The Menopause Playbook: Women's Health, Perimenopause and Menopause Journey
This Is Perimenopause: Menopause, Perimenopause and Women's Health in MidlifeShow Notes
Each episode will share life stories and expert insight into women's health and your perimenopause and menopause journey.
"It's not just about HRT or not...it's about realizing that the landscape has changed, and the playbook has changed. Full stop."
Powerful words from Dr. Kirsten Smith set the stage for an enlightening conversation about what women really need during the menopause transition. Drawing on her extensive 15+ years of experience as a naturopathic doctor specializing in women's hormonal health, Dr. Smith challenges the simplistic narratives around hormone therapy and offers insights you likely won't hear in a standard medical appointment.
In This Episode: The true role of hormone therapy—valuable but just one tool in your health toolkit The shocking connection between hormonal changes and mental health, including increased suicide risk in women aged 45-55 Why conventional antidepressants might fail during perimenopause The art and science of hormone dosing, and why your perfect dose might be completely different from your friend's Red flags that your hormone dose might need adjustment The critical gaps in medical training around women's health How to find healthcare providers who understand the complexities of menopause Practical strategies for building a complete approach to lasting health during menopause and beyond
Dr. Smith expands the conversation beyond hormones to address the complete picture of women's health during this transition, acknowledging that midlife health "does require more work.” But she also offers the reassurance that perfection isn't required—just consistent attention to the foundations of health. Whether you're currently on hormone therapy, considering it, or seeking alternatives, this conversation provides important information to help you advocate for yourself and make informed decisions about your health.
This podcast is brought to you by IRIS. Daily care products made with clean ingredients for hydrated vulva and vaginas. Use code TIP20 for 20% off at lovemyIRIS.com.
Connect with Mikelle & Michelle at This is Perimenopause Email us and let us know what you think of the podcast and what topic you want us to cover next. Sign up for our weekly newsletter Follow This Is Perimenopause on Instagram Follow This Is Perimenopause on Facebook
Dr. Kirsten Smith, ND | MSCP (cand.) | Visionary Women’s Health Expert | Integrative Hormone Specialist
For over 16 years, Dr. Kirsten Smith has redefined care for women navigating perimenopause and menopause, blending cutting-edge evidence-informed science with the wisdom of naturopathic medicine. Her pioneering work bridges the gap between conventional diagnostics and holistic healing, offering women a third path - one where bioidentical hormones (HRT), targeted nutrition, and evidence-backed botanicals work in harmony to restore vitality.
Based between Ontario’s forests and Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, Dr. Smith aims for the balance she teaches: mornings analyzing menopause research and doing patient consults, afternoons surfing with her son. This synergy of science and nature fuels her mission to reclaim midlife as a launchpad for women - not an expiration date. Dr. Smith's mission goes beyond treating patients; her legacy is cultivating a movement where women approach menopause with knowledge and agency, not fear. By mentoring practitioners and advocating for systemic change, she hopes future generations will inherit a healthcare model that honours hormonal transitions as important times in a woman's life that deserve, research, training and care. ️
Links for this episode Work with Dr. Kirsten Smith Dr. Kirsten Smith on Instagram
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from This Is Perimenopause: Menopause, Perimenopause and Women's Health in Midlife
Your doctor offered you the pill for your perimenopause symptoms but said no to MHT. Why? It's one of the questions we get most. Dr. Jen Zelovitzky is back to explain how these treatments differ and the factors that should be considered when exploring each of these options for symptom management in perimenopause. She also explains why the one-year-without-a-period rule shouldn't be the gatekeeper for your treatment. In this episode: Why so many women are offered the pill but not MHT in perimenopause When the pill is the right tool, and why it can stop working as well How an IUD or progestin-only pill can be paired with estrogen Why there's no age or time limit on MHT What the Women's Health Initiative missed about women with symptoms What LOOP events are, why you might get them, and what you can do about them Dr. Jen's bottom line: there is no woman out there who doesn't have an option. You deserve a good quality of life. And don’t miss a LIVE This Is Perimenopause podcast recording with Dr. Jen Zelovitzky at the National Menopause Show on Sunday, October 18 at 2:10 p.m. on the podcast stage. We’re talking about Breast Cancer and all the choices available to survivors who are suffering with through menopause. This is just one of the incredible expert speakers lined up. Tickets are only $35/day or $45 for both days. Buy your tickets today! Connect with Mikelle & Michelle at This is Perimenopause Subscribe to our Substack Become a TIP Insider Email us and let us know what you think of the podcast and what topic you want us to cover next. Follow This Is Perimenopause on Instagram Follow This Is Perimenopause on Facebook Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky is a certified Menopause Specialist and the Clinical Director of Women’s Health at Medcan Toronto. Follow her on socials @DrJenZelo where she helps women better understand their bodies and advocate for their needs in the Canadian Healthcare system. She is also the mom of 2 amazing daughters and 3 fur babies. Links for this episode Dr. Jen Zelovitzky on Instagram Medcan Women’s Health www.drjenzelo.ca Read Dr. Jen’s Blogs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Where did this belly suddenly come from? And is a GLP-1 the answer?
Rushed appointments. Leaving your doctor’s appointment with no real answers and more questions than before. Have you thought about seeing a nurse practitioner?
This episode will change how you think about that itch you've been ignoring down there.
We know Gina Livy as the weight loss expert. So when she told her community she was writing a book, we assumed we knew exactly what it would be about. We were wrong.