Show Notes
Why does progesterone help one woman sleep, feel calm, and finally feel like herself again—while another woman feels anxious, restless, or completely unlike herself? The answer may have a lot to do with how progesterone enters the body and what it becomes after you take it. In Part 11 of this progesterone series, Dr. Brendan McCarthy breaks down why the route of administration matters when using bioidentical oral micronized progesterone. Oral, transvaginal, transrectal, topical, and sublingual routes can influence how progesterone is metabolized and where its effects are felt.
📚 Patient Education:Explore our patient education resources here:https://protealife.com/patient-education ⚠️ This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Do not abruptly change or stop hormone therapy based on information you hear online. Talk with your healthcare provider about your specific situation. Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more. If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start. 👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it. 📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book:Jump Off the Mood Swing – A Sane Woman’s Guide to Her Crazy Hormoneshttps://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-... 📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:Instagram: @drbrendanmccarthyTikTok: @drbrendanmccarthyWebsite: www.protealife.com 💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments!
More from Dr. Brendan McCarthy
Progesterone plays an important role in regulating the uterine lining, especially during the perimenopause years when ovulation becomes less consistent and estrogen may remain present without adequate progesterone. In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy discusses the relationship between estrogen, progesterone, and the endometrium, including why heavier or changing menstrual cycles shouldn't simply be dismissed as “part of perimenopause.”
Does progesterone cause breast cancer—or could it actually play a protective role in the body? The answer isn't as simple as the headlines make it seem. In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy breaks down one of the most confusing conversations in hormone health: the difference between bioidentical progesterone and synthetic progestins. Not all medications called “progesterone” are the same. They may protect the uterine lining in similar ways, but they can behave very differently throughout the body.
How you receive estrogen matters. In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy breaks down the different ways estrogen can be delivered — including oral estrogen, topical/transdermal estrogen, injections, and pellets — and explains why the route of delivery can change how the hormone behaves in your body. He discusses first-pass metabolism, estrone conversion, transdermal delivery, vaginal estrogen, injection esters, pellets, lab monitoring, and why informed consent and ongoing follow-up are essential to hormone replacement therapy. Most importantly, this episode is about understanding your options. You deserve to know what you're taking, how it's being delivered, what it may do, what the risks are, and how your provider plans to monitor you.
Vaginal and urinary symptoms are common during perimenopause and menopause—but understanding why they happen and how different forms of estrogen work can be confusing. In Episode 8 of this hormone series, Dr. Brendan McCarthy breaks down the relationship between systemic estrogen, vaginal estrogen, estradiol, estriol, testosterone, and the genitourinary symptoms many women experience during menopause. He discusses:
An elevated estrone level can be alarming—especially when you search online and immediately find scary information about cancer, diabetes, or obesity. But does a high estrone level automatically mean something is wrong? In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy, Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center, takes a closer look at estrone and why it shouldn't be treated as a simple “good” or “bad” hormone. Dr. McCarthy also discusses his own evolution in understanding estrone and why he believes good medicine requires continually questioning what we think we know. The goal isn't to tell you what decision to make. It's to give you better information so you can have a more informed conversation with your healthcare provider.