Hello Hormones with Dr. Carrie Jones

Progesterone can be one of those hormones you do not think much about until your period gets heavier, PMS suddenly feels louder, you are waking up at 3 a.m., and your anxiety seems to have developed a personality of its own. Then you start wondering, "Wait, could low progesterone actually explain some of this?" Especially in your late 30s and 40s, the answer may be yes.
Here's where things get interesting. You make most of your progesterone after you ovulate, which means progesterone can start dropping as ovulation becomes less consistent during perimenopause. And the clues can show up in places you may not immediately connect to hormones. Think shorter or longer cycles, heavier bleeding, spotting before your period, breast tenderness, trouble sleeping, feeling more anxious, and even histamine symptoms like itching, stuffiness, headaches, flushing, or a racing heart that seem to get worse at certain points in your cycle. Progesterone also has to be looked at in context with estrogen, because estrogen can be sitting at a perfectly expected level while progesterone is much lower than it used to be.
In this solo episode of Hello Hormones, I am breaking down five categories of symptoms that can point toward low progesterone and explaining what is actually happening behind the scenes. We are talking periods, sleep and anxiety, fertility history, the surprising progesterone-histamine connection, and what can happen when estrogen no longer has the same progesterone counterbalance. I am also clearing up the difference between the progesterone your body makes and the progestins found in birth control pills and hormonal IUDs, including why having an IUD does not necessarily mean every progesterone-related symptom is covered. If you have been wondering whether low progesterone could be part of what you are feeling, this episode will help you connect a lot more dots.
What's Discussed:
(00:00) How progesterone is made, why ovulation matters, and why you do not produce meaningful amounts until after you ovulate.
(02:08) Why progesterone is often one of the first hormones to decline in the late 30s and 40s during perimenopause.
(02:56) The period changes that can point toward low progesterone, including heavier bleeding, spotting, PMS, breast tenderness, and shorter or longer cycles.
(04:25) How progesterone supports calm and sleep through allopregnanolone and GABA, and why low levels may contribute to anxiety or waking at 3 a.m.
(05:23) Why fertility struggles, pregnancy loss, or needing progesterone support in the past may be relevant when evaluating progesterone later in life.
(07:10) The surprising connection between progesterone, mast cells, and histamine symptoms like itching, congestion, headaches, anxiety, and a racing heart.
(09:16) Why low progesterone relative to estrogen may contribute to heavier periods, breast changes, fibroids, endometriosis symptoms, and thickening of the uterine lining.
(12:03) The difference between natural progesterone and the synthetic progestins used in birth control pills and hormonal IUDs.
(12:37) Why a progestin IUD may help with heavy periods without necessarily providing the same calming, sleep, or histamine effects as progesterone.
(13:45) Why being on the birth control pill does not necessarily prevent perimenopause symptoms and what other hormone systems may still be involved.
 
✍️ FREE GUIDES:
Top 7 Perimenopause Myths You Need to Stop Believing ASAP: drcarriejones.com/myths
Hormones 101 Cheat Sheet: drcarriejones.com/hormones101  
The Perimenopause & Menopause Labs Test Checklist: drcarriejones.com/labs
The 101 on Stress, Cortisol And Your Nervous System Ebook: drcarriejones.com/stressfreebie  
Which Stage of Perimenopause Am I In? Ebook: drcarriejones.com/stages

Find more from Dr. Carrie Jones:
Website: drcarriejones.com

Newsletter: drcarriejones.kit.com/newsletter

Instagram: @dr.carriejones

Facebook: @drcarriejones

TikTok: @drcarriejones

YouTube: @drcarriejones

Pinterest: @drcarriejones
 
Disclaimer: Information provided on this channel is for informational purposes only. This information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product. Do not use the information provided on this channel for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or other supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. Information provided on this channel and the use of any products or services related to this podcast by you does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Dr. Carrie Jones. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent ANY disease.

Perimenopause can be especially confusing when your symptoms look nothing like the hot flashes and night sweats you were told to expect. Suddenly you are waking up at 4:30 a.m., forgetting words you have known forever, smelling things nobody else smells, or dealing with heart palpitations and wondering what on earth your body is doing.
In this episode of Hello Hormones, I am sharing seven things going through perimenopause has taught me firsthand. We talk about the weird symptoms nobody warns you about, why brain fog can feel more like losing everyday words, and why perimenopause can look completely different from one woman to the next.
Going through this transition myself has completely changed how I understand what women have been telling me for years. If perimenopause has left you wondering whether what you are experiencing is normal, I hope this episode helps you feel more informed about what may be happening in your body and more confident asking for the support you need.
 
What's Discussed:
(00:00) Why experiencing perimenopause firsthand changed how Carrie understands the women she has treated for years. 
(02:53) The weird perimenopause symptoms nobody warns you about, including itchy ears, phantom smells, burning tongue, and unexplained skin changes.
(05:24) Why heart palpitations can show up during perimenopause and when scary symptoms still need to be checked out.
(07:52) How perimenopause brain fog can feel more like losing everyday words, names, and your train of thought.
(10:45) Why some women struggle so deeply during perimenopause and why finding the right hormone-literate support matters.
(13:01) Why perimenopause can look completely different from one woman to the next, even without hot flashes or night sweats.
(15:18) How perimenopause can change your mood, boundaries, and tolerance for things you used to put up with.
(17:40) Why Carrie has doubled down on sleep, strength training, nutrition, relationships, and other health foundations during perimenopause.
(19:03) Why perimenopause does not have to be something younger women fear.
(19:15) How stronger boundaries, greater confidence, and better education can make perimenopause a midlife "glow up."
 
Thanks to our Sponsors:
OmneDiem: To give your body the histamine support it's been missing, head to omendiem.com explore their full range of products, and use code DRJONES for 25% off. 

 
✍️ FREE GUIDES:
Top 7 Perimenopause Myths You Need to Stop Believing ASAP: drcarriejones.com/myths
Hormones 101 Cheat Sheet: drcarriejones.com/hormones101  
The Perimenopause & Menopause Labs Test Checklist: drcarriejones.com/labs
The 101 on Stress, Cortisol And Your Nervous System Ebook: drcarriejones.com/stressfreebie  
Which Stage of Perimenopause Am I In? Ebook: drcarriejones.com/stages

Find more from Dr. Carrie Jones:
Website: drcarriejones.com

Newsletter: drcarriejones.kit.com/newsletter

Instagram:  @dr.carriejones

Facebook: @drcarriejones

TikTok: @drcarriejones

YouTube: @drcarriejones

Pinterest: @drcarriejones 
Disclaimer: Information provided on this channel is for informational purposes only. This information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product. Do not use the information provided on this channel for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or other supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. Information provided on this channel and the use of any products or services related to this podcast by you does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Dr. Carrie Jones. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent ANY disease.

Testosterone still gets treated like the hormone women only need to think about when their sex drive disappears. But when women start talking about lower energy, slower workout recovery, brain fog, mood changes, or feeling like their body is responding differently than it used to, testosterone may deserve a closer look.
And once testosterone therapy enters the conversation, another question comes up quickly: What is the best way to actually take it?
That is where my conversation with Angelina gets really interesting. She works extensively with testosterone therapy and sees firsthand how differently women can respond depending on the dose, the delivery method, their symptoms, and what their labs are actually showing. We get into testosterone beyond libido, why total testosterone does not tell you the whole story, how SHBG can affect free testosterone, and why subcutaneous injections may offer another option for women who do not love creams, gels, pellets, or traditional intramuscular injections. We also talk about hair loss and other androgenic side effects, what can happen when testosterone is dosed too aggressively, and why proper monitoring matters.
Angelina is a nurse practitioner who works with Medivant, a 503B outsourcing facility that compounds testosterone cypionate, and treats patients through Enhanced Metabolics. Her work focuses heavily on testosterone therapy, individualized dosing, lab monitoring, and helping patients and practitioners better understand different hormone delivery methods.
What's Discussed: 
(01:21) Why testosterone matters for women and why there is still so much controversy around prescribing it.
(04:50) How low testosterone can show up as low energy, poor workout recovery, brain fog, mood changes, lower motivation, and more than just low libido.
(08:30) Why testosterone testing in women is controversial and why symptoms and labs need to be looked at together.
(13:50) How SHBG and free testosterone can reveal more than total testosterone alone and why clinicians should avoid chasing one "perfect" number.
(16:07) Why some women struggle with testosterone creams or gels and when injectable testosterone may offer another option.
(21:17) How subcutaneous testosterone injections differ from intramuscular injections in needle size, absorption, peaks, and potential side effects.
(26:58) Why testosterone does not automatically cause hair loss and which androgenic side effects can appear when the dose is too high.
(30:08) What research exists on subcutaneous testosterone and why the conversation around women's quality of life needs more attention.
(35:21) How a subcutaneous testosterone injection is actually given and why the needle may be much smaller than women expect.
(42:15) The difference between 503A and 503B compounding pharmacies and why manufacturing and quality standards matter when choosing compounded testosterone.
Free Resources:
Join the Masterclass: One hour, completely free, just answers. Live or replay, it's waiting for you. Just go to drcarriejones.com/masterclass  
Head to drcarriejones.com/stages to grab What Stage of Perimenopause Am I In? Because the confusion is honestly worse than the symptoms sometimes.
✍️ FREE GUIDES:
Top 7 Perimenopause Myths You Need to Stop Believing ASAP: drcarriejones.com/myths
Hormones 101 Cheat Sheet: drcarriejones.com/hormones101  
The Perimenopause & Menopause Labs Test Checklist: drcarriejones.com/labs
The 101 on Stress, Cortisol And Your Nervous System Ebook: drcarriejones.com/stressfreebie  
Which Stage of Perimenopause Am I In? Ebook: drcarriejones.com/stages



Find more from Dr. Carrie Jones:
Website: drcarriejones.com
Newsletter: drcarriejones.kit.com/newsletter
Instagram: @dr.carriejones
Facebook: @drcarriejones
TikTok: @drcarriejones
YouTube: @drcarriejones
Pinterest: @drcarriejones
 
Find more from Angelina Norman & Medivant Healthcare:
Website: medivanthealth.com
LinkedIn: Angelina Norhttp://medivanthealth.comman, MSN, CRNP, FNP-C



Disclaimer: Information provided on this channel is for informational purposes only. This information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product. Do not use the information provided on this channel for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or other supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. Information provided on this channel and the use of any products or services related to this podcast by you does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Dr. Carrie Jones. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent ANY disease.

Perimenopause has a way of making you wonder where you are in the process and how much longer this hormonal roller coaster plans to keep going. Your period disappears for two months, comes back like nothing happened, your joints suddenly hurt, your brain feels foggy, and now you are waking up sweaty at 3 a.m. wondering if you have officially entered a new stage.
Here's where things get interesting. Late-stage perimenopause actually has a research definition, and one of the biggest clues is going 60 days or more without a period. But your cycle is only part of the picture. As estrogen and progesterone start spending more time on the lower end, symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, joint pain, dryness, recurrent UTIs, brain fog, and changes in body composition can become more noticeable. And while we love a good lab test, there is no single blood test that can neatly tell you, "Congratulations, you are now in late-stage perimenopause."
In this solo episode of Hello Hormones, I am breaking down the seven signs I commonly see as women move further into the perimenopause transition, plus what FSH, estradiol, and progesterone can actually tell us along the way. We are talking skipped periods, the estrogen connection to frozen shoulder and joint pain, why dryness can suddenly show up everywhere, what may be behind new UTIs or vaginal changes, how late-stage brain fog can feel different, and why your body composition may shift even when your habits have not dramatically changed. If you have been wondering, "Is this still perimenopause, and what on earth is my body doing?" This episode will give you a much clearer map.
Head to drcarriejones.com/stages to grab What Stage of Perimenopause Am I In? Because the confusion is honestly worse than the symptoms sometimes.
What's Discussed:
(00:00) How to tell when you may be moving from early to late-stage perimenopause.
(01:54) Why there is no single lab test that can definitively tell you whether you are in perimenopause.
(03:48) The seven symptoms that tend to become more noticeable as women move into late-stage perimenopause.
(05:18) Why hot flashes and night sweats can ramp up as periods become less frequent and estrogen stays lower for longer.
(06:43) How declining estrogen can contribute to joint pain, frozen shoulder, hip pain, and the musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause.
(08:12) Why perimenopause can cause dryness throughout the body, including the eyes, skin, nose, hair, joints, and vaginal tissue.
(09:51) How changing estrogen levels can contribute to recurrent UTIs, vaginal discomfort, and shifts in the vulvovaginal microbiome.
(11:49) Why brain fog can become more noticeable later in perimenopause and feel like your brain is moving through "honey."
(14:44) How later-stage hormone changes can affect weight, fat distribution, cravings, and body composition even when your habits have not dramatically changed.
(18:09) The 60-day cycle change that research uses to classify late-stage perimenopause and what that transition can actually look like.
 
✍️ FREE GUIDES:
Top 7 Perimenopause Myths You Need to Stop Believing ASAP: drcarriejones.com/myths

Hormones 101 Cheat Sheet: drcarriejones.com/hormones101  

The Perimenopause & Menopause Labs Test Checklist: drcarriejones.com/labs

The 101 on Stress, Cortisol And Your Nervous System Ebook: drcarriejones.com/stressfreebie  

Which Stage of Perimenopause Am I In? Ebook: drcarriejones.com/stages


Find more from Dr. Carrie Jones:
Website: drcarriejones.com

Newsletter: drcarriejones.kit.com/newsletter

Instagram: @dr.carriejones

Facebook: @drcarriejones

TikTok: @drcarriejones

YouTube: @drcarriejones

Pinterest: @drcarriejones
 
Disclaimer: Information provided on this channel is for informational purposes only. This information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product. Do not use the information provided on this channel for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or other supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. Information provided on this channel and the use of any products or services related to this podcast by you does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Dr. Carrie Jones. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent ANY disease.

One thing I hear all the time from women is, "I tried the patch," or "I tried the cream," followed by some version of: It didn't work for me. Maybe they did not feel better. Maybe they had side effects. Maybe their symptoms improved at first and then came right back.
But does one delivery method not working mean hormone therapy itself is off the table?
That is what made this conversation with Lexi Yoo so important. She has spent years treating women with hormone therapy using pellets, injections, creams, gels, and oral options, and she sees firsthand how differently women can respond depending on the hormone, the dose, the delivery method, and what their labs are actually showing. We also get into testosterone beyond libido, why "normal" total testosterone can hide low free testosterone, and why hair loss during perimenopause may have you looking at iron, thyroid, stress, rapid weight loss, or GLP-1 use before automatically blaming your hormones.
Lexi Yoo is a nurse practitioner who treats women and men through two clinical practices and has been prescribing hormone therapy, including pellets, for nearly a decade. She also trains practitioners through her virtual education academy and focuses heavily on individualized dosing, lab monitoring, and helping patients find the hormone delivery method that works best for them.
What's Discussed: 
(01:52) Why testosterone in women affects much more than libido, including brain fog and memory.
(03:23) How creams, injections, and pellets can differ in absorption, consistency, and symptom improvement.
(08:23) Why testosterone injections for women require precise dosing and how smaller subcutaneous doses may create a smoother response.
(14:18) How estradiol injections work and why they may be an option for women who struggle with patches.
(16:49) Why oral progesterone may support GABA and help promote a calmer brain during perimenopause.
(19:55) Why hormone pellets are controversial and why practitioners experience, dosing, and monitoring matter.
(35:05) Why hair loss in perimenopause may be connected to heavy bleeding, low iron, thyroid changes, stress, rapid weight loss, or GLP-1 use.
(42:58) How SHBG can make total testosterone look normal while leaving very little free testosterone available to the body.
(46:28) How DHT can contribute to testosterone-related side effects such as acne, oily skin, and hair loss.
(51:51) Why a bad experience with a hormone patch or gel does not automatically mean pellets or injections will not work for you.
Free Resources:
Masterclass Replay: Join the Masterclass Replay: Head to drcarriejones.com/masterclass to access the free Estrogen and Progesterone Masterclass replay.  
Head to drcarriejones.com/stages to grab What Stage of Perimenopause Am I In? Because the confusion is honestly worse than the symptoms sometimes.
✍️ FREE GUIDES:
Top 7 Perimenopause Myths You Need to Stop Believing ASAP: drcarriejones.com/myths

Hormones 101 Cheat Sheet: drcarriejones.com/hormones101  

The Perimenopause & Menopause Labs Test Checklist: drcarriejones.com/labs

The 101 on Stress, Cortisol And Your Nervous System Ebook: drcarriejones.com/stressfreebie  

Which Stage of Perimenopause Am I In? Ebook: drcarriejones.com/stages


 
Find more from Dr. Carrie Jones: 
Website: drcarriejones.com

Newsletter: drcarriejones.kit.com/newsletter

Instagram: @dr.carriejones

Facebook: @drcarriejones

TikTok: @drcarriejones

YouTube: @drcarriejones

Pinterest: @drcarriejones
 
Find more from Lexi Yoo:
Website: lexiyoonp.com
Instagram: @lexiyoonp
YouTube: @LexiYooNP_WomensHealthExpert
 
Disclaimer: Information provided on this channel is for informational purposes only. This information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product. Do not use the information provided on this channel for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or other supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. Information provided on this channel and the use of any products or services related to this podcast by you does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Dr. Carrie Jones. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent ANY disease.