Progesterone plays a critical role in balancing estrogen’s effects on the uterine lining. In a normal menstrual cycle: Estrogen builds up the uterine lining (called the proliferative endometrium). Progesterone comes in after ovulation and stabilizes and matures that lining, converting it into a secretory endometrium—a plush, nutrient-rich environment ready for a fertilized egg to implant.

Methylation is basically your body adding a small chemical group (one carbon + three hydrogens = a “methyl group”) to another molecule. Sounds tiny. But that little shift can completely change how your body functions.

You’ve probably heard people talk about estrogen like it’s either the hero or the villain when it comes to women’s health, especially breast cancer. The truth is, this area of women’s health is full of complexity, outdated research, and evolving science. But it’s also important. Because the way your body breaks down estrogen—your estrogen metabolism—can influence everything from mood and energy to long-term risks like breast cancer.

I'm often asked whether nonhormonal remedies are an effective alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women transitioning from perimenopause to menopause (and beyond).

The vagina, vulva, urethra, bladder, and pelvic floor muscles are loaded with estrogen receptors. When estrogen declines, these organs and tissues are no longer exposed to estrogen. Women wind up with vaginal atrophy, loss of elasticity, thin tissue, changes in vaginal pH, and changes in the vaginal microbiome.