HRT – AKA My Body on Wi-Fi Instead of Dial-Up

Let’s talk about HRT - Hormone Replacement Therapy.

First of all, our moms didn’t talk to us about it.   They didn’t have this tool at all. They just powered through menopause on grit, Gallo wine, and Vicks VapoRub.

I remember Suzanne Somers being the first person I ever heard talk about hormone therapy - and let’s be honest, we all kind of thought she’d gone full woo-woo. Bioidentical creams? Compounded gels? What was Chrissy Snow even talking about?

Turns out… she was ahead of her time.

Back then, HRT sounded fringe. Now? It’s science-backed, life-changing, and for many women, the missing link between barely surviving and actually living again.

My Hormone Horror Show (and Late Redemption Arc)

I suffered A LOT during perimenopause, but my doctors didn’t consider me a candidate for HRT UNTIL I was post-menopausal.  I had a hysterectomy in 2020 at age 52, but I wasn’t technically in menopause yet.  So, I had to wait until months later and my blood work confirmed.   

As if I hadn’t already sacrificed enough to the hormone gods.

Thankfully I found the right provider and got the right mix: Estrogen + progesterone + testosterone. It's like Charlie’s Angels, but for your endocrine system.

And let me tell you: it was like someone flipped the switch back on.

✅ Hot flashes? Went from “I’m melting like the witch in Oz” ten times a day to maybe one or two a week.

✅ Libido? Let’s just say… she came back from sabbatical. Not full-time, but at least she’s returning my emails.

✅ Mood? No longer snapping at the dog or weeping over sock piles.

✅ Sanity? Mostly restored.

Why Did HRT Get Such a Bad Rap?

Two words: bad science.

Back in 2002, the Women’s Health Initiative released a study that made it seem like HRT caused breast cancer, heart disease, and possibly the apocalypse. What they didn’t highlight was that the data was outdated, flawed, and based on women who were already older and well past menopause who are not ideal candidates to begin with.

But the media panic set in. Doctors got spooked.And women like us were left to white-knuckle menopause with essential oils, hand fans, and over-the-counter placebos.

Thankfully, science has caught up.Today, we know that when prescribed appropriately (especially during perimenopause or soon after menopause begins), HRT is not only safe - but it can also be hugely beneficial.

My Secret Weapon: A Menopause Specialist

And here’s the real game-changer: I didn’t get here by accident.I sought out a menopause specialist.

Not a well-meaning generalist with 12 minutes and a prescription pad.Not someone who told me “This is just part of getting older.”A real, evidence-based, hormone-literate provider who understood the science, listened to my symptoms, and didn’t treat me like I was being dramatic. Especially given my cancer scares (hence the hysterectomy) and medical history.

These specialists are rare.  Most medical schools offer about one hour of menopause education. One. Hour. That’s barely enough time to cover hot flashes, let alone hormone therapy, mental health, sex drive, and why your joints now sound like popcorn.

But menopause specialists do exist. And they are worth their weight in gold.

How to Find a Menopause Specialist

If you’re wondering where to start, here are a few tips:

Check the North American Menopause Society (NAMS): Go to menopause.org and search their certified provider database. These are the people who’ve done the work to understand midlife women's health. Trust them.

Search smarter: Try “menopause specialist,” “functional medicine + women’s health,” or even “hormone therapy provider near me.”

Ask better questions: When you talk to a provider, don’t be shy:

• Do you treat menopause regularly?

• Are you familiar with HRT and how it should be tailored?

• Do you prescribe compounded hormones if needed?

If they blink and suggest you “wait it out,” run. Menopause isn’t a punishment. You don’t need to prove you can survive it without help.

The Future of Hormones (and Our Daughters)

Here’s the kicker: our daughters may never go through what we did.Emerging research shows that in the future, women may start hormone therapy as soon as perimenopause begins - preventing symptoms rather than just reacting to them.

Can you imagine? No sleepless years. No lost libido. No daily game of “sweating and spiraling?”

Am I a little bitter? Maybe.

But mostly I’m thrilled that the next generation might skip the years of confusion, suffering, and shrug-off answers we endured. They’ll be empowered. Equipped. Estrogened. And they’ll owe us big.

Should You Try HRT?

I’m not here to tell you what to do.  I’m only telling you what worked for me, and what might change your life, too.

If you’re exhausted, sweaty, flatlined emotionally or sexually, or just feel like a shell of your former self - you’re not broken. You might just be under-hormone-ized.

Ask questions. Do your research. Find someone who listens.And don’t settle for a life that feels like you’re running on dial-up when Wi-Fi is available.

Let’s Talk About It

Are you on HRT? Thinking about it? Totally overwhelmed and wondering if this is all just part of the ride?

I want to hear your story. Drop a comment, send a message, share with a friend. Let’s make menopause something we talk about openly, honestly, and with a little humor.

Because the only thing worse than hot flashes is feeling like you’re alone burning in them.

You don’t have to suffer. And you’re definitely not alone.