63: Hormones and Menopause: What Active Woman Needs to Know with Dr. Carla DiGirolamo

<p>Female athletes have unique nutrition and health needs, especially as hormones begin to shift during midlife. In this episode, Alex Larson, registered dietitian, sits down with Dr. Carla DiGirolamo to discuss hormonal health, lab interpretation for active women, hormone therapy, and the body composition changes that can occur during perimenopause and menopause. They also explore hypothalamic amenorrhea, GLP-1 medications, and practical strategies to help female athletes support both performance and long-term health.</p><p>00:00 Living the Dream: A Journey into Nutrition and Athletics</p><p>05:12 Bridging the Gap: Athletic Women and Hormonal Health</p><p>11:09 Understanding Hormones: The Key to Athletic Performance</p><p>19:46 Interpreting Lab Results: An Athletic Perspective</p><p>22:48 Hormone Therapy: Trends and Conversations in Athletics</p><p>23:16 The Rise of Hormone Awareness</p><p>28:11 Understanding Hormone Therapy and Athletic Performance</p><p>34:00 Navigating Amenorrhea and Dysmenorrhea in Athletes</p><p>36:33 Body Composition Changes in Midlife Women</p><p>42:46 Exploring GLP-1 Medications in Female Athletes</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>About Dr. Carla D</strong></p><p><strong>Dr. Carla DiGirolamo</strong> is an OBGYN specializing in women's hormonal health and performance. She helps active women navigate every stage of life, from menstrual health and amenorrhea to perimenopause and menopause, using evidence-based strategies to support both athletic performance and lifelong health.</p><p>Website: <a href="https://www.drcarlad.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.drcarlad.com/</a> </p><p>Blog: <a href="https://www.drcarlad.com/blog/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.drcarlad.com/blog/</a> </p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dr_carla_d/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">dr_carla_d</a></p><p><br /></p><p><strong>This episode of Endurance Eats is brought to you by Alex Larson’s 1:1 Nutrition Coaching.</strong></p><p>If you’ve ever wondered, <em>Am I eating enough? Am I fueling this right? Why do I still feel tired?</em> you’re not alone. Alex Larson Nutrition helps endurance athletes cut through the confusion and build a fueling plan that actually works for their training, lifestyle, and goals.</p><p>You can learn more at <a href="http://alexlarsonnutrition.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>alexlarsonnutrition.com</strong></a>. </p><p><br /></p><p><strong>This Episode is Brought to You By </strong><a href="https://carbculture.store/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Carb Culture Shop</strong></a></p><p>Grab your merch from the shop with saying that endurance athletes just get!</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>This episode is brought to you by Thorne. </strong></p><p><a href="https://www.thorne.com/u/alexlarsonnutrition" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Shop Thorne Supplements</a> and get 15% off  <a href="https://www.thorne.com/u/alexlarsonnutrition" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.thorne.com/u/alexlarsonnutrition</a> </p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Resources Mentioned in This Episode:</strong></p><ul><li><p> <a href="https://alexlarsonnutrition.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apply for 1:1 Coaching with an ALN Dietitian <strong>https://alexlarsonnutrition.com</strong></a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://alexlarsonnutrition.myflodesk.com/carb-loading" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>FREE Carb Loading 101 Guide</strong></a><strong> </strong><a href="https://alexlarsonnutrition.myflodesk.com/carb-loading" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://alexlarsonnutrition.myflodesk.com/carb-loading</strong></a></p></li></ul><p><br /></p><p><strong>Connect with Me:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Instagram: <a href="https://instagram.com/alexlarsonnutrition" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@alexlarsonnutri