MORE BLOG POSTS
GLP-1 Medications After 40: Why Some Women Thrive… and Others Feel Stuck
Posted by Lena Edwards MD on
GLP-1 medications are everywhere right now. Friends are talking about them. Social media is celebrating them. Primary care offices are prescribing them at record rates. And yes, some women are losing a significant amount of weight. But here’s what I’m also seeing. Women over 40 who are losing less than expected. Women who drop weight quickly and then plateau. Women who feel weaker instead of stronger. Women watching the scale fall while their energy falls with it. And they’re confused — because this was supposed to be the solution. If only. It’s true that medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide are powerful appetite-regulating tools....
How to Find a Skilled Practitioner for Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
Posted by Lena Edwards MD on
If you’re considering bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), finding the right practitioner matters just as much as the therapy itself. BHRT isn’t just about writing a prescription. It’s about understanding physiology, timing, metabolism, delivery methods, and how your body uniquely processes hormones. The wrong provider can leave you under-dosed, over-dosed, or simply confused. Here’s how to find someone who actually knows what they’re doing. 1. Look for the Right Training (Not Just the Right Letters) A general OB/GYN or primary care doctor can prescribe hormones, but that doesn’t mean they’re deeply trained in nuanced BHRT management. Look for practitioners with additional education...
Which Test is Best: The Proper Way to Get Accurate Female Hormone Test Results
Posted by Lena Edwards MD on
One of the most common questions I’m asked is how to properly get baseline levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone—and even more importantly, how to monitor those levels once bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) has been started.If you’re confused, you’re not alone. This topic stumps many health care practitioners as well. Hormones don’t behave in neat little boxes. They fluctuate. They bind. They convert. They exit stage left when you least expect it. But here’s the truth: BHRT can be both safe and effective when it’s properly dosed and thoughtfully monitored. The key is using the right test at the right...
A Commonly Overlooked Reason BHRT Sometimes Doesn’t Work
Posted by Lena Edwards MD on
Last week, I received a call from a compounding pharmacy with a very apologetic pharmacist on the other end. After taking a closer look, he realized they had been filling one of my patient’s hormone prescriptions incorrectly—for six months. That explained a lot. This patient had been doing everything right. She applied her hormones consistently and correctly. She completed appropriate testing at regular intervals. Yet her symptoms never fully resolved, and her lab results never quite matched what they should have been showing. Even as I adjusted her doses, it felt like we were chasing our tails. As it turned...
Immune Support Season: Because This Year’s Bugs Did Not Come to Play
Posted by Lena Edwards MD on
There’s a certain time of year when your calendar fills up with cozy plans… and your immune system quietly whispers, “Please don’t forget about me.” That time is now. Between colder weather, packed schedules, disrupted sleep, holiday indulgences, and stress levels doing Olympic-level gymnastics, your immune system is under more pressure than usual. Add in some particularly nasty flu strains circulating right now, and suddenly “I’ll deal with it later” becomes a strategy with consequences. Here’s the good news: your immune system isn’t fragile—it’s responsive. When you support it proactively, it shows up for you with fewer sick days, faster recovery, and less...