Dr. Brendan McCarthy

Progesterone plays an important role in regulating the uterine lining, especially during the perimenopause years when ovulation becomes less consistent and estrogen may remain present without adequate progesterone. In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy discusses the relationship between estrogen, progesterone, and the endometrium, including why heavier or changing menstrual cycles shouldn't simply...

Why does progesterone help one woman sleep, feel calm, and finally feel like herself again—while another woman feels anxious, restless, or completely unlike herself? The answer may have a lot to do with how progesterone enters the body and what it becomes after you take it. In Part 11 of this progesterone series, Dr. Brendan McCarthy breaks down why the route of administration matters when using b...

Does progesterone cause breast cancer—or could it actually play a protective role in the body? The answer isn't as simple as the headlines make it seem. In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy breaks down one of the most confusing conversations in hormone health: the difference between bioidentical progesterone and synthetic progestins. Not all medications called “progesterone” are the same. They ma...

How you receive estrogen matters. In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy breaks down the different ways estrogen can be delivered — including oral estrogen, topical/transdermal estrogen, injections, and pellets — and explains why the route of delivery can change how the hormone behaves in your body. He discusses first-pass metabolism, estrone conversion, transdermal delivery, vaginal estrogen, inje...

Vaginal and urinary symptoms are common during perimenopause and menopause—but understanding why they happen and how different forms of estrogen work can be confusing. In Episode 8 of this hormone series, Dr. Brendan McCarthy breaks down the relationship between systemic estrogen, vaginal estrogen, estradiol, estriol, testosterone, and the genitourinary symptoms many women experience during menopa...

An elevated estrone level can be alarming—especially when you search online and immediately find scary information about cancer, diabetes, or obesity. But does a high estrone level automatically mean something is wrong? In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy, Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center, takes a closer look at estrone and why it shouldn't be treated as a simple “good” or “bad” ho...

Should every woman take estrogen? Or should no one? According to Dr. Brendan McCarthy, both extremes miss the point. The best hormone therapy is personalized, evidence-based, and designed around the individual—not headlines or trends. In this episode, Dr. McCarthy explains why today's growing "estrogen for everyone" movement can be just as concerning as the outdated fear created by the Women's Hea...

When someone says, "estrogen causes cancer" or "estrogen causes blood clots," what estrogen are they talking about? In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy explains one of the biggest misconceptions in hormone replacement therapy (HRT): estrogen isn't a single hormone—it's a family of hormones. Understanding the differences between estradiol, estrone, and estriol can completely change how you view y...

Every day, women are exposed to endless hormone therapy advice on social media, but not all of it is accurate. In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy explains why fear-driven decisions about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can lead to unnecessary symptoms, confusion, and setbacks. He shares what he's learned after more than 20 years of prescribing hormones and why education, trust, and an ongoing...

Why does one woman feel incredible on hormone replacement therapy while another gains weight, feels anxious, or sees no improvement at all? The answer isn't simply the hormone—it's how your body processes it. In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy explains why the route of hormone delivery (oral, topical, injectable, or pellets) dramatically changes how hormones behave in the body. He also breaks d...

Many women are handed a prescription for hormone replacement therapy (HRT), sign a consent form, and are sent on their way—but is that really informed consent? In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy explains why true consent is much more than signing paperwork. Understanding what you're taking, why you're taking it, how it's being monitored, and when your treatment should change are essential parts...

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is far more than simply taking estrogen or progesterone. In this first episode of a new 36-part series, Dr. Brendan McCarthy explains why hormone therapy should never be viewed as a one-size-fits-all treatment. From puberty through menopause, he explores how hormones change throughout a woman's life, why lab testing matters, and how personalized care leads to bett...

Many women are prescribed oral estrogen without ever being told what happens after it enters the body. In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy takes a deeper look at estrone, the estrogen metabolite created when estradiol is taken orally, and explains why the delivery method of hormone therapy matters. You'll learn: The difference between estradiol and estrone Why oral estrogen creates significantly...

In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy breaks down one of the most misunderstood topics in hormone replacement therapy: estradiol. Not all estrogen is the same—and how estradiol is delivered can dramatically affect hormone balance, inflammation, clotting risk, testosterone levels, and overall health outcomes. Dr. McCarthy discusses: • Why route of administration matters (oral, patch, injectable, to...

After 16 episodes exploring food, metabolism, cravings, and health, Dr. Brendan McCarthy shares the most important lesson of all: Your body is not broken. Too often, health conversations focus on calories, diets, lab results, and willpower. But lasting change isn't just about what you eat—it's about understanding why you eat, what your body is responding to, and replacing shame with compassion. In...

This episode is about more than food. It's about understanding why we reach for certain foods, creating a realistic off-ramp from ultra-processed eating, and giving your body a chance to reset. If you've ever felt like you're doing everything right but still struggling with weight, energy, inflammation, or cravings, this episode is for you.   Citation: Hall, Kevin D., et al. “Ultra-Processed Diets...

Most diets fail because they never address what the food was doing for you emotionally. In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy explains the stress-craving loop behind emotional eating, why ultra-processed foods feel impossible to resist, and how shame actually reinforces the cycle. You’ll learn: • Why cravings feel automatic • How stress drives food urges • The “cue → urge → reward” loop • A simple...

Why is it so hard to stop eating ultra-processed foods — even when you know they’re hurting you? In Episode 13 of this 16-part series, Dr. Brendan McCarthy explains why the real problem is not just the food itself. The real problem is the loop: Cue or emotional state → Wanting → Bargaining → Consumption → Temporary relief → Crash/regret → Repeat. This episode explores how ultra-processed and hyper...

In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy dives deep into the psychology of ultra-processed foods, compulsive eating, shame, and why so many people feel trapped in unhealthy food cycles. This conversation goes far beyond calories and willpower. Dr. McCarthy explains how ultra-processed and hyper-palatable foods are intentionally engineered to drive repeat consumption, how emotional memories and stress...

Why do so many people know what to eat… but still can’t follow through? In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy breaks down the powerful connection between trauma, stress, and ultra-processed foods—and why willpower alone is not enough. You’ll learn how the nervous system, PTSD, and chronic stress can rewire your relationship with food, driving cravings and behaviors that feel out of your control. T...

Today, we’re diving into a topic that should be getting far more attention: Cardiovascular disease in women. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in women—yet it’s often under-addressed, oversimplified, and misunderstood in clinical practice. Most women are told: “Eat better. Take this prescription.” But that approach misses something critical. Full citation list:    •    Hall, Kevi...

Today, we’re diving into autoimmunity—what it actually is, why it happens, and how ultra-processed foods may be contributing to the problem. Autoimmune disease is often misunderstood. Some will tell you diet has nothing to do with it. Others claim diet is the cure. The truth is more nuanced—and that’s exactly what we explore in this episode. You’ll learn: What autoimmunity really is (and why it’s...

GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide are everywhere right now—but are they actually solving the problem? In Episode 8 of this 16-part series on ultra-processed foods, Dr. Brendan McCarthy breaks down the truth about GLP-1 medications: how they work, why they can feel like a “miracle,” and where things go wrong when they’re used without proper medical guidance. This isn’t about shame....

Craving junk food when you’re stressed isn’t a lack of discipline — it’s biology. In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy breaks down what ultra-processed and hyper-palatable foods actually do inside your body — from your metabolism to your hormones, your brain, and your stress response. But this isn’t about guilt or shame. It’s about understanding what you’re up against — especially as a parent try...

In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy—Chief Medical Officer at Protea Medical Center—dives into one of the most misunderstood topics in health: Why does it feel like you can’t stick to a diet… even when you’re trying your best? This isn’t about willpower. It’s not a character flaw. And it’s not your fault. Dr. McCarthy breaks down the biology behind stress, cravings, and weight gain—explaining how...