The Female Health Solution Podcast

Perimenopause is something the vast majority of women will experience and yet so many of us feel blindsided by it.
I'm Dr. Jenny and in this episode, I talk about why perimenopause often isn't discussed in conventional medical appointments and why so many women are left hearing about it through social media instead of their doctor's office.
Menopause is diagnosable. It shows up clearly on blood work.
Perimenopause? Not so much.
The 5–15 years before menopause can feel like a hormone roller coaster:
Exhaustion

Brain fog

Night sweats and hot flashes

Mood swings

Irregular cycles

Low libido

Weight changes

Feeling like you're "losing your mind"

Here's the truth:
If you feel like you're on a roller coaster, it's because your hormones are on a roller coaster.
In this episode, I break down:
Why adrenal health (your stress response system) is the foundation of hormone balance

How chronic stress impacts DHEA and testosterone (hello brain fog and low libido)

Why blood work can miss perimenopausal shifts

How estrogen processing in the liver and gut plays a massive role in symptoms

Why progesterone often declines first and what that means for sleep and mood

How comprehensive testing (like the DUTCH test) gives us a real map instead of a single snapshot

Most importantly, I explain how you can take your power back.
We created a FREE Perimenopause Mini Podcast Series to help you understand:
What actually is perimenopause (and what isn't)

Why symptoms show up years before menopause

What works, what doesn't

How to get to the root cause of your symptoms quickly

Listen to the FREE perimenopause series here: https://dr-beth-westie.mykajabi.com/perimenopause-3

In this episode of the Female Health Solution Podcast, I break down what happens when women commit to six months of targeted hormone support using DUTCH testing, personalized protocols, and real lifestyle shifts. I'm sharing real client examples and the behind-the-scenes reasons why so many symptoms finally start to resolve when we stop chasing quick fixes.
We talk about why hormone changes don't happen overnight, why six months is the sweet spot for real, measurable progress, and how testing takes the guesswork out of your symptoms so you're not wasting time, energy, or money on things that miss the mark.
In this episode, I cover:
Why DUTCH testing gives us clarity that standard labs miss

What actually changes between your initial DUTCH test and your 6-month retest

Why symptoms like low libido, fatigue, anxiety, weight gain, and terrible periods often trace back to cortisol, not what you've been told

The difference between capacity and living in survival mode

Why regulating your nervous system can feel uncomfortable before it feels better

How women regain energy, mood stability, creativity, libido, and resilience

What it looks like when your period stops running your life

Why seeing your progress on paper helps rebuild trust with your body

I also explain why so many women have been dismissed, gaslit, or told to "just deal with it," and how retesting helps you stay connected to what your body actually needs long-term.
If you're tired of white-knuckling your way through exhaustion, mood swings, brain fog, painful periods, or feeling like you don't recognize yourself anymore, this episode is for you.
Ready to see what six months could change for you? The Hormone Foundations Program is our most popular 1:1 program where we:
Run an initial DUTCH Complete test

Support you with personalized recommendations for six months

Address cortisol, nutrient deficiencies, sleep, cycle issues, and more

Retest at six months so you can see your progress in black and white

Learn more: https://drbethwestie.com/hormone-foundations-program/

What's the worst that could happen if you just start taking a supplement, right? You already don't feel great, so something has to help… right?
In this episode, I explain why that mindset often backfires, especially when it comes to hormones.
I see this all the time: women taking "hormone balance" supplements, DIM, progesterone support, adrenal formulas, or detox products without testing first. The intention is good, but without knowing what your body actually needs, you can easily make symptoms worse instead of better.
In this episode, I break down:
Why supplements are not all the same (foundational vs targeted vs phase-specific)

How taking the wrong supplement at the wrong time can worsen fatigue, anxiety, PMS, cycle issues, and sleep

Why hormones require timing, balance, and sequencing, not random support

How cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, and neurotransmitters all interact and why treating one without the others often fails

Why DIM is one of the most commonly misused hormone supplements (and how it can actually drive estrogen too low)

How adrenal dysfunction can block progesterone support from ever "landing"

Why liver detox, gut health, and hormone clearance matter just as much as hormone production

Why hormones work on a negative feedback loop and why real change takes longer than 30 days

I also explain why we use DUTCH testing to look at the full picture:
Hormone production

Hormone metabolism and pathways

Cortisol rhythm

Neurotransmitters

Nutrient markers

Testing allows us to answer the real questions: Is the issue production, processing, or clearance? Are adrenals driving hormone imbalance? Is your system overstimulated or suppressed? What phase of healing do you actually need right now?
This is exactly why I created the Hormone Foundations Program.
Inside the program, we:
Test first with the DUTCH Complete

Build a personalized, phase-based supplement and lifestyle plan

Adjust support as your body moves through healing stages

Retest to confirm progress (because numbers don't lie)

Guide you for a full six months so changes actually stick

If you've tried supplements before and felt worse, stalled out, or burned out, this episode is for you.
Learn more about the Hormone Foundations Program: https://drbethwestie.com/hormone-foundations-program/
Not sure? Book a Discovery call: https://calendly.com/dr-beth-westie/program-discovery-call

In this episode of the Female Health Solution Podcast, I'm breaking down something I see all the time with the women we work with: the cortisol and caffeine energy rollercoaster.
If you feel like you need coffee or energy drinks just to function, crash hard in the afternoon, or plan your day around your next caffeine hit, this conversation is for you. I explain why this pattern is common but not normal, how cortisol actually drives these highs and lows, and why relying on caffeine keeps your body stuck in a stress response.
We talk about what cortisol really does in the body, how it impacts blood sugar, energy, sleep, and mood, and what simple shifts can help you create smoother, more reliable energy throughout the day without feeling tethered to caffeine.
If you're ready to get off the rollercoaster and support your energy in a way that actually works with your body, I invite you to join our Free 5 Day Revive. It's designed to help you feel strong, steady, and energized with simple, actionable steps you can start right away.
Listen in and let's get your energy working for you again.
Join the Free 5 Day Revive: https://dr-beth-westie.mykajabi.com/the-5-day-revive

In this episode of the Female Health Solution Podcast, I break down why good sleep doesn't always equal restorative sleep, and why waking up exhausted is often a hormone and cortisol rhythm issue, not a lack of sleep or effort on your part.
Yes, sleep matters. But if your body isn't producing or regulating cortisol correctly, you can still wake up tired, foggy, and unmotivated, even after a full night in bed.
What we cover in this episode:
Why cortisol plays a major role in how energized (or exhausted) you feel in the morning

The difference between getting sleep and actually restoring your nervous system

How stress, broken sleep, under-fueling, and overexercising quietly drain your energy

Why women need more and different quality sleep than men

The "wired but tired" pattern and how it shows up when cortisol is off

Why pushing through exhaustion works… until it doesn't

I also explain why so many women hit a point where they can keep functioning, but feel awful doing it. Just because your body is resilient doesn't mean it should live in survival mode.
If you're sleeping but not recovering, something deeper is missing.
How we figure out what's actually going on
This is where functional testing matters. I walk through why I rely on the DUTCH Test to look at:
Your cortisol pattern throughout the day

Estrogen, progesterone, and androgen balance

Nutrient status that impacts energy and recovery

Different cortisol patterns require different support. If your adrenals are flatlined, you need a very different approach than someone whose system is stuck in overdrive. Guessing, or throwing random sleep supplements at the problem, rarely works.
A great place to start: the FREE 5-Day Revive
If you're not ready for testing yet, I created a free 5-Day Revive Challenge focused on helping your body feel more strong, steady, and energized.
Inside the 5-day, we focus on:
Morning and evening routines that support healthy cortisol rhythms

Simple nutrition and protein targets to prevent depletion

How to fuel before and after workouts so you actually recover

Light, movement, and nervous system regulation

A short daily assessment so guidance is targeted, not overwhelming

This is not about perfection or adding more to your plate. It's about making small, intentional changes that actually move the needle.
👉 Join the free 5-Day Revive: https://dr-beth-westie.mykajabi.com/the-5-day-revive
Send it to a friend, do it together, and use it as a reset for your energy.