HRT, Hormones, Bones, and Cholesterol: Everything No One Explained About Midlife & Menopause | EP232

Your cholesterol climbs. Your bone density drops. And you may not hear how much changing hormones can affect both. Jennifer Gularson, a board-certified physician assistant and functional medicine practitioner, joins Amy Sherman on Wellness Junkies to break down HRT and clear up some of the questions women have about hormones in midlife.Jennifer breaks down the difference between bioidentical and synthetic HRT and explains why she tells patients that birth control pills can involve about ten times the estrogen dose she uses for HRT. She tackles common concerns about HRT and breast cancer and shares her perspective on what newer research says about risk.The conversation turns to perimenopause and why symptoms can start up to a decade before menopause. Jennifer explains how she uses testosterone in her practice, where peptides may fit for concerns such as gut health, inflammation, and weight management, and where bone health and heart health fit into the bigger picture of women's longevity.There's a lot packed into this hour. Press play to hear Jennifer's practical guidance and figure out what your next conversation with your doctor should sound like.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Meet Jennifer Gularson And Her Approach to Women's Midlife Health01:21 Why Perimenopause Symptoms Get Dismissed As Normal Aging08:23 When Estrogen Decline Actually Begins And Why Timing Varies09:40 Breaking Down HRT, Bioidentical Hormones, And Dosing Options15:41 Testing Methods And Debunking Common Hormone Myths22:56 Exploring Peptides For Gut Health And Weight Loss30:52 Cholesterol, LDL, And Heart Health In Midlife39:43 Bone Health, DEXA Scans, And Preventing Osteoporosis49:33 Working With Doctors Plus Jennifer's Wellness And Beauty HacksConnect with Jennifer Gularson:Visit Jennifer's websiteFollow Jennifer on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠For More on this Episode: Read the full show notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉🏻 Join the Wellness Junkies community: • Follow us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wellnessjunkiesofficial ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Instagram • Subscribe to our newsletter • Shop this episode + our faves on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ShopMyShop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • NEW! Follow us @wellnessjunkies on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok • Follow Amy @amynicolle on TikTok • Visit ⁠www.wellnessjunkiesofficial.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  • Say hi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠press@wellnessjunkiesofficial.com ⁠⁠Please subscribe, rate, review + share to help us grow the community 🙏🏻✌🏻See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.Podcast pr