In this episode of Embracing the Shift, Erin and Stacy sit down with Dr. Austin Dennard, a board certified OB-GYN and longtime friend, for an honest and validating conversation about perimenopause, menopause, and why so many women feel unlike themselves in midlife. From brain fog, anxiety, sleep struggles, heavy or irregular periods, weight changes, and emotional shifts, Austin explains what is actually happening in women’s bodies and why these symptoms have so often been dismissed or misunderstood. The conversation breaks down why hormone labs can be misleading, how perimenopause can last for years, and why so many women are told it is “just stress,” while also offering clarity around hormone replacement therapy, including estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, and why individualized care matters. Through personal stories, humor, and real talk, Erin, Stacy, and Austin emphasize that these changes are common, support is essential, and women do not have to suffer in silence during this season of life.

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