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By Dr. Marguerite Weston |

Episode 8: Sex, Drugs & Menopause (Live) 

Peeling Back the Curtain (& The Bedsheets) On Hormone Health

Asking For A Friend Episode 8 Thumbnail

For this episode, the Asking For A Friend hit the stage for our first-ever live taping to get into the nitty-gritty details about menopause, intimacy, hormone therapy and the real-life experiences that come with aging in a woman’s body.

Episode 8: Sex, Drugs & Menopause features host Carrie Esposito alongside three guests who are living it, studying it and making sense of it: Dr. Marguerite Weston, double board-certified functional medicine physician; Kim Pheiffer, empowered patient and CEO; and Chris Ebert, dentist and hormone health advocate.

They bring clarity, compassion and humor to a conversation we all need, but rarely ever get to have!

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Menopause Medicine Has Evolved — & It’s About Time

Gone are the days of “grinning and bearing it.” Today’s menopause care is about understanding the why behind your symptoms and implementing real strategies to help you feel more like yourself again.

The Asking for a Friend cast discussing menopause treatments that have worked for them

Our experts explore modern approaches that combine lab work, lifestyle and personalized hormone therapy, including:

Specialized Menopause Care

What’s The Difference Between Menopause & Perimenopause?

Menopause is a single point in time. It is 12 months after your last period. Perimenopause, on the other hand, is the transitional phase that can begin years earlier. During this stage, hormone levels fluctuate dramatically, and symptoms like fatigue, mood swings and irregular cycles often start to appear.

Menopause vs. Perimenopause

A woman using her phone to Google search the most common menopause symptoms

What Is A DUTCH Test & Why Does It Matter?

The DUTCH test is an advanced hormone test that evaluates your levels of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol and more. Unlike basic blood panels, it shows how your body metabolizes hormones, not just how much is circulating.

It’s one of the most comprehensive tools available for identifying imbalances and the root causes of symptoms.

DUTCH Test Details

“A DUTCH test is a dried urine test to get a comprehensive look at hormones. I like to say a blood test is a bank statement – it shows what you have in the bank, in that moment. A DUTCH test is like looking at your receipts; how did ‘spend’ your hormones?” 

-Dr. Marguerite Weston

Beyond Band-Aids: Root-Cause Treatment for Menopause

Functional medicine takes a root-cause approach to addressing the symptoms related to menopause instead of just sticking you back on birth control to mask your discomfort. That means experts need to first discover what’s actually driving hormonal changes.

Treatments often include tailored hormone replacement therapy (HRT), addressing gut health, optimizing thyroid function and/or rebalancing cortisol. The result is a more effective, sustainable plan that works with your body, not against it.

More About Functional Medicine

“We ask patients, ‘If you had a magic wand & it could fix the top three things, what would those be?’ Heavy periods. Chin hairs. Fatigue. No matter what those concerns are, we check your hormones at a specific time in the cycle to see what your estrogen levels are compared to progesterone. Then we work on lifestyle & supplements first. Then we move to HRT if necessary.” 

-Dr. Marguerite Weston

Is “Manopause” Real?

Yes, it sure is. Hormonal changes affect men, too, though typically at a slower and more subtle pace than women experience. Men can also experience fatigue, decreased libido and mood shifts as testosterone declines.

Chris Ebert offers a unique perspective on what it’s like to go through hormone therapy with your partner — and why men need education and support, too.

Demystifying Male Menopause

A male patient who is actively undergoing TRT for hormone changes

The Sad Truth About Alcohol & Menopause

Alcohol can hit differently during perimenopause and menopause. It may disrupt sleep, worsen hot flashes and interfere with hormone metabolism. All of these of these can amplify your symptoms.

While that doesn’t mean giving it up entirely, it does mean being more intentional about when, what and how much you’re drinking.

“Your liver is like a washing machine. We’re used to running a few loads of laundry a week; that’s normal. But alcohol? Consider that the muddy clothes. You’re getting naked in the laundry room & putting all those muddy clothes in the machine first. Your liver preferentially takes care of alcohol; all the other toxins in your body are second.”

-Dr. Marguerite Weston

Let’s Talk Libido — & What You Can Do About It

Yeah, some medical professionals will describe decreased libido during menopause as “normal.” Sure, it is manageable, but we don’t want to normalize that loss if we don’t have to. There are also ways to improve sexual wellness and keep that aspect of your life alive.

From improving vaginal tissue health to balancing hormones and reducing inflammation, there are proven methods to support your sex life during this new chapter.

And no, it doesn’t have to be awkward to talk about!

Dr. Marguerite Weston explaining how hormones change at certain ages during a live taping of the Asking For A Friend podcast

Sex, Drugs & Menopause | Asking For A Friend

About The “Asking For A Friend” Podcast

From hot flashes and hormone therapy to self-confidence and sex, “Asking for a Friend“ brings candid conversations to the forefront of women’s wellness. Hosted by Carrie Esposito and powered by the experts at Donaldson, each episode delivers empowering insights with zero shame and plenty of science.

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