Dr. Kelly Casperson on HRT Myths, Hormones, and Why Exercise Beats Everything

In this bonus episode, board-certified urologist and menopause expert Dr. Kelly Casperson joins host Hailey Babcock to answer your most pressing questions about perimenopause, post-menopause, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Whether you've been told you can't take hormones, you're confused about estrogen patches vs. pills, or you're wondering why your belly fat, brain fog, and joint pain suddenly showed up — this episode is for you.

Dr. Casperson breaks down why the majority of women who believe they can't take hormones are actually mistaken, debunks the outdated 10-year rule, and explains why transdermal estrogen carries far less risk than oral estrogen. She covers the science behind vaginal estrogen for bladder health and labial thinning, the role of progesterone for sleep and bone health, and why testosterone for women is underutilized and under appreciated.

You'll also hear the truth about breast cancer risk and HRT, why visceral fat increases during menopause (and why it's not your fault), how hormones affect cognitive function and dementia prevention, and what the research is pointing toward in the next five years. Plus: what products to skip, when peptide therapy may not be worth it, and why — even with all of her hormone expertise — Dr. Casperson still says nothing is better than exercise.

Topics covered include: HRT myths and contraindications, vaginal estrogen, bladder leakage and Botox for overactive bladder, progesterone without a uterus, testosterone for low libido and beyond, perimenopause vs. post-menopause, abdominal fat and the metabolic syndrome of menopause, brain fog, tinnitus, hair loss, foot pain, gum/bone health, LP(a) and cardiac risk, peptide therapy, and how to find a hormone-informed provider.

🎙️ Dr. Kelly Casperson is a urologist, author of You Are Not Broken, and host of the You Are Not Broken podcast. Find her at kellycaspersonmd.com.

Be First in Line for Shred Happens: Our popular 6-week challenge for shredding fat and building muscle starts October 18. You get a personalized calorie/macro budget, live Q&A calls with experts, workouts for both gym and home, prize giveaways and an incredible community of women doing it along with you. Save Your Spot →

Hailey Happens Fitness Membership is my full training system in your back pocket. Join with a Yearly Plan to design a training year that fits your midlife goals and body.
Start training with a 10-day free trial →