EP. 214 - The Meno Besties Roundtable: when to test hormones, the nervous system, desire at midlife and more!

In this fun and rousing roundtable discussion, Dr. Fiona Lovely sits down with two of her favorite podcast hosts and Meno Besties: Zora Benhamou from Hack My Age and Karen Martel from The Hormone Solution. Together, they navigate a conversation on the nuances of hormone therapy, the hidden complexities of the thyroid, and the often-unspoken landscape of female desire in midlife.  They even discuss the wildly popular Heated Rivalry show! The conversation dives deep into the necessity of testing hormone levels during perimenopause, with Karen making a compelling case for why "test, don't guess" is a vital rule—especially when thyroid issues can so easily mimic hormonal symptoms. From there, the trio courageously pivots to sexual health, reframing low libido not as a flaw, but as a complex experience often rooted in stress, trauma, and a nervous system stuck in survival mode. They wrap up with a beautiful, anthropological look at menopause as a spiritual promotion, referencing cultures that revere the post-reproductive woman as a wise leader and healer. Episode Highlights: The Hormone Testing Debate: A nuanced look at why testing in perimenopause is essential and how thyroid health can be the hidden culprit behind your symptoms. The Truth About Desire: An honest conversation about midlife libido, exploring why certain narratives captivate women and the role of ancestral trauma in feeling safe enough for intimacy. The Nervous System Connection: Understanding how a survival-mode response impacts your hormonal transition. Menopause as a Second Spring: Rejecting the Western narrative of decline in favor of a model of gained wisdom, authority, and spiritual power. Want to feel less alone in your experience? Tune in to hear three friends remind you that you aren't broken—you're just becoming the most powerful version of yourself.   The conversation doesn't end here. Keep the education going with Zora and Karen on their own shows or sign up to learn more about my Menopause Doula Certification where you can be the one supporting women! Listen to Hack My Age by Zora Benhamou Learn more about Zora: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube Listen to The Hormone Solution with Karen Martel Learn more about Karen: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube   Thank you to our sponsors for this episode: 💙🌿BEAM Minerals to help with stress related depletion - this is your 2026 pro-health move!  Did you know that chronic stress can zap your energy and your minerals?  You FEEL better quickly, with this easy to take supplement - replenishing all lost minerals.  Give BEAM a try - beamminerals.com and use the code LOVELY for 20% off your first order! ✨Did you know that estrogen actually helps to protect our heart?  When estrogen starts to diminish as we head to menopause, we have more oxidative stress on our arteries.  Thankfully, MitoQ has a special anti-oxidant Mitoquinol that boosts our mitochondria and limits that stress.  You can check it out at MitoQ.com.  Use LOVELY10 for 10% off your first order.   Dr. Fiona Lovely is a longevity, health and wellness expert with specialties in menopause medicine, functional neurology and functional medicine.  S