When women struggle with hormone problems, PMS, irregular cycles, weight gain, insomnia, mood swings, or menopause symptoms, the blame almost always falls on estrogen. But here’s the surprising truth: it’s usually not estrogen at all. It’s progesterone.

For decades, progesterone has been treated as little more than a “pregnancy hormone.” But in reality, it’s one of the most misunderstood and underappreciated hormones in the body. Beyond fertility, progesterone calms the brain, balances mood, protects bones, supports gut and bladder health, and even helps reduce breast cancer risk.

The problem is that most doctors misdiagnose estrogen “dominance” when the real issue is low progesterone.

And even worse, the number-one thing that wrecks progesterone isn’t aging, it’s stress. Chronic cortisol production steals away its building blocks and shuts down its receptors, making your body resistant to the very hormone it needs most.

In this episode of The Trusted Pharmacist, I break down why progesterone, not estrogen, is the missing piece in so many women’s health struggles, how stress quietly sabotages your hormone balance, and why replacing progesterone properly is one of the most powerful (and overlooked) tools in restoring health.

Things You’ll Learn In This Episode 

-Progesterone: the bigger story
Progesterone isn’t just about reproduction; it’s neuroactive, bone-protective, mood-balancing, and even cancer-protective. Why has medicine overlooked its full impact for so long?

-Estrogen myths, progesterone truths
What’s often labeled as “estrogen dominance” is usually a progesterone deficiency in disguise. How does reframing the problem change the way we fix hormone imbalances?

-Stress vs. aging: the real progesterone killer
Yes, progesterone naturally declines with age, but high cortisol depletes it faster and blocks it from working. Could stress be more damaging to your hormones than menopause itself?

-Smart replacement, not guesswork
From capsules to creams to compounded options, how you dose and deliver progesterone changes everything. What’s the safest and most effective way to restore balance without overdosing?

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About Your Host

Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker, and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 250,000 on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare.

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