Episode 171 - Hormones and Health: Understanding Adrenal Fatigue and HRT in Midlife

Oct 3

In this episode of the Nirvana Sisters Podcast, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Elizabeth Poyner, a gynecological oncologist and expert in midlife women's health. Dr. Poyner shared her extensive knowledge on the intersection of hormonal health, stress management, and overall well-being for women, particularly during midlife.

We kicked off the conversation by discussing our personal "nirvana" moments of the week, highlighting the joy of seasonal changes and family milestones. Dr. Poyner then delved into her journey from specializing in cancer surgery to focusing on midlife women's health, emphasizing the importance of understanding how stress impacts our bodies and the role of hormones in managing that stress.

A significant portion of our discussion centered around adrenal fatigue and HPA axis dysregulation, with Dr. Poyner clarifying the differences between adrenal fatigue and adrenal insufficiency. She explained how chronic stress can lead to dysregulated cortisol production, affecting our overall health.

We also explored the importance of androgens, particularly testosterone and DHEA, in women's health. Dr. Poyner highlighted the benefits of these hormones for mood, cognitive function, and overall vitality, while also discussing the various methods of hormone delivery, including creams and troches.

As we moved into the topic of brain health, Dr. Poyner shared alarming statistics about women's risk of dementia and the protective role of estrogen. She emphasized the importance of starting hormone replacement therapy early in the menopause transition to potentially reduce dementia risk.

Finally, we wrapped up the episode with Dr. Poyner's recommendations for supplements that can support midlife health, including vitamin D, omega-3s, and magnesium, and the significance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle through exercise and community engagement.

This episode was packed with valuable insights and practical advice for women navigating midlife health challenges. We hope our listeners find this information empowering as they strive for their own nirvana in health and well-being.

About Dr. Poyner:

Dr. Elizabeth A. Poynor is a gynecologic oncologist and advanced pelvic surgeon, with a deep understanding of women's health. Her expertise is in the management of complex women’s health issues. She is the Founder of Poynor Health New York (established 2006). She focuses on the management of midlife women’s health concerns and aging strategies, hormonal and endocrinological health concerns, diagnostic and prevention of illness strategies for women, complex pelvic surgery including surgical oncology and deep excision of endometriosis. Through her extensive surgical and medical background, she is able to care for women in a holistic fashion and uniquely employs both medical and surgical approaches for women’s health. Most recently, she has left surgery to focus on midlife women’s health.

After completing advanced surgical training in gynecology, gynecologic oncology and advanced pelvic surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and maintaining a successful surgical practice there for more than a decade, she decided to focus exclusively on the care of women in a more comfortable, private, comprehensive and integrative setting. After establishing her private practice, she was noted in 2007 and 2008 to be a Castle Connolly Guide Top Doctor for the New York Metro Area for gynecologic oncology. She was noted to be a New York Magazine, Castle Connolly Top Doctors in New York in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012,2013,2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 - 2023. She is also listed in the Best Doctors in America. She was the first gynecologic surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital to employ robotic surgery, and she maintained an appropriately high surgical volume of robotic surgery cases at Northwell Health and NYU Langone Medical Center. After founding and managing a successful private practice in Manhattan for 18 years, she now is the Chair of Women’s Health at Atria Health, an organization on the leading edge of medicine, shifting the paradigm from reactive sick care to proactive prevention to achieve optimal health.

Follow Dr. Poynor on Instagram.

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About Nirvana Sisters:

Nirvana Sisters is a relatable wellbeing, beauty, and lifestyle brand founded by sisters-in-law Amy Sherman and Katie Chandler. They explore and explain beauty, skincare, nutrition, movement, mindfulness, and more with an approachable style aimed at helping everyone achieve a lifestyle at their highest state, their nirvana.

For more on living a life of nirvana, listen to the Nirvana Sisters wellbeing podcast, and browse their blog for helpful advice on wellbeing, approachable tips for mindfulness, realistic ideas for body movement, and honest reviews on beauty and skincare products they love.

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