Progress Your Health Podcast

Protecting your `heart health` is crucial, especially during `menopause`, when risks can increase. In this `women’s health` episode, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki share essential `health tips` and insights into how `hormones` impact cardiovascular well-being. Learn about important lab tests and supplements to safeguard your heart. You’ll learn: ● Why heart disease in women is often a “s...

Can You Do Rhythmic Dosing After a Hysterectomy? Short answer: Yes, but there are some other factors to take into consideration to make sure someone is a good candidate. In this episode, Dr. Valorie and Dr. Maki explain how rhythmic dosing works without a uterus, why it can be an excellent option after total hysterectomy (with oophorectomy) or surgical menopause, and when a simpler static approach...

Confused by your DEXA scan results? Not sure if your T-score is “normal,” “osteopenia,” or “osteoporosis”or what to actually do about it? In this episode, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki walk through three real viewer examples to show You exactly how to interpret bone density scores in your 50s and beyond. You’ll learn: ● How to read your DEXA scan: T-score vs Z-score in plain English ● T...

Many women confuse cycling static HRT with rhythmic dosing, but they’re not the same thing. In this episode, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki from Progress Your Health break down the difference between the two, why it matters for your safety, and how to do hormone therapy the right way. In this video, you’ll learn: ● What “rhythmic dosing” actually means ● Why cycling your static HRT is no...

In Part 2, we go symptom-by-symptom so you can sleep through the night again. Dr. Valorie and Dr. Maki cover night sweats, frequent urination, heart palpitations, muscle cramps, headaches, itchy skin, vivid dreams, and when to suspect sleep apnea (under-recognized in women). You’ll hear practical tactics—electrolytes, targeted magnesium types, phosphatidylserine timing, glycine, L-theanine, and sm...

Why midlife wrecks your sleep—and how to fix it naturally. In Part 1, Dr. Valorie and Dr. Maki unpack the hormone triad behind women’s insomnia: shifting estrogen/progesterone, cortisol dysregulation, and blood sugar/insulin resistance. You’ll learn the difference between trouble falling vs. staying asleep, how low progesterone affects GABA (hello 2–3 a.m. wake-ups), and the daily habits that rese...

Are you worried about bone loss, osteopenia, or osteoporosis? In this episode, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Maki from Progress Your Health dive deep into what women can do—beyond medication—to protect and rebuild bone density through hormones, nutrition, supplements, and lifestyle. Learn how to: ● Understand your DEXA scan and what your T-score really means ● Support bone strength through weight-b...

Learn how to read a DEXA scan—step by step. In this live session, Dr. Valorie and Dr. Maki walk through real patient case studies and show you exactly how to interpret T-scores, Z-scores, and FRAX so you can understand osteopenia vs osteoporosis, track progress over time, and focus on what actually moves the needle for stronger bones. What you’ll learn ● T-Score vs Z-Score: What they measure and w...

In this episode, Dr. Robert Maki walks through his exact testosterone rhythmic dosing protocol—how he cycles doses daily across a 26 to 28-day month and seasonally (25% / 50% / 75%) to align with Dr. Valorie’s cycle. We cover why this “rhythm over static” approach is designed to preserve receptor sensitivity (avoiding the down-regulation common with large, infrequent injections), plus practical de...

In this episode, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki break down exactly how Dr. Valorie runs her personal rhythmic dosing—including the day-by-day estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) schedule that recreates a 28-day ovarian cycle. If you’ve heard us talk about “In-Betweeners” (women transitioning from late perimenopause into early menopause) and wondered how rhythmic dosing actually works in...

Estrogen dips can trigger migraines—especially in perimenopause. Here’s how to spot it and what helps. Dr. Valerie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki explain why sudden drops in estradiol can spark headaches/migraines in cycling women, perimenopause, and menopause, plus what to do if HRT dosing (patch vs BiEst vs rhythmic) is making things worse. They also cover DIM (diindolylmethane)—when it helps vs w...

Should you use estradiol cream on your face? Dr. Valerie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki explain why estriol (E3) is a gentler, safer alternative for wrinkles, melasma, vaginal health, and hormone balance during perimenopause and menopause. They share the risks of estradiol absorption, why it can throw off your HRT program, and why estriol is often the better choice—for both skin care and vaginal tis...

If you’ve ever wondered which blood tests actually matter for women’s hormones and longevity, this episode is your roadmap. Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki walk through real labs—from CBC/CMP to cholesterol, estradiol/FSH/LH, DHEA, testosterone, insulin, and apolipoprotein B (ApoB). You’ll learn how to spot insulin resistance (TG/HDL ratio), why ApoB beats total cholesterol for risk, how...

Are you experiencing bleeding or spotting while on hormone replacement therapy (HRT)? In this episode, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki from Progress Your Health dive deep into one of the most common — and frustrating — concerns women face on HRT: when and how to adjust estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone. Using a real-world patient example (shared with permission and anonymized), we b...

Can you use rhythmic-dosing HRT after a uterine (endometrial) ablation? In this episode, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki explain why—and how to do it safely. Can you do rhythmic dosing HRT after a uterine (endometrial) ablation? Short answer: yes—and in this episode Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki explains why. We unpack how rhythmic dosing works post-ablation, what to expect if...

Surgical menopause happens fast—especially if both ovaries are removed  (oophorectomy). In this episode, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki explain how surgical menopause differs from “natural” menopause, why symptoms can arrive abruptly, and how to think about HRT options (rhythmic vs static), bone density, brain health, and long-term prevention. If you’ve had your ovaries removed—or you’re...

Are you stuck in the in-between—not fully in perimenopause, but not quite in menopause either? In this episode, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki from Progress Your Health dive deep into the gray area of women’s health that often gets overlooked. We cover: ✅ The most common in-betweener symptoms (hot flashes, brain fog, low libido, weight gain, hair & skin changes, sleep problems). ✅...

In this episode, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki from Progress Your Health respond to a powerful listener comment about estradiol levels and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Many women feel dismissed when it comes to their hormone care—and this conversation gets right to the heart of it. We cover: ● Why some women feel terrible when their estradiol drops below 60—and why that number mat...

Should You Aim for the Minimum or Optimal HRT Dose? Should women on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use the minimum dose to manage symptoms—or aim for an optimal dose to support long-term bone, brain, and heart health? This is a common and important question. In this episode of the Progress Your Health Podcast, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki break it down in a clear, practical way. Sta...

Exciting Announcement! We’re launching the Progress Your Hormones Community today—a space designed to empower women with expert guidance and support for navigating perimenopause and menopause. Get access to live office hours, hormone hot seats, lab interpretation, and more! If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Communi...

Launching August 11: Join our new Progress Your Hormones Community! Get expert guidance, real support, and answers to your HRT questions—together, not alone. Get expert guidance, real support, and answers to your HRT questions—together, not alone. If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram...

Welcome to Episode 2 with our upgraded video setup! Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki from Progress Your Health answer a thoughtful listener’s question: Why are my progesterone labs always low even on 200mg oral HRT? If you’re taking progesterone and worried about low numbers or uterine protection, this episode is for you. We cover: ‘ ● ⏱️ Why timing your blood draw makes or breaks your lab...

In this episode of the Progress Your Health Podcast, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki answer a listener’s question about spotting and night sweats after starting hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Lisa, age 55, shares her experience using Bi-Est cream, oral progesterone, and testosterone—and why she’s now experiencing unexpected bleeding and sleep disruption. We break down: ● Why spotting...

In this episode of the Progress Your Health Podcast, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki dive into a question from Sabrina about the accuracy and usefulness of saliva versus blood testing for hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Is saliva testing more accurate for transdermal Bi-Est creams? Why does your estradiol look low in bloodwork but high in saliva? Does skipping your hormones before test...

In this episode of the Progress Your Health Podcast, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki dive deep into a question from “Amber,” a 49-year-old woman struggling with extreme perimenopausal symptoms — despite being on progesterone, an estradiol patch, and thyroid medication. Topics Covered: ● Why HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) might not be working ● Common perimenopause symptoms: sleep issue...