The Dr. Hyman Show

Hormone replacement therapy is one of the most talked about—and misunderstood—topics in women’s health. For years, women were told HRT was dangerous. Now, the conversation is shifting, but many are still left confused about what’s actually safe, when to start, and whether hormones are even right for them.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Dr. Cindy Geyer from my clinic, The UltraWellness Center, to answer the most common questions we received from our audience about hormone replacement therapy, including:

What the latest research actually says about the safety of HRT—including breast cancer and cardiovascular risk

Why timing matters and the critical “window of opportunity” around perimenopause and menopause

The difference between bioidentical hormones, synthetic hormones, compounded options, and patches vs. oral therapy

How hormones impact sleep, brain fog, weight distribution, insulin resistance, libido, bone health, and healthy aging

Natural strategies that can support hormone balance alongside—or without—HRT, including nutrition, exercise, stress reduction, and targeted supplements

How functional medicine personalizes hormone therapy through testing, estrogen metabolism, gut health, genetics, and lifestyle factors

Menopause is not just a hormone issue—it’s a full-body metabolic transition. And hormone therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all. The key is understanding your biology, your symptoms, and your long-term health goals so you can make informed decisions that support vitality, resilience, and healthy aging.

Visit ⁠functionhealth.com for 160+ lab tests at just $365 a year.

Want more on brain health? Sign up for the Brain Shaping Academy HERE.

Have a question you’d love answered on Office Hours? Submit it here

As a special thank you for our listeners, we’re offering $300 off a Functional Medicine Consultation Package, the most comprehensive service offering at Dr. Hyman's Functional Medicine Clinic, The UltraWellness Center. To learn more and book your consultation, please schedule a New Patient Discovery Call at the link HERE and reference the Dr. Hyman Show.

Disclaimer: Offer expires July 31, 2026. Functional Medicine Consultation Appointments must be booked by July 31,2026 but may take place at a later date. The initial call with a New Patient Engagement Coordinator is required to book the appointment. Offer not valid on other appointment types or existing appointments. Offer valid for bookings with Dr. Boham, Dr. Geyer, Dr. LePine and Dr. Papanicolaou.

(0:00) Welcome, introduction, and overview of hormone replacement therapy

(1:26) Introduction of Dr. Cindy Geyer and safety of HRT

(4:13) Timing, risks, and cancer concerns with HRT

(7:06) Functional medicine perspective and factors in starting HRT

(12:10) Benefits, timing, and natural alternatives to HRT

(16:33) Prescription, bioidentical, and compounded hormones

(19:20) Symptoms improved by HRT and libido considerations

(22:24) Vaginal estrogen, progesterone, and recognizing need for therapy

(24:25) Health markers and types of hormone testing

(27:08) Duration, contraindications, and tailored hormone therapy

(33:34) Preview: Dr. Sharon Malone on breast cancer risk

(42:24) Introduction and details of Brain Shaping Academy

We’re surrounded by plastics and environmental chemicals every day, but only recently have scientists begun to understand how deeply they may be affecting human health.

On this episode of The Dr. Hyman Show, I sit down with Dr. Shanna Swan to explore what the latest science reveals about plastics, fertility, hormone health, and the everyday habits that may be shaping our biology more than we realize.

Watch the full conversation on YouTube, or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

We Examine:

• Why scientists are increasingly concerned about declining sperm counts, fertility, and hormone health

• What microplastics, phthalates, BPA, and PFAS actually do inside your body

• Why heating food in plastic can dramatically increase exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals

• The practical changes that may help you reduce exposure and support long-term health

This conversation isn’t about fear, rather it’s about understanding how everyday exposures shape our health and where small, practical changes can make a meaningful difference.

If this episode has left you thinking differently about everyday exposure and you want to learn more, here are a few great places to start:

• Watch The Plastic Detox
• Explore Dr. Swan’s work through the Action Science Initiative
• Visit UnplasticYourLife.com for practical ways to reduce exposure at home

View Show Notes From This Episode

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(0:00) Microplastics in the human body and their sources

(0:56) Introduction to Dr. Shanna Swan

(3:34) The Plastic Detox documentary and endocrine disruptors

(5:21) Dr. Swan's research journey and phthalates

(6:29) Decline in sperm count and reproductive impacts

(8:45) Early research and phthalate syndrome in humans

(11:03) Sources and broader impact of endocrine-disrupting chemicals

(19:38) Classes of hormone-altering chemicals and health impacts

(22:51) Health impacts beyond reproduction

(24:20) Personal and clinical experiences with microplastics

(27:02) Measuring microplastics and routes of human exposure

(29:29) Methods to reduce microplastic exposure

(31:14) Biological and regulatory aspects of microplastics

(35:02) Plastic Detox movie findings and intervention results

(41:16) Chemicals in microplastics and their effects

(47:21) Legislation and consumer protection against toxic chemicals

(50:54) Diagnostic testing for toxic exposure: importance and costs

(53:09) Practical steps to reduce chemical exposures

(55:35) Avoiding plastic and toxic exposures in daily life

(58:10) Skincare, fragrance, and chemical exposure

(1:01:19) Rapid-fire questions on health and environmental practices

(1:09:06) Resources for testing and exposure reduction

Hydration affects far more than thirst. Even mild dehydration can impact your focus, memory, mood, energy, and overall brain performance—yet most people walk through the day without realizing they’re under-hydrated. The problem isn’t just not drinking enough water. It’s also caffeine overload, low electrolytes, processed foods, and inconsistent habits that quietly leave your brain and body struggling to keep up.

In today’s episode, we break down how hydration impacts brain health and what you can do to optimize it, including:
• Why even a 1–2% drop in hydration can lead to brain fog, fatigue, headaches, and reduced concentration
• The hidden role electrolytes play in energy, focus, and actually absorbing the water you drink
• How caffeine can quietly contribute to dehydration and create a cycle of fatigue and dependency
• Simple strategies to improve hydration—from morning water habits to eating more water-rich whole foods

Hydration isn’t just about drinking more water—it’s about helping your body and brain function the way they’re designed to. Small, consistent shifts can dramatically improve your energy, clarity, focus, and overall resilience.

Visit ⁠functionhealth.com for 160+ lab tests at just $365 a year.

Want more on brain health? Sign up for the Brain Shaping Academy HERE.

Have a question you’d love answered on Office Hours? Submit it here

Most health and fitness advice for women is based on research done in men. That’s something we need to rethink.

On this episode of The Dr. Hyman Show, I sit down with Dr. Stacy Sims, an exercise physiologist and leading researcher in women’s health. Her work has focused on how female physiology actually changes over time—and how training and nutrition need to change with it.

Watch the full conversation on YouTube, or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

We explore:

• Why eating less and doing more cardio can make fat loss harder

• What actually changes in your metabolism in your 30s and 40s

• How to train for strength—and why it matters for long-term health

• Why most workouts aren’t building muscle (and what to do instead)

• How to eat and time protein to support recovery, energy, and better sleep

A lot of the advice women have been given doesn’t account for how the body actually changes. Adjusting how you train and eat can make a meaningful difference in your energy, strength, and long-term health.

If you’re interested in learning more, Dr. Stacy Sims is offering my listeners 15% off her online courses with the code DRSTACYSIMS15OFF.

View Show Notes From This Episode

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(0:00) Women’s unique health needs, fitness, and nutrition mistakes

(0:56) Introduction of Dr. Stacy Sims

(3:34) Women’s health and fitness through life stages

(5:39) Navigating diet, exercise, and cognitive health for women

(24:00) Benefits and misconceptions of heavy weight lifting for women

(30:55) Understanding anovulatory cycles and high intensity interval training (HIIT)

(35:47) Reducing inflammation and proper high intensity exercise

(39:11) How to properly perform HIIT

(46:06) Overcoming gym intimidation and starting strength training

(50:12) Importance of community, support, and lifestyle on longevity

(55:01) Optimizing nutrition: circadian rhythm, time-restricted eating, and protein

(1:02:44) Post-exercise nutrition and fasted vs fed workouts

(1:08:01) Common nutrition mistakes for women

(1:12:17) Scheduling self-care and wellness meetings

(1:13:43) Quick fire questions on women’s health and fitness

(1:17:40) Benefits of creatine and favorite workout snacks

(1:18:23) Morning vs evening workouts and advice for younger self

(1:19:28) Where to learn more about Dr. Stacy Sims and Collective X Health

(1:20:20) Closing remarks, sharing, and social media

(1:21:15) Disclaimer, importance of healthcare practitioners, and sponsor gratitude

Autoimmune disease is often treated as something random, lifelong, and out of your control. But what if it’s not your body malfunctioning—what if it’s your immune system responding exactly the way it’s designed to, to something it sees as a threat? When you understand what’s driving that response, everything changes.

Here’s what I cover in today’s episode:
• The 5 key drivers—food, toxins, gut health, infections, and stress—and how they disrupt the immune system
• Why diet is one of the most powerful levers for turning inflammation on or off every single day
• The connection between leaky gut, the microbiome, and immune dysfunction
• A practical, functional medicine framework to start reducing symptoms and addressing the condition at the root

Autoimmune disease isn’t random—it’s the result of cumulative inputs over time. When you begin to change those inputs, you can shift your biology, calm the immune system, and change the trajectory of your health.

Visit ⁠functionhealth.com for 160+ lab tests at just $365 a year.

Join the 10-Day Detox: https://drhyman.com/pages/10-day-detox

Have a question you’d love answered on Office Hours? Submit it here  

The waitlist is open**

Sign up for Dr. Hyman’s Brainshaping Academy to learn how to nourish the biological systems that support your mental, emotional, and cognitive health - Click here

(0:12) Introduction, Sponsor: Function Health, and Overview of Autoimmune Diseases

(1:38) Immune System, Causes, and Triggers of Autoimmune Disease

(3:45) Common Mistakes and Root Causes in Treating Autoimmune Disease

(5:26) Food, Diet, and Anti-Inflammatory Strategies

(11:47) Toxins, Gut Health, and the Microbiome

(17:32) Hidden Infections and Treating by Root Cause

(19:38) Stress and Other Triggers for Autoimmune Disease

(23:14) Sponsor: Brain Shaping Academy

(24:10) Audience Engagement, Sharing, and Subscription

(25:19) Disclaimer, Professional Advice, and Sponsor Gratitude