63: Louann Brizendine : The Brain-Hormone Conversation Every Woman Needs Before Menopause

Brain fog, low libido, poor sleep, and suddenly having zero patience for the things you used to tolerate are usually treated like separate problems.

Or worse, women are told it is just stress, aging, or "normal."

But what if a lot of those symptoms are not random? What if they are starting in your brain?

In this episode of Hello Hormones, I sit down with Dr. Louann Brizendine to talk about what actually happens to the female brain during perimenopause and menopause. We kick things off with the brain and sex, go deeper into testosterone, then walk through brain fog, glucose, estrogen, hormone therapy timing, dementia risk, sleep, caffeine, alcohol, and why "no" really can be a complete sentence in this next phase of life.

Dr. Louann Brizendine is a neuropsychiatrist, founder of the Women's Mood and Hormone Clinic at UCSF, and one of the leading voices in female brain science. She completed her neurobiology degree at UC Berkeley, graduated from Yale School of Medicine, and completed her residency at Harvard. She is the New York Times bestselling author of The Female Brain, The Male Brain, The Upgrade, and the upcoming book Your Brain on Menopause.

What's Discussed:

(00:21) Why the brain belongs in the hormone conversation and why libido starts there.

(06:42) How testosterone replacement can help some women, why dosing matters, and what to know before giving up on it.

(17:40) What actually happens in the brain during perimenopause and menopause.

(26:38) What women need to know about dementia risk, genetics, estrogen, sleep, caffeine, alcohol, and lifestyle.

(38:21) Why menopause can bring more boundaries, authenticity, and that "no is a complete sentence" energy.

If you have ever felt foggy, forgetful, disconnected from sex, restless at night, or completely unlike yourself and wondered if this is just who you are now, please listen to this episode. Your brain is not boring, and it is definitely not separate from your hormones.

✍️ 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

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Find more from Dr. Louann Brizendine

Website: louannbrizendine.com/ 

Instagram: @louannbrizendine 

 

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