TENTANG EPISODE INI
You've been told your hormones are normal. Your thyroid is fine. The weight gain is just perimenopause. The exhaustion? That's what happens when you get older.
But what if nobody is asking the right questions?
In this episode of the Body Freedom Podcast, Michele Scarlet sits down with nurse practitioner Tammy O'Rourke, PhD, to tackle a controversial question: Are women's hormones finally being taken seriously, or have we found another way to sell women treatments?
Tammy isn't just a hormone and thyroid prescriber. She's lived through stage 4 endometriosis, medically induced menopause, ovarian cancer, and what she describes as serious failures within the healthcare system.
And she has some strong opinions about how women's health is being treated.
We get into the uncomfortable conversations around perimenopause, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), thyroid medication, unexplained weight gain, and why so many women are still being told everything is normal when they feel anything but.
IN THIS EPISODE:
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Why Tammy was prescribed birth control at just 13 years old.
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The woman who spent 30 years on Synthroid without having her T3 tested.
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Why some women still experience fatigue, bloating, insomnia and weight gain after starting HRT.
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Bioidentical vs. synthetic hormones: what's the difference, and what should you ask your provider?
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How thyroid health, insulin, iron levels and other health factors may contribute to persistent symptoms.
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Why debilitating periods are too often dismissed as a normal part of being a woman.
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Whether the growing hormone-treatment industry is helping women or creating new questions.
This isn't a conversation about putting every woman over 40 on hormone therapy. It's about challenging assumptions, asking better questions, and understanding why a treatment that works for one woman may not work for another.
Because getting older doesn't mean you should stop asking why you feel terrible.
🎙️ I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Have you ever been told your weight gain, exhaustion, hormone symptoms, or something else was just a normal part of getting older?
What's one symptom you've been told is normal that doesn't feel normal to you?
Leave me a quick voice message by clicking the link below! I want to hear your story, your questions, and what you wish someone had taken seriously.
👉 https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/506539/1/3t7f9x0pzvrv0cid
Your question or story might even inspire a future episode of Body Freedom!
⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00 Are Women's Hormones Being Ignored or Overtreated?
01:47 Endometriosis, Ovarian Cancer & Tammy's Story
07:00 Why Women Are Still Struggling to Get Hormone Answers
09:48 Why Estrogen and Progesterone Aren't the Whole Story
14:26 Thyroid Medication, T3 Testing & Persistent Symptoms
18:17 Environmental Exposures and Hormone Health
19:19 Nutrition, Dairy & Inflammation
23:22 Food Marketing, Lobbying & Women's Health
24:32 Bioidentical vs. Synthetic Hormones: What's the Difference?
28:29 Why Some Women Still Feel Terrible on HRT
31:02 Menopause, Aging & Long-Term Health
34:38 Cholesterol, Estrogen & Heart Health
36:38 HRT Weight Gain: Why Did I Gain 15 Pounds?
41:13 Heavy Periods, Medical Dismissal & Better Care
🔗 CONNECT WITH MICHELE SCARLET
Website: https://michelescarlet.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelescarlet_/
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michelescarlet_
CONNECT WITH TAMMY O'ROURKE
Happy Hormones Canada: https://happyhormonescanada.ca
Book: Tammy Talks Hormones: Generationally Speaking
Buy Its Now - https://amzn.to/47hYjGn
🎙️ Enjoyed this conversation? Subscribe to the Body Freedom Podcast and share this episode with a woman who's tired of being told her symptoms are just part of getting older.
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: This episode shares the guests' personal experiences and clinical opinions for educational purposes. Some views discussed are debated within medicine and should not be taken as established medical guidance. Hormone therapy, thyroid medication, screening and other treatments require individualized medical evaluation. Never start, stop or change prescribed treatment without consulting a qualified healthcare professional.
