Health By Heather Hirsch

I’m excited to share the raw, unpublished findings from my "Menopause in 2026" survey, where I analyzed data from 766 women to identify the optimal "sweet spot" for testosterone levels in hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Through these real-world insights, I break down why many women feel best at levels between 50 and 80 ng/dL and why I strongly caution against the permanent s...

I’m Dr. Heather Hirsch, and in this week's video, I’m diving into the exciting news that Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) has been officially renamed Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) to better reflect its nature as a lifelong metabolic condition. I’ll explain why this name change is so validating for women and how it shifts our focus toward managing critical health factors lik...

Navigating your hormone replacement therapy journey isn't a one-stop shop, and after treating thousands of women, I've found that 95% of you will need more than a few visits to truly find your balance. In this video, I break down the three common paths, the Titrator, the Superstar, and the Highly Sensitive, to help you identify your own experience and understand why tweaking and titrating...

In this special episode, I’m joined by Dr. Alexandra Sowa and Rachel Goldman, Ph. D. for a powerful midlife health masterclass on the topics every woman deserves to understand. From perimenopause and menopause to hormones, symptoms, treatment options, metabolism, mindset, and the future of women’s healthcare, this conversation brings together leading voices in the field to help educate, empower, a...

In this episode, I draw on my 12 years of experience as a menopause specialist in New York City to break down the myths and truths about using hormone therapy when you have fibroids or endometriosis. I explain why these common gynecologic conditions are not absolute reasons to avoid HRT and how you can safely achieve symptom relief and long-term health benefits. My goal is to arm both proactive pa...

Menopause care needs to be a team effort. As a board-certified internist with training in both OB/GYN and internal medicine, I see menopause as so much more than a gynecological issue. The loss and fluctuation of sex hormones, especially estrogen, can impact nearly every system in the body, including the heart, brain, joints, GI tract, urinary system, mood, sleep, and overall quality of life. I’m...

The Menopause Talk Every Daughter Deserves // Perimenopause and menopause are more than hot flashes, and I want women to know the early signs can include anxiety, insomnia, depression, irritability, brain fog, and feeling like you are not yourself. In this conversation, I sit down with my daughter to talk about generational health, menopause education, women’s health research, and what the next ge...

Is Your Birth Control Making Perimenopause Worse? When to Switch to HRT Description: Are you still on birth control during perimenopause — and wondering if it's masking your symptoms or actually helping? Dr. Heather Hirsch breaks down the key differences between birth control pills and menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), explaining why the estrogen in your pill isn't the same as the estradio...

If You Care About Longevity, You Need to Care About Menopause Perimenopause and menopause are more than hormone changes. They are a major turning point for long-term health. In this video, I explain why the years between 45 and 60 can shape how you feel for the next 30 years and why menopause is not just about your period stopping. We talk about estrogen decline, progesterone decline, testosterone...

Perimenopause and Brain Fog: What’s Actually Happening to Your Brain Perimenopause brain fog, executive dysfunction, memory issues, focus problems, and cognitive overload are some of the most frustrating symptoms women experience in midlife. In this episode, Dr. Heather Hirsch and Anne Denigris discuss perimenopause symptoms, brain health, executive functioning, mental load, working memory, and wh...

Why Midlife Women Have More Joint Pain and What Actually Helps // Dr. Sonali Lal breaks down frozen shoulder, joint pain, PRP, regenerative medicine, arthritis, and non-surgical pain relief for women in perimenopause and menopause. Learn how hormones, strength training, musculoskeletal care, and accurate diagnosis can impact pain, mobility, and recovery in midlife. Find Dr. Sonali on Instagram: ht...

Using Humor to Navigate Midlife & Menopause with Lisa Corrao // In this episode, I sit down with comedian Lisa Corrao to talk about perimenopause, menopause, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and navigating midlife symptoms. We discuss menopause symptoms, hormone health, midlife changes, and how HRT can improve quality of life for women going through perimenopause and menopause. Lisa shares h...

This is a special Ask Me Anything episode where I answer real questions from my followers and subscribers about Hormone Replacement Therapy. If you’ve ever wondered:• Why isn’t my HRT working?• Should I adjust my estrogen dose?• Is progesterone causing side effects?• Why are my symptoms still here?• What should I ask my doctor? This episode is for you. Hormone therapy is never one-size-fits-all. D...

Why I Finally Wrote a Book About Perimenopause // In this video, I share the real reason I wrote my perimenopause book and why women in their 30s and 40s deserve better information about what’s happening to their bodies. After years of treating patients with hot flashes, night sweats, brain fog, anxiety, sleep issues, and hormone imbalances, I saw how often perimenopause is missed or dismissed. Th...

HRT in Your 60s, 70s, or 80s? Yes, It’s Still an Option // This podcast is sponsored by Cozy Earth, products that I have lived in this winter! Use CODE: CozyDrHeather for a discount at Cozy Earth: cozyearth.com Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), menopausal hormone therapy, estrogen therapy, and progesterone are often discussed in relation to the “10-year window.” Still, many women ask if they can...

Longevity 101 with Dr. Poonam Desai // This podcast is sponsored by Cozy Earth, products that I have lived in this winter! Use Code " CozyDrHeather" at https://cozyearth.com/ Longevity medicine for women, hormones, sleep, menopause, perimenopause, and preventative care are the focus of this episode with Dr. Poonam Desai. We break down what actually matters for long-term health, midlife s...

Changing bodies, changing identities with Dr. Salas-Whalen// In this episode, Dr. Hirsch sits down with Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen, author of the new book "Weightless," to discuss how medications can result in not just a different body, but a new identity. More about Dr. Hirsch: Order My New Book: The Perimenopause Survival Guide: https://amzn.to/3SYALze ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3SYALze⁠⁠⁠⁠...

The case for testosterone with Dr Kelly Casperson // joined again by the testosterone GOAT, Dr. Casperson breaks down how we think about testosterone and the differences between prescribing testosterone to men and women. Order My New Book: The Perimenopause Survival Guide: https://amzn.to/3SYALze ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3SYALze⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join The Collaborative Medical Practice: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ht...

Perimenopause anxiety with Psychiatrist Dr. Allie Sharma // Thoughts are passing and not a conclusion, but when do you know if your anxiety is getting out of control? Tune in to this episode where Dr. Allie Sharma breaks down the difference between feeling hard emotions and anxiety that may need treatment. Find Dr. Sharma on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/alliesharmamd/ Order My New Boo...

What the "black-box-removal' announcement from the FDA really means/ [UPDATE: Yes, I mixed up relative risk and absolute risk on this recording. Can we blame the perimenopause brain fog? Thanks to everyone for pointing that out! ]A great deal has occurred since the FDA's press release regarding the box warnings on menopausal hormone therapy. Lets dig in! Order My New Book: The Perimen...

Your Vaginal Estrogen Cheat Sheet // Here is your "everything-you-need-to-know about local vaginal estrogen, from what it does to what you can use, in this episode, the most frequently asked questions are answered. Order My New Book: The Perimenopause Survival Guide: https://amzn.to/3SYALze ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3SYALze⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join The Collaborative Medical Practice: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thec...

The New Era of Weight Loss Medications With Dr. Alexandra Sowa // Wondering about the impacts of GLP-1 agonists and your health? In this episode, Dr. Sowa breaks down the different reasons for taking a GLP-1 agonists, and their many benefits for those who are good candidates. Order The Ozempic Revolution: E https://amzn.to/4okd2HE Order My New Book: The Perimenopause Survival Guide: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https...

Early and surgical menopause, with Dr. Menn // Have you, or a friend or colleague, experienced surgical or early menopause due to a high-risk genetic mutation or cancer? If so, listen to Dr. Menn discuss what women in this situation need to know about early and surgical menopause to ensure a long and healthy life. Pre-Order My New Book: The Perimenopause Survival Guide: https://amzn.to/3SYALze ⁠⁠⁠...

Is your clinician really an expert? 5 ways to know // How do you know if your clinician is really working with you? Learn the 5 key aspects of care that your clinician should be doing to ensure you are getting the most from your partnership Pre-Order My New Book: The Perimenopause Survival Guide: https://amzn.to/3SYALze ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3SYALze⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join The Collaborative Medical Practice:...

The Menopause Moment and FDA panel with Dr. Kelly Casperson // My friend and colleague sits down with me to talk about the FDA panel, her new book, and of course testosterone! Grab her new book 'The Menopause Movement" and of course, testosterone. Pre-Order My New Book: The Perimenopause Survival Guide: https://amzn.to/3SYALze ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3SYALze⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join The Collaborative Med...