Menopause, What HRT Actually Does & What It Means for APOE4 Carriers
Originally published on YouTube on 13 August 2026.
Original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJV7O5hnKos
One 2002 study shaped how millions of women think about menopause hormone therapy.
In Part 1/2, I sit down with Steve Goldring, RPh, The Hormone Pharmacist, to unpack what the Women's Health Initiative actually found, how pills, patches, gels, vaginal estrogen and pellets differ, and why taking hormones and not taking them both involve trade-offs.
Get the free APOE4 Woman's Guide: https://thephoenix.community/guides/womens-guide
RESOURCES:
Apply to join Phoenix: https://apoe4.link/Therapy
Essential APOE4 Guide: https://apoe4.link/TherapyG
Weekly Newsletter: https://apoe4.link/TherapyN
More about Steve Goldring
The Menopause Solution: Your 7-Step Roadmap to Feeling Like Yourself: https://apoe4.link/stevegoldring
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SimpleHormones
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Opening highlights
00:29 Podcast introduction
03:16 The Conversation
07:39 The Women's Health Initiative: What Went Wrong?
11:58 Does HRT Really Increase Breast Cancer Risk?
16:08 Why the FDA Removed HRT Warnings
20:48 Can Women With a History of Breast Cancer Take HRT?
26:15 Is Duavee a Better Alternative to Progesterone?
29:10 Different HRT Options & Common Mistakes
34:05 What's the Best HRT Method & Can You Combine Them?
39:32 Does Hormone Stability Matter for Brain Health?
43:40 Why Are Estrogen Patches Wearing Off Too Soon?
46:53 Can Estrogen Patches Survive Heat, Sweat & Swimming?
48:44 How Should You Apply Estrogen Cream?
51:30 Should You Increase HRT If You Have No Symptoms?
56:26 What If You Can't Tolerate Progesterone?
01:03:22 Why Are Hot Flashes Coming Back?
01:06:31 Testosterone Replacement for Women and Men
01:11:30 Outro