The Hormone Solution with Karen Martel

Welcome to the very first Hormone Hotline episode of The Hormone Solution! I'm getting straight into your real-life questions about estrogen—because why, in 2026, are we still being told we're "estrogen dominant" with rock-bottom levels? If your doctor has warned you against HRT, this episode is for you.
Have you been told you can't start estrogen until you hit full menopause? Or that perimenopause is just too much of a "hormone rollercoaster" to treat? I break down what's actually happening in your brain and ovaries during late perimenopause, and why adding estrogen might calm the chaos instead of fueling it.
And what about those scary detox pathways and DUTCH test results? Does favoring a certain estrogen metabolite mean you're disqualified from HRT? I unpack the myths around estrogen metabolism, aging, bone loss, mood, and even biological age. Could estrogen be one of the most powerful anti-aging tools we have?
In this episode, we uncover:
Why "estrogen dominance" in menopause often makes no physiological sense.
How estrogen therapy can stabilize perimenopausal hormone rollercoasters.
What DUTCH test results really mean for HRT candidacy.
Why waiting until menopause may accelerate aging and bone loss.
How estrogen impacts mood, metabolism, and long-term mortality risk.
If you've been confused, dismissed, or flat-out denied estrogen, you need to hear this episode!
 
 
Have a question for our next Hormone Hotline episode? Fill out our form here.
Or leave us a voice note on our Speak Pipe Channel here.
 
 
Sponsors
Timeline is offering 20% off your first order of Mitopure. Go to timeline.com/HORMONE20 use coupon HORMONE20 and get 20% off your order.
Get 20% off your Cozy Earth Bed Sheet with coupon code HORMONES
Get 10% off Metabolism Fixxr with coupon code KAREN here.
 
 
Are you in perimenopause or postmenopause and struggling with symptoms—but not getting the support you deserve?
At Midlife Solutions, we specialize in hormone optimization for women in midlife. Our all-female clinical team offers telehealth care across all 50 U.S. states, with the ability to prescribe bioidentical estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid medication.
 
Book your FREE Hormone Discovery Call
Find out what's really driving your symptoms and what your next best steps are.
 
Visit the website: https://karenmartel.com
 
Shop the Midlife Solutions Store
Over-the-counter bioidentical hormone creams and oils — no prescription needed.
Including:
• Progesterone
• Estrogen Face Cream
• Vaginal Moisturizer
and more!
 
Take the Hormone Quiz
Discover hidden hormone imbalances that could be driving your symptoms.
Get personalized results (and yes, they may surprise you).
 
Women's Peptide Weight Loss Program
Clinically guided, hormone-aware weight loss for midlife women.
 
Midlife RESET HRT Program
A complete, supportive approach to hormone replacement therapy in midlife.
 
Your host:
Karen Martel
Certified Hormone Specialist, Transformational Nutrition Coach, & Weight Loss Expert
 
Karen's Facebook
Karen's Instagram

What if your mood swings, anxiety, sleep issues, or loss of motivation aren't just "getting older?" What role does oxytocin really play in midlife, and why has it been overlooked for so long? In this episode, I'm joined by the brilliant hormone scholar Dr. Lindsey Berkson, and we dive into a part of menopause that almost no one is talking about—what's happening in your brain.
We explore how hormones act as the body's Wi‑Fi system, and what happens when that signal gets disrupted. Could environmental toxins be hijacking not just estrogen and progesterone, but oxytocin too? And if so, how might that impact connection, libido, blood sugar, digestion, or even depression? This conversation gets bold, nuanced, and deeply eye-opening.
Dr. Berkson also challenges mainstream narratives around hormone therapy. Were we misled about estrogen and breast cancer? Why do some women struggle with HRT while others thrive? And could detoxification and nutrient status be the missing link? If you've ever wondered why your body isn't responding the way you expected, you won't want to miss this one!
In this episode, we uncover:
How oxytocin impacts mood, sleep, libido, and connection in midlife.
Why environmental toxins may disrupt your hormonal "Wi‑Fi."
What makes some women struggle with hormone replacement therapy.
How oxytocin supports blood sugar, digestion, and pain relief.
Why estrogen and progesterone are more protective than you've been told.
Listen now, and let's start asking better questions about what's really happening in menopause!
 
 
Sponsors
Join our NEW weight loss peptide program TODAY
Join our NEW Midlife RESET HRT Program TODAY
Get 15% off Masszymes at bioptimizers.com/hormone 
Get 50% off the Energy Reboot Program hackmyage.com use coupon code HORMONES50.
 
 
Are you in perimenopause or postmenopause and struggling with symptoms—but not getting the support you deserve?
At Midlife Solutions, we specialize in hormone optimization for women in midlife. Our all-female clinical team offers telehealth care across all 50 U.S. states, with the ability to prescribe bioidentical estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid medication.
 
Book your FREE Hormone Discovery Call
Find out what's really driving your symptoms and what your next best steps are.
 
Visit the website: https://karenmartel.com
 
Shop the Midlife Solutions Store
Over-the-counter bioidentical hormone creams and oils — no prescription needed.
Including:
• Progesterone
• Estrogen Face Cream
• Vaginal Moisturizer
and more!
 
Take the Hormone Quiz
Discover hidden hormone imbalances that could be driving your symptoms.
Get personalized results (and yes, they may surprise you).
 
Women's Peptide Weight Loss Program
Clinically guided, hormone-aware weight loss for midlife women.
 
Midlife RESET HRT Program
A complete, supportive approach to hormone replacement therapy in midlife.
 
Your host:
Karen Martel
Certified Hormone Specialist, Transformational Nutrition Coach, & Weight Loss Expert
 
Karen's Facebook
Karen's Instagram

Do you know whether you're Vata, Pitta, or Kapha...and could that explain your stubborn symptoms in midlife? In this episode, I'm joined by my brilliant friend Dr. Shivani Gupta, and we dive into Ayurveda, inflammation, and why your body might be asking for a completely different approach right now.
Have you ever wondered why turmeric seems to work like magic for pain, migraines, or inflammation? Or why the same routines that used to work suddenly don't anymore in perimenopause? We unpack how ancient Ayurvedic wisdom meets modern science—and why that combination matters so much for women over 40.
We also go beyond supplements and symptoms into the deeper shifts of midlife. Is menopause actually an invitation to slow down, reconnect, and redesign your life? What if your fatigue, brain fog, or weight gain isn't failure, but feedback? This conversation might completely change how you see this season!
In this episode, we uncover:
How your elemental design influences inflammation, energy, and hormone balance.
Why curcumin works so powerfully—and what most supplements get wrong.
What Ayurveda says about perimenopause as a physical and spiritual transition.
How simple daily rituals can replace willpower and finally stick.
Why mental and emotional inflammation matter as much as hormones.
If you're ready to rethink menopause and feel more at home in your body, this episode is for you. Come explore a whole new lens on midlife health with us!
 
 
Visit Dr. Gupta's website here.
 
 
Sponsors
Get 10% off Metabolism Fixxr with coupon code KAREN here.
Timeline is offering 20% off your order! Go to timeline.com code HORMONE20.
Try the power of copper peptides on your skin today and get 20% off your order with coupon code km20 here.
 
 
Are you in perimenopause or postmenopause and struggling with symptoms—but not getting the support you deserve?
At Midlife Solutions, we specialize in hormone optimization for women in midlife. Our all-female clinical team offers telehealth care across all 50 U.S. states, with the ability to prescribe bioidentical estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid medication.
 
Book your FREE Hormone Discovery Call
Find out what's really driving your symptoms and what your next best steps are.
 
Visit the website: https://karenmartel.com
 
Shop the Midlife Solutions Store
Over-the-counter bioidentical hormone creams and oils — no prescription needed.
Including:
• Progesterone
• Estrogen Face Cream
• Vaginal Moisturizer
and more!
 
Take the Hormone Quiz
Discover hidden hormone imbalances that could be driving your symptoms.
Get personalized results (and yes, they may surprise you).
 
Women's Peptide Weight Loss Program
Clinically guided, hormone-aware weight loss for midlife women.
 
Midlife RESET HRT Program
A complete, supportive approach to hormone replacement therapy in midlife.
 
Your host:
Karen Martel
Certified Hormone Specialist, Transformational Nutrition Coach, & Weight Loss Expert
 
Karen's Facebook
Karen's Instagram

This episode comes straight from my own lived experience of spiraling before doctor's appointments and feeling dismissed when it comes to hormones. I dig into why so many hormone providers get it wrong and what's actually happening behind those rushed, frustrating conversations. Why does advocating for ourselves feel so hard?
I walk you through what most doctors are (and aren't) trained to do when it comes to perimenopause and menopause. How much of this is about lack of education versus lack of time? And how do you stop blaming yourself when you're told your labs are "normal," but you feel terrible?
We also talk about what good hormone care should actually look like, no matter where you get it. What questions should you be asking? What red flags should make you pause—or run? And how can you walk into your next appointment calm, confident, and clear instead of anxious and second-guessing everything?
In this episode, we uncover:
Why so many women feel dismissed or gaslit during hormone-related doctor visits.
How to approach hormone conversations without feeling awkward, emotional, or intimidated.
What good hormone care actually includes beyond "your labs look normal."
How to spot red flags and green flags in hormone providers and clinics.
Why understanding hormones changes your confidence and long-term health outcomes.
Tune in and let's change the way you show up for your body!
 
 
Sponsors
Get 20% off your Cozy Earth Bed Sheets and entire store with coupon code HORMONES
Coupon KM20 to get 20% off your order of Vitali Skin Care!
Get 15% off our Velvet V Vaginal Moisturizer with coupon code "Vagina" at checkout.
 
 
Are you in perimenopause or postmenopause and struggling with symptoms—but not getting the support you deserve?
At Midlife Solutions, we specialize in hormone optimization for women in midlife. Our all-female clinical team offers telehealth care across all 50 U.S. states, with the ability to prescribe bioidentical estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid medication.
 
Book your FREE Hormone Discovery Call
Find out what's really driving your symptoms and what your next best steps are.
 
Visit the website: https://karenmartel.com
 
Shop the Midlife Solutions Store
Over-the-counter bioidentical hormone creams and oils — no prescription needed.
Including:
• Progesterone
• Estrogen Face Cream
• Vaginal Moisturizer
and more!
 
Take the Hormone Quiz
Discover hidden hormone imbalances that could be driving your symptoms.
Get personalized results (and yes, they may surprise you).
 
Women's Peptide Weight Loss Program
Clinically guided, hormone-aware weight loss for midlife women.
 
Midlife RESET HRT Program
A complete, supportive approach to hormone replacement therapy in midlife.
 
Your host:
Karen Martel
Certified Hormone Specialist, Transformational Nutrition Coach, & Weight Loss Expert
 
Karen's Facebook
Karen's Instagram

Have you've tried everything from protocols, to supplements, to experts and the healing still hasn't happened? Why do so many of us stay stuck despite doing "all the right things"? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Navaz Habib, aka "The Vagus Nerve Doc," to explore what might be missing.
What if the real issue isn't another diagnosis, hormone imbalance, or gut protocol? What if it's your nervous system itself? I share my own journey of chasing answers and why discovering the vagus nerve made me question everything I thought I knew about healing.
Why does stress seem to override even the best treatments? How can inflammation, trauma, and feeling unsafe keep the body locked in survival mode? This conversation opens the door to a completely different way of understanding why your body won't let you heal (yet).
In this episode, we uncover:
Why doing more treatments can backfire when your nervous system feels unsafe.
How chronic stress keeps your body stuck in survival instead of repair.
What the vagus nerve has to do with inflammation, hormones, and healing.
How past trauma or injuries may silently block recovery.
What needs to shift before your body will finally respond to treatment.
If you've ever wondered why you're doing everything right but still feel unwell, this is the episode for you!
 
 
Sponsors
Head to CozyEarth.com and use my code HORMONES for 20% off sitewide.
Head to getkion.com/hormone and use my link for 20% off your order.
Get 15% off at bioptimizers.com/hormone 
 
 
Are you in peri or post menopause and looking to optimize your hormones and health? At Hormone Solutions, we offer telemedicine services and can prescribe in every U.S. state, as well as in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario in Canada.
 
Visit karenmartel.com to explore our comprehensive programs:
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Individualized Weight Loss Programs 

Peptide Therapy for weight loss 

 
Interested in our NEW Peptide Weight Loss Program? Join today and get all the details here.
 
Join our Women's Peri and Post Menopause Group Coaching Program, OnTrack, TODAY!
 
To our nursing audience members, our podcasts qualify for nursing CE @ RNegade.pro. Provide # CEP17654.
 
Your host:
Karen Martel
Certified Hormone Specialist, Transformational Nutrition Coach, & Weight Loss Expert
 
Karen's Facebook
Karen's Instagram