All About You With Dr Shauna Watts

Everyone is talking about perimenopause. But what about the millions of women who went through menopause years ago, before hormone therapy was widely understood, before the conversation changed, and before anyone told them they didn't have to simply suffer through it?

In this solo episode, Dr. Shauna Watts speaks directly to women in their 50s, 60s and beyond who have quietly accepted fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, poor sleep, low libido, bladder issues and a declining sense of wellbeing as an inevitable part of getting older.

Dr. Shauna unpacks the critical role estrogen plays far beyond reproduction, explaining how it influences brain function, metabolism, sleep, bone health, cardiovascular health and quality of life. She also explores the lasting impact of the 2002 Women's Health Initiative study, why so many women remain fearful of HRT, and what the latest evidence actually says about modern body-identical hormone therapy.

If you've ever been told your symptoms are "normal for your age," this conversation may completely change the way you think about menopause, aging and your future health.

In this episode:

• Why so many post-menopausal women have stopped expecting to feel well
• The symptoms often blamed on aging that may be linked to estrogen deficiency
• How estrogen impacts the brain, metabolism, sleep, bones and heart
• The surprising role of FSH and what it may reveal about long-term health
• What really happened after the Women's Health Initiative study
• The difference between older synthetic hormones and modern body-identical HRT
• Understanding breast cancer risk and hormone therapy
• Why the risks of untreated estrogen deficiency deserve more attention
• Essential health assessments to consider after menopause
• Vaginal estrogen, testosterone and other treatment options women should know about
• Why it's never too late to have an informed conversation about your health

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a woman who may have spent years believing she simply had to put up with how she feels.

Subscribe to All About You so you never miss future conversations designed to help women make informed decisions about their health, hormones and wellbeing.

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Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:
Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts 
https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgp
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247

Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.

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Chapters
00:00 - Why Post-Menopause Women Are Being Left Behind
01:01 - Have You Stopped Expecting to Feel Well?
03:02 - The Symptoms Women Keep Blaming on Aging
05:17 - What If We Got Menopause Completely Wrong?
06:09 - The Critical Role Estrogen Plays Beyond Reproduction
08:22 - The Hidden Cost of Long-Term Estrogen Deficiency
10:31 - Why Your Brain Never Stopped Asking for Estrogen
12:29 - Is Menopause a Natural Process We Should Treat?
13:48 - The Breast Cancer Fear Keeping Women from HRT
15:14 - Modern HRT vs The 2002 Hormone Study
17:26 - Understanding the Real Risks and Benefits of HRT
19:20 - The Essential Health Checks Every Post-Menopausal Woman Needs
21:22 - It's Not Too Late to Feel Like Yourself Again

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Keywords
post menopause symptoms
postmenopause health
hormone replacement therapy
HRT after menopause
estrogen deficiency
menopause symptoms after 60
women's health over 50
brain fog menopause
sleep problems menopause
vaginal atrophy
hot flushes after menopause
body identical hormones
menopause weight gain
osteoporosis prevention women
estrogen and brain health
women's health podcast
Dr Shauna Watts
menopause treatment options
menopause and aging
women over 50 health

Learn more about the Rediscover You Program here: https://youbydrshaunawatts.com.au/16-week-rediscover-you-menopause-program/16-week-rediscover-you-program/

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world, yet countless women are still being told their iron levels are "normal" while struggling with fatigue, hair loss, brain fog, poor sleep and low energy.

In this episode of All About You, Dr. Shauna Watts sits down with GP and iron deficiency expert Dr. Ebony Tosch to unpack one of the most overlooked health issues affecting women, particularly during perimenopause and midlife.

Together they explore why ferritin is often a more meaningful marker than standard iron levels, how iron deficiency symptoms frequently overlap with menopause and thyroid conditions, and why many women spend years being reassured that their blood tests are "fine" when they're anything but.

Dr. Ebony explains the real causes of iron deficiency, the most effective ways to improve iron stores, and when an iron infusion may be a better option than oral supplements.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why iron deficiency is commonly missed in women
• The difference between iron, ferritin and anemia
• Which blood tests you should ask your doctor to order
• Common symptoms of low iron, including fatigue, hair loss and restless legs
• Why heavy periods remain one of the biggest contributors to iron deficiency
• How perimenopause can make iron deficiency harder to recognise
• The truth about oral iron supplements and why many women struggle with them
• How to improve iron absorption naturally
• When an iron infusion may be the right next step
• What to expect during an iron infusion
• The risks, side effects and benefits of IV iron therapy
• Why optimal iron levels matter more than simply being within the "normal range"
• How iron deficiency can impact sleep, energy, mood and overall wellbeing

If you've ever been told your blood tests are normal but you still don't feel like yourself, this conversation may provide some of the answers you've been looking for.

Remember: informed health decisions start with understanding the numbers that matter.

Follow All About You for more evidence-based conversations on women's health, perimenopause, menopause, hormones, nutrition and thriving through midlife.

Follow Dr. Ebony Tosch
https://www.healthhunter.au/practitioners/dr-ebony-tosh
https://www.drebonytosch.com/about

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Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:
Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts 
https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgp
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247
Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.

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Chapters
01:24 – The Iron Deficiency Problem Doctors Still Miss
02:32 – The Blood Test Every Woman Should Know About
04:45 – Why Ferritin Matters More Than Iron Levels
05:37 – Signs & Symptoms Of Low Iron
06:45 – Heavy Periods, Perimenopause & Iron Loss
10:22 – What Ferritin Levels Are Actually Too Low?
11:28 – Why Iron Supplements Often Fail
12:43 – How To Improve Iron Absorption Naturally
17:24 – When It's Time To Consider An Iron Infusion
18:29 – Iron Infusions Explained: Risks & Benefits
24:33 – Hair Loss, Fatigue & Low Iron Recovery
35:35 – Dr Ebony's Most Important Iron Deficiency Advice
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Keywords
iron deficiency in women
low ferritin symptoms
iron infusion
ferritin levels
women's health
perimenopause fatigue
iron deficiency anemia
hair loss and iron deficiency
fatigue in women
women's iron levels
iron supplements
low iron treatment
iron deficiency symptoms
menopause fatigue
restless legs syndrome
women's health podcast
Dr Ebony Tosch
Dr Shauna Watts

Learn more about the Rediscover You Program here:
https://youbydrshaunawatts.com.au/16-week-rediscover-you-menopause-program/16-week-rediscover-you-program/

For years, women were told menopause was simply something to “push through.”

Hot flashes, insomnia, anxiety, painful sex, brain fog, loss of motivation, all dismissed as normal aging.

But what if much of that messaging was wrong?

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Shauna Watts sits down with urologist, author, and menopause educator Dr. Kelly Casperson to unpack the modern evidence behind hormone therapy, the lasting impact of outdated research, and why so many women are finally questioning what they were told about HRT.

Together, they explore the women who were left behind after the 2002 WHI study sparked fear around hormones and why many women in their 60s and 70s are now seeking answers decades later.

Dr. Kelly also breaks down the growing conversation around testosterone for women, explaining why it’s about far more than libido alone. From motivation and mood to cognition, muscle health, and vitality, this episode challenges many of the assumptions women have carried for years about aging and hormones.

This is an empowering, evidence-based conversation about informed choice, modern menopause care, and helping women feel like themselves again.

What’s In This Episode:
→ Why an entire generation of women missed out on menopause support
→ What the WHI study actually showed and how it was misunderstood
→ Whether it’s ever “too late” to start hormone therapy
→ The truth about breast cancer risk and HRT
→ Why vaginal estrogen is still heavily misunderstood
→ The difference between oral synthetic hormones and transdermal estradiol
→ What women need to know about testosterone in midlife
→ Why libido is about more than sex drive
→ How hormones impact sleep, mood, cognition, joints, and motivation
→ The role of exercise and metabolic health in menopause care
→ Why women deserve individualized conversations about hormones

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a woman who deserves better information about menopause and hormones.

Follow All About You for more evidence-based conversations on midlife health, hormones, confidence, and thriving through every stage of life.

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Follow Dr. Kelly Casperson
https://kellycaspersonmd.com/
https://www.instagram.com/kellycaspersonmd
https://www.youtube.com/@kellycaspersonmd

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Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:
Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatt
https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgpLinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247

Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.

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Chapters
03:12 - Why So Many Women Were Left Without Support
06:28 - The Truth About the WHI Study & HRT Fear
09:41 - Can Women Start HRT After 60 or 70?
12:58 - The Timing Hypothesis Explained Simply
16:10 - Why “It’s Just Aging” Is a Harmful Myth
19:22 - Breast Cancer Fear vs Modern Evidence
22:35 - The Truth About Vaginal Estrogen Safety
25:48 - Testosterone for Women: More Than Libido
28:56 - Why Libido Is Really About Brain Motivation
32:14 - Hair Loss, Hormones & What’s Actually Happening
35:27 - The Real Benefits of Testosterone in Midlife
38:40 - What Women Actually Need to Feel Like Themselves

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Keywords
Menopause
hormone replacement therapy
HRT myths
menopause symptoms
testosterone for women
menopause podcast
estrogen therapy
women’s health
Perimenopause
menopause treatment
menopause after 60
hormone therapy safety
vaginal estrogen
menopause education
menopause support
testosterone benefits women
menopause and anxiety
menopause and sleep
women’s hormones
breast cancer and HRT
menopause myths debunked

For more than 20 years, women have been told that hormone therapy causes breast cancer but what if the science was misunderstood from the very beginning?

The conversation around menopause and hormone replacement therapy has been shaped by fear for decades. In this episode, Dr. Avrum Bluming and social psychologist Carol Tavris unpack the study that changed women’s health forever and explain why many doctors, researchers and patients are now re-examining what we thought we knew about estrogen, breast cancer and HRT.T

hey explored the lasting impact of the Women’s Health Initiative study, the difference between observational studies and randomized trials, and why so many women still struggle to access informed menopause care today.

We also discuss the growing evidence around estrogen’s role in brain health, osteoporosis prevention, cognitive decline, cardiovascular health and quality of life during perimenopause and menopause.

If you’ve ever been told you’re “too young” for HRT, that hormones are dangerous because of breast cancer, or that menopause is just something women should suffer through, this conversation will challenge a lot of assumptions.

In this episode:
➡️ Why the fear around HRT and breast cancer became so widespread
➡️ The real findings behind the Women’s Health Initiative study
➡️ Whether estrogen actually increases breast cancer risk
➡️ Vaginal estrogen and why the science remains controversial
➡️ What the evidence says about HRT after breast cancer
➡️ Estrogen’s impact on brain health and cognitive decline
➡️ The connection between menopause, osteoporosis and fractures
➡️ Why menopause education is still missing in medical training
➡️ The psychology and stigma around taking hormone therapy
➡️ Why many women still struggle to find doctors informed about menopause

This is a nuanced and evidence-based discussion about menopause, estrogen, and the future of women’s health care and why so many women are demanding better conversations around HRT.

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Follow Dr. Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris
https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrum-bluming-64259a10/
https://tavris.socialpsychology.org/contact
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Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:
Podcast Website: ⁠
www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatt
https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgpLinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247

Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.

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Chapters
00:00 – Why Vaginal Estrogen Is Misunderstood
00:40 – Does Vaginal Estrogen Really Enter the Bloodstream
01:17 – Family History of Breast Cancer: Does It Matter?
02:01 – BRCA1, Ovaries Removal, and Breast Cancer Risk Reduction
03:03 – Why Estrogen Doesn’t Increase Breast Cancer Risk (Evidence Explained)
04:07 – Why Women Feel Shut Down by Doctors on HRT
05:14 – When Hormone Questions Get Ignored in Medicine
06:19 – What Happens When Women Stop Tamoxifen to Get Pregnant
07:10 – Can Breast Cancer Survivors Safely Use Vaginal Estrogen?
08:20 – The Controversial Denmark Study on Vaginal Estrogen
10:19 – “Minuscule Absorption Makes No Sense” — The Core Debate on Vaginal Estrogen
11:32 – Why Randomized Controlled Trials Aren’t the Only Gold Standard
13:31 – The $1 Billion Women’s Health Initiative Study: What Went Wrong

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Keywords
Menopause
hormone replacement therapy
HRT
estrogen and breast cancer
menopause symptoms
Perimenopause
women’s health
vaginal estrogen
breast cancer risk
hormone therapy menopause
WHI study
estrogen therapy
menopause doctor
menopause treatment
cognitive decline menopause
osteoporosis menopause
menopause education
estrogen brain health
breast cancer myths
menopause podcast
menopause research
hormone therapy safety
women’s hormones
menopause expert

What if one of the biggest fears women have about hormone therapy was built on misunderstanding, misinformation, and decades of outdated advice?

In this episode, Dr. Shauna Watts is joined by medical oncologist Dr. Avrum Bluming and social psychologist Carol Tavris, co-authors of Estrogen Matters, for a conversation that challenges decades of fear surrounding hormone replacement therapy.

Together, they unpack the lasting impact of the 2002 Women’s Health Initiative study, why so many doctors still hesitate to prescribe HRT, and what the research actually says about estrogen, breast cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, dementia, and women’s longevity.

This episode explores not just the science, but the psychology behind why women have been taught to fear breast cancer more than the diseases statistically far more likely to kill them.

If you’ve ever felt confused, dismissed, or anxious about hormone therapy, this conversation will leave you far more informed and far more empowered.

In This Episode:
➡️ Why the fear around HRT exploded after 2002
➡️ What the Women’s Health Initiative study actually found
➡️ The difference between estrogen alone and combined hormone therapy
➡️ Why heart disease remains the leading killer of women
➡️ The psychological impact of breast cancer fear
➡️ How estrogen affects the brain, bones, heart, skin, and overall longevity
➡️ Why so many women suffer unnecessarily during menopause
➡️ The truth about “lowest dose for the shortest time”
➡️ How misinformation continues to shape menopause care today
➡️ What women should discuss with their doctors about HRT

Whether you’re in perimenopause, postmenopause, or simply trying to make informed decisions about your future health, this episode is essential listening.

Follow Dr. Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris
https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrum-bluming-64259a10/
https://tavris.socialpsychology.org/contact

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Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:
Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgp
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247

Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.

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Chapters
01:20 - The Truth About Hormone Replacement Therapy
03:27 - Dr. Avrum Bluming’s Breast Cancer Story
05:33 - How Estrogen Became Central to Menopause Care
07:58 - Why Menopause Symptoms Are Often Dismissed
10:07 - The 2002 HRT Study That Changed Everything
13:30 - Does Estrogen Really Increase Breast Cancer Risk?
16:12 - Menopause, Heart Disease & The Missing Conversation
18:07 - Why Doctors Still Fear Prescribing HRT
22:16 - The “Lowest Dose, Shortest Time” Myth
26:25 - The Dramatic Impact Estrogen Can Have on Women
27:38 - Why Women Fear Breast Cancer More Than Heart Disease
31:59 - Should Women Without Symptoms Still Take HRT?

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Keywords
hormone replacement therapy
HRT and breast cancer
estrogen therapy
menopause symptoms
perimenopause health
estrogen and heart disease
menopause treatment
women’s health initiative
estrogen matters
Dr Avrum Bluming
Carol Tavris
menopause podcast
breast cancer myths
hormone therapy safety
menopause and estrogen
women’s health after 40
menopause education
HRT benefits
osteoporosis prevention menopause
menopause expert podcast