sleep After 40” Supplement Cheat Sheet: https://monicalanetopete.kit.com/sleepbetter

Record a Question to Be Answered on the Pod: https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife

—

Back-2-Hormone Basics Episodes:

EP 94 | Quick Tip Bonus Episode: Joint Pain or Leg Cramps at Night? Fast Fixes for Sleep Issues in Perimenopause: https://pod.fo/e/3301bd

EP 93 | Hormones Waking You Up at Night? Fast Fixes for Insomnia, Hot Flashes, Anxiety & More in Perimenopause: https://pod.fo/e/32beb6

EP 92 | Sitting All Day? 5 Tips to Boost Metabolism, Lose Weight + Get Your Energy Back in Perimenopause: https://pod.fo/e/32773c

EP 91 | Quick Tip Bonus Episode: The Hidden Hormone Disruptor in Your Go-To Hair Styling Product: https://pod.fo/e/324c79

EP 90 | Is Your Shampoo Making You Fat? 5 Hidden Hormone Disruptors Driving Weight Gain in Perimenopause: https://pod.fo/e/3236f3

EP 89 | Quick Tip Bonus Episode: 3 Better-Than-Coffee Energy Boosters In Perimenopause: https://pod.fo/e/31fcc6

EP 88 | Surviving on Caffeine? 5 Hacks To Boost Energy, Balance Hormones in Perimenopause Without Giving Up Coffee: https://pod.fo/e/31de27

EP 87 | “Why Am I So Tired, Foggy, and Moody?” 5 Signs Your Body Is Fighting Inflammation & Needs a Detox to Balance Hormones: https://pod.fo/e/317515

EP 86 | You'll Never Fix Your Perimenopause Symptoms Until You Address This... [AYTM Flashback]: https://pod.fo/e/3113b1

*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me, and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

No More Guessing. No More Overwhelm. Just Your Own 30-Day Hormone Game Plan, Customized To You. Book Your Hormone Balance Breakthru Call (limited spots available): https://bit.ly/hormonebreakthru

Ever feel like your body is staging a protest while you’re trying to sleep?

In this week’s bonus tip episode, I share 2 quick fixes to help women in perimenopause soothe leg cramps and joint pain, and finally sleep through the night.

If middle-of-the-night pain is jolting you awake, hit play now.

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Next Steps:

EP 93 | Hormones Waking You Up at Night? Fast Fixes for Insomnia, Hot Flashes, Anxiety & More in Perimenopause: https://pod.fo/e/32beb6

No More Guessing. No More Overwhelm. Just Your Own 30-Day Hormone Game Plan, Customized To You. Book your Hormone Balance Breakthru Call: https://bit.ly/hormonebreakthru

—

Resources

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Get weekly hormone hacks, recipes, and lifestyle tips I don't share anywhere else when you subscribe to The Hot Flash: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Tired of Tossing and Turning? Grab my FREE “Better Sleep After 40” Supplement Cheat Sheet: https://monicalanetopete.kit.com/sleepbetter

Connect on Social: @monicalanetopete

*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Sleeping used to be effortless—but then, perimenopause hit. Now, one hot flash or a couple of middle-of-the-night bathroom trips is all it takes to hijack your sleep completely.

It’s not just you. Studies show that up to 80% of women experience sleep issues during menopause. The result? Days that feel foggy, frazzled, and powered by carbs you don’t remember eating.

Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on the 4 biggest sleep dilemmas in perimenopause and menopause—and how to finally take your sleep (and your hormones) back without a prescription.

In this episode, we‘ll address your most commonly asked questions, including

✅ Why do I fall asleep fine but wake up at 2 am every night?

✅ Why do I wake up drenched in sweat at night during menopause?

✅ Why am I waking up multiple times a night to pee in midlife?

✅ Why do I wake up with racing thoughts or anxiety at night?

✅ What foods or drinks trigger night sweats and hot flashes?

✅ What’s the best bedroom temperature for better sleep in menopause?

✅ Can working out too late keep me from sleeping through the nigh

✅ Does alcohol make sleep worse during perimenopause?

✅ Which hormone imbalances cause insomnia in midlife women?

If sleep has become a nightly battle, this episode’s for you.

—

Next Steps:

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

No More Guessing. No More Overwhelm. Just Your Own 30-Day Hormone Game Plan, Customized To You. Book your Hormone Balance Breakthru Call (limited spots available): https://bit.ly/hormonebreakthru

—

Back-2-Hormone Basics Episodes:

EP 92 | Sitting All Day? 5 Tips to Boost Metabolism, Lose Weight + Get Your Energy Back in Perimenopause: https://pod.fo/e/32773c

EP 91 | Quick Tip Bonus Episode: The Hidden Hormone Disruptor in Your Go-To Hair Styling Product: https://pod.fo/e/324c79

EP 90 | Is Your Shampoo Making You Fat? 5 Hidden Hormone Disruptors Driving Weight Gain in Perimenopause: https://pod.fo/e/3236f3

EP 89 | Quick Tip Bonus Episode: 3 Better-Than-Coffee Energy Boosters In Perimenopause: https://pod.fo/e/31fcc6

EP 88 | Surviving on Caffeine? 5 Hacks To Boost Energy, Balance Hormones in Perimenopause Without Giving Up Coffee: https://pod.fo/e/31de27

EP 87 | “Why Am I So Tired, Foggy, and Moody?” 5 Signs Your Body Is Fighting Inflammation & Needs a Detox to Balance Hormones: https://pod.fo/e/317515

EP 86 | You'll Never Fix Your Perimenopause Symptoms Until You Address This... [AYTM Flashback]: https://pod.fo/e/3113b1 Other Episodes Mentioned:

82 | Are You Eating the Right Macros for Perimenopause Weight Loss?: https://pod.fo/e/2fc784

29 | 8 Signs Alcohol Is Impacting Your Perimenopause or Menopause Symptoms: https://pod.fo/e/2570e5

23 | Help! I'm Melting!: Six Tips to Cool Hot Flashes in Perimenopause & Menopause: https://pod.fo/e/24e160

—

Resources

Become a Podcast Insider + Subscribe to The Hot Flash–Weekly hormone hacks, recipes, and lifestyle tips I don’t share anywhere else!: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Tired of Tossing and Turning? Grab my FREE “Better Sleep After 40” Supplement Cheat Sheet: https://monicalanetopete.kit.com/sleepbetter

Record a Question to Be Answered on the Pod: https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife

*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me, and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

What if I told you the biggest threat to your midlife metabolism isn’t your age or your diet—it’s your office chair?

It’s true. Sitting for hours can double your risk for hormone-related metabolic issues in midlife like insulin resistance, fatigue, and stubborn weight gain. Plus, the more you sit, the less motivated you feel to move, leaving you in a cycle of exhaustion and frustration.

In this week’s episode, I’m peeling back the curtain on the hidden hormone damage caused by a sedentary lifestyle and sharing 5 quick tips to get your body--and your metabolism--moving again.

Tune in to learn the answers to some of your most commonly asked questions, including:

✅ How does sitting too much affect hormones?

✅ Is sitting really as bad as smoking?

✅ Can short workouts boost my metabolism in perimenopause?

✅ Is walking enough to lose weight after 40?

✅ What type of exercise is best for hormone balance?

✅ Does strength training help lower cortisol?

✅ Should I exercise every day?

If the only time you got up from your chair today was to reheat your lunch, this episode’s for you.

—

Next Steps:

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Done With Trying to DIY Your Hormones? Get Your 30-Day Hormone Game Plan, Customized To You, When You Book A Hormone Balance Breakthru Call (limited spots available): https://bit.ly/hormonebreakthru

—

Back-2-Hormone Basics Episodes:

EP 91 | Quick Tip Bonus Episode: The Hidden Hormone Disruptor in Your Go-To Hair Styling Product: https://pod.fo/e/324c79

EP 90 | Is Your Shampoo Making You Fat? 5 Hidden Hormone Disruptors Driving Weight Gain in Perimenopause: https://pod.fo/e/3236f3

EP 89 | Quick Tip Bonus Episode: 3 Better-Than-Coffee Energy Boosters In Perimenopause: https://pod.fo/e/31fcc6

EP 88 | Surviving on Caffeine? 5 Hacks To Boost Energy, Balance Hormones in Perimenopause Without Giving Up Coffee: https://pod.fo/e/31de27

EP 87 | “Why Am I So Tired, Foggy, and Moody?” 5 Signs Your Body Is Fighting Inflammation & Needs a Detox to Balance Hormones: https://pod.fo/e/317515

EP 86 | You'll Never Fix Your Perimenopause Symptoms Until You Address This... [AYTM Flashback]: https://pod.fo/e/3113b1

—

Resources

Become a Podcast Insider + Subscribe to The Hot Flash–Weekly hormone hacks, recipes, and lifestyle tips I don’t share anywhere else!: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Tired of Tossing and Turning? Grab my FREE “Better Sleep After 40” Supplement Cheat Sheet: https://monicalanetopete.kit.com/sleepbetter

Record a Question on SpeakPipe to Be Answered on the Pod: https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife

*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

No More Guessing. No More Overwhelm. Just Your Own 30-Day Hormone Game Plan, Customized To You. Book Your Hormone Balance Breakthru Call (limited spots available): https://bit.ly/hormonebreakthru

Hair on point—but your hormones are all over the place?

In this week’s bonus tip episode, I share a hidden hormone disruptor—common in many hairstyling products—that could be quietly wreaking havoc on your energy, mood, and weight.

👉If you can’t live without your dry shampoo, hit play now.

And don’t forget to check out this week’s full-length episode:

🎧 "Is Your Shampoo Making You Fat? 5 Hidden Hormone Disruptors Driving Weight Gain in Perimenopause” — linked in today’s show notes.

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Next Steps:

EP 90 | Is Your Shampoo Making You Fat? 5 Hidden Hormone Disruptors Driving Weight Gain in Perimenopause: https://pod.fo/e/3236f3

No More Guessing. No More Overwhelm. Just Your Own 30-Day Hormone Game Plan, Customized To You. Book your Hormone Balance Breakthru Call (limited spots available): https://bit.ly/hormonebreakthru

—

Resources

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Become a Podcast Insider + Subscribe to The Hot Flash–Weekly hormone hacks, recipes, and lifestyle tips that I don't share ANYWHERE else! https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Tired of Tossing and Turning? Grab my FREE “Better Sleep After 40” Supplement Cheat Sheet: https://monicalanetopete.kit.com/sleepbetter

Email Me: monica@monicalanetopete.com

*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.