dr. sarah daccarett - What Everyone Should Know About Menopause

Dr. Sarah Dacorette shatters widespread misconceptions about perimenopause and menopause in this eye-opening conversation about women's hormonal health. As a board-certified physician specializing in hormone therapy and CEO of Inner Balance, Dr. Dacorette brings both clinical expertise and passionate advocacy to a topic that affects every woman yet remains widely misunderstood.

The revelations start immediately: perimenopause can begin as early as your late 20s, not just in your 40s as commonly believed. Those mysterious symptoms you've been experiencing—anxiety, insomnia, weight gain that won't budge, brain fog, unexplained fatigue—might not be stress or aging, but hormonal shifts that conventional medicine routinely misses or dismisses. "A lot of the early signs can be anxiety or stress, even depression or low mood, and they'll think it's just their job or kids or life, and they don't attribute it to a drop in hormones," Dr. Dacorette explains.

Perhaps most surprising is the connection between hormonal decline and autoimmunity. Women are four times more likely to develop autoimmune conditions, and as Dr. Dacorette notes, "The hormones drop first and then the autoimmunity comes." This suggests that when autoimmune issues appear, we should immediately consider hormonal factors—yet conventional medicine rarely makes this connection.

Dr. Dacorette tackles the controversial topic of hormone replacement therapy with refreshing clarity, addressing outdated fears stemming from misinterpreted research. "Mark Twain said that a lie will travel halfway around the world before the truth can put its shoes on. This is exactly what happened with estrogen," she explains. The truth? Long-term studies now suggest that estrogen may actually protect against breast cancer rather than cause it.

For those seeking alternatives to hormone therapy, Dr. Dacorette offers practical advice on supplements, lifestyle approaches, and dietary modifications that can help, though she acknowledges these require significantly more effort than addressing the root hormonal causes.

Whether you're experiencing symptoms now, approaching perimenopause, or supporting someone who is, this conversation provides the knowledge to advocate effectively for better care. As Dr. Dacorette reminds us, "Aging is a part of life, but suffering through it is not required."