| I see it often, you’re cruising along with good lab values then it’s like a switch flips and boom the cholesterol jumps up. You try your best to ditch the chips and salsa, cheese and cut down on the butter. But your cholesterol keeps going up despite your increased daily steps, sweat fests at the gym and extra cups of broccoli. There might be a crucial piece of the puzzle you haven’t considered: your changing estrogen levels. I’ve started to notice levels of cholesterol jump up when women hit different levels of estradiol drop offs that correlate with the various stages of peri-menopause into menopause and beyond. I also see shifts in cholesterol when women stop or lower their estradiol replacement therapy. So at a time when conventional medicine would have you thinking you need a statin you may need a little estradiol boost instead. And guess what? You can use herbs to do this too – Black Cohosh is my fave for this. It’s also wise to have your free T3 & T4 thyroid levels checked along with T-3 uptake and TSH because a slowed thyroid can also cause cholesterol elevation, especially in women who have spikes and drops of estrogen as elevated estrogen inhibits thyroid hormone function. The thyroid is a whole other email discussion though, so I’ll stick with estradiol for today! The Estradiol-Cholesterol Connection You Need to Know About…Recent research has uncovered something many healthcare providers still aren’t discussing with their female patients. As your estradiol (the most potent form of estrogen) levels naturally decline during peri-menopause and menopause, your cholesterol levels often rise in response. This isn’t a coincidence. It’s biology. Think of it this way – if your body notices that you have less hormone production it’s going to trigger the body to make more of what’s deficient. All your hormones are made from cholesterol. So it make sense it would rise in response to your body being triggered to make more hormones! Research published in the medical literature has revealed that estradiol plays a significant role in:Regulating cholesterol metabolismSupporting insulin sensitivityMaintaining healthy blood sugar balanceProtecting cardiovascular health One particularly illuminating study (published in 2023) demonstrated that women receiving appropriate estradiol therapy along with progestins (note not progesterone)experienced significant improvements in their lipid profiles – specifically, a measurable decrease in total cholesterol levels. While I’m not a huge fan of progestins because they behave more like cortisol in the body, I’ve noticed micronized progesterone works similar in this case. Beyond Cholesterol: The Metabolic Protection You’re Losing…The benefits don’t stop at cholesterol. Another compelling study from 2022 showed that balanced hormone therapy reduced insulin resistance and improved overall blood sugar regulation in peri-menopausal and menopausal women. This means that the same hormonal shifts affecting your cholesterol might also be impacting your:Energy levels and fatigueWeight management (especially around your midsection)Mood stabilitySleep qualityBrain function and clarity What This Means For You…If you’ve been frustrated by unexplained cholesterol changes or metabolic shifts despite maintaining healthy habits, your changing hormones may be the missing piece of your health puzzle. The traditional approach of simply prescribing statins or telling women to “try harder” with diet and exercise fails to address this fundamental hormonal connection – potentially leaving you treating symptoms while missing the root cause. What To Do Next?Understanding the complex relationship between your hormones and metabolic health requires personalized attention. The research is clear that individualized approaches yield the best results. I’ve helped hundreds of women navigate this exact transition, developing customized strategies that address both hormonal balance and metabolic health simultaneously. Would you like to discover if your cholesterol concerns might actually be a hormone issue in disguise? Most women don’t realize that addressing their hormonal balance can improve not just their cholesterol, but also their energy, weight management, mood, and overall quality of life during this transition. The research is compelling, but each woman’s body is unique. Let’s discover your personal hormone-metabolic pattern and create a plan specifically for you. Book a call today for $49 and let’s get you your next steps (click HERE or the orange button below). To your hormonal health and vitality, Dr. J P.S. Research noted in today’s article – on estradiol + progestins – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37265701/have shown a decrease in cholesterol, insulin resistance and improved blood sugar balance – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35159361/ PPS:Estradiol use decreases total LDL – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23046709/ and transdermal vs oral – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22432811/ – food intake change and estradiol. |
Get back to your wild, active, vibrant self
Let’s figure out what’s accelerating your aging process…
