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What if the fatigue, brain fog, poor sleep, weight gain, or mood changes you've been experiencing aren't simply signs of getting older?

What if your hormones are trying to tell you something?

In this week's episode of the Super Healthy Human Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Tabatha Barber, a triple board-certified OB-GYN, menopause specialist, functional medicine practitioner, and the Gutsy Gynecologist, to explore what's really happening to women's hormones during perimenopause and menopause.

We discuss why hormonal changes can affect everything from your energy and mood to your thyroid, digestion, sleep, and sex drive. We also explore estrogen dominance, the differences between synthetic and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, and why understanding the bigger picture may be just as important as treating individual symptoms.

If you're approaching menopause, already going through it, or struggling with symptoms that nobody seems able to explain, this is a conversation worth hearing.

Your Hormones Are Talking. Are You Listening?

When most women think about hormones, they think about estrogen, progesterone, and perhaps testosterone.

But Dr. Barber encourages us to look at hormones differently.

She describes hormones as chemical messengers that allow different organs and systems throughout the body to communicate with one another.

Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are important, but they're only part of the picture. Insulin, thyroid hormones, cortisol, and other hormones are also constantly sending messages that help regulate how we feel and function.

Dr. Barber explains how estrogen contributes to reproductive health, bone health, and other important functions. Progesterone helps prepare the body for pregnancy and can influence sleep and mood. Testosterone also plays a role in women's sexual desire and well-being.

As these hormones fluctuate, women may begin noticing changes they don't immediately associate with their reproductive health.

Perhaps you're suddenly feeling anxious when you never struggled with anxiety before. Maybe your sleep has become unpredictable, your energy has disappeared, or you've lost interest in activities you once enjoyed.

These symptoms can have several causes, but hormonal changes may be one piece of the puzzle.

Dr. Barber's message is that understanding what your hormones do is an important first step toward understanding what your body may be experiencing.

Perimenopause May Be More Complicated Than You Think

One of the most interesting parts of our conversation focuses on when perimenopause actually begins.

Traditionally, perimenopause was described as the transition leading up to menopause, when menstrual cycles become less predictable and reproductive hormone levels begin changing.

But Dr. Barber says she's increasingly seeing younger women experiencing symptoms that resemble perimenopause.

She questions whether some of these symptoms are always the result of natural ovarian aging.

Instead, she encourages women and their healthcare providers to consider other possible contributors, including chronic stress, thyroid disorders, environmental exposures, poor nutrition, and underlying health conditions.

This distinction matters.

Perimenopause is a natural biological transition, and symptoms can begin years before the final menstrual period. However, similar symptoms can also occur for reasons unrelated to menopause.

For example, unexplained fatigue, irregular periods, brain fog, and changes in mood may warrant a closer look at thyroid function, medications, sleep, or other health factors.

Dr. Barber believes that identifying these possible contributors can help women better understand their options rather than assuming every symptom is simply something they must endure.

We also discuss menopause itself, which is generally diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period when no other cause explains the absence of periods.

Why Hormone Testing Isn't Always Straightforward

Toward the end of our conversation, I ask Dr. Barber about something I frequently encourage my patients to do: understand their laboratory results.

Dr. Barber explains that hormone levels can vary considerably depending on menstrual-cycle timing, medication use, and the time a sample is collected.

She discusses how she uses blood and urine testing in her functional medicine practice and why she considers symptoms alongside laboratory findings.

We also talk about estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, and follicle-stimulating hormone, or FSH.

One important consideration is that routine hormone testing is not necessary to diagnose typical menopause in many women over 45. Likewise, there is no single blood hormone target that is appropriate for every woman receiving hormone therapy.

Testing can be useful in selected situations, but the results must be interpreted in context.

Dr. Barber's broader message is that women should feel comfortable asking questions about their treatment and understanding why particular tests or medications are being recommended.

Ready to go deeper?

Watch the full episode to hear Dr. Tabatha Barber explain perimenopause, menopause, hormone replacement therapy, thyroid health, and the role of stress and digestion in women's health.

In my newly updated 6th edition of Treating and Beating Fibromyalgia I share the most common underlying causes of fibromyalgia symptoms and how to overcome them.

Poor sleep, nutritional and hormonal deficiencies, adrenal fatigue, low thyroid, deficient neurotransmitters, cell danger response, mold toxicity, food allergies, leaky gut, mast cell activation, viruses, parasites, heavy metals, Lyme, yeast overgrowth, and other underlying causes and remedies are explored in this new edition.

Everyone’s fibromyalgia is unique with different causes, triggers and sub conditions. Finding and FIXING your unique causes/triggers is key for your return to health.

BIG THANK YOU

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The channel has over 34k subscribers and over 2700 watch hours. I need to reach 4,000 watch hours before February 2027 to be eligible for sponsors. Sponsors help pay for the team needed to edit produce and publish these free videos. So, thank you for watching and sharing. Thank you for helping me help others.

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Let's Connect

After you listen, leave a comment and let me know — how many medications are you currently taking? Have you ever traced a symptom back to a drug side effect? I read every response to make sure future episodes address what matters most to you.

If you want help

• Consultations & Programs: fibroconsults.com

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Note: This newsletter is for education. Trauma and chronic stress may influence physical health, but they are not established as the sole cause of fibromyalgia, autoimmune disease, or chronic fatigue. The approaches discussed are not a substitute for medical evaluation, evidence-based treatment, or individualized mental-health care. Do not change or stop any medication or treatment without speaking with your healthcare professional.

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