Have you ever felt like something has shifted — like you don't quite feel like yourself anymore — but you can't put your finger on why? So many women are living with anxiety that came from nowhere, bone-deep exhaustion, broken sleep, weight that won't budge and a fog they can't shake — without ever realising it could be perimenopause. I was one of them.

I saw five different doctors trying to get answers. Not one of them told me the same thing.

This week I'm taking you one level deeper — because when you understand how your three key hormones actually work, everything starts to make sense: your symptoms, your treatments, and why one doctor says one thing and the next says the complete opposite. And more than that — understanding these hormones is how you learn to recognise what your body is telling you, and how you advocate for yourself when something doesn't feel right. This is the episode I needed before I walked into any of those appointments — no jargon, no agenda, no medical degree required.

In this episode:
→ My experience with five different doctors — and what went wrong
→ Oestrogen: the three types, what it does, and why fluctuation matters more than decline
→ Progesterone: the calming hormone nobody talks about — and why women without a uterus still need it
→ The crucial difference between synthetic hormones and bioidentical — and why it matters
→ Testosterone: the forgotten hormone, and the global testosterone crisis leaving women behind
→ The hormonal hierarchy: cortisol, thyroid and insulin resistance
→ The exact blood tests to ask your doctor for — and what to look for in the results → Why understanding your own hormones is the key to recognising your symptoms and advocating for yourself

BLOOD TEST CHECKLIST — take this to your appointment: Foundational: Full blood count · Iron studies (ferritin) · Thyroid panel (TSH, Free T3, Free T4) · Vitamin D · Vitamin B12 · Fasting glucose & insulin (or HbA1c) · Lipid panel Hormone panel: FSH · Oestradiol (E2, day 2–3) · Progesterone (day 21) · Total testosterone · Free testosterone · SHBG · AMH (optional)

If you've ever been made to feel like it's all in your head — it isn't. Understanding your body is how we take our power back.

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Ready to work with me? The Peri Protocol is my personalised coaching program for women in perimenopause and menopause. Apply here → www.kirstencookecoaching.com/apply

Grab your free guide — download your free What the Peri? guide → www.kirstencookecoaching.com/free-guide

Come say hi 🌸 Follow along on Instagram and Facebook @kirstencookecoaching — I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

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Research referenced:

• Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women (2019)
• Davis SR et al. (2015). Testosterone in Women — The Clinical Significance. Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology
• Australasian Menopause Society — testosterone position statement

This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare practitioner for personal medical decisions. If you're experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 (Australia).