Dr. Brendan McCarthy

How you receive estrogen matters.

In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy breaks down the different ways estrogen can be delivered — including oral estrogen, topical/transdermal estrogen, injections, and pellets — and explains why the route of delivery can change how the hormone behaves in your body.

He discusses first-pass metabolism, estrone conversion, transdermal delivery, vaginal estrogen, injection esters, pellets, lab monitoring, and why informed consent and ongoing follow-up are essential to hormone replacement therapy.

Most importantly, this episode is about understanding your options. You deserve to know what you're taking, how it's being delivered, what it may do, what the risks are, and how your provider plans to monitor you.

 

📚 Patient Education:
Explore our patient education resources here:
https://protealife.com/patient-education

⚠️ This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Do not abruptly change or stop hormone therapy based on information you hear online. Talk with your healthcare provider about your specific situation.

If you found this episode helpful, like, share, and subscribe for more conversations about hormones, health, and personalized medicine.

 

Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more.

If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.

👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it.

📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book:
Jump Off the Mood Swing – A Sane Woman’s Guide to Her Crazy Hormones
https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-...

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:
Instagram: @drbrendanmccarthy
TikTok: @drbrendanmccarthy
Website: www.protealife.com

💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments!

Vaginal and urinary symptoms are common during perimenopause and menopause—but understanding why they happen and how different forms of estrogen work can be confusing.

In Episode 8 of this hormone series, Dr. Brendan McCarthy breaks down the relationship between systemic estrogen, vaginal estrogen, estradiol, estriol, testosterone, and the genitourinary symptoms many women experience during menopause.

He discusses:

Why oral estrogen doesn't necessarily reach every tissue in the body the way you might expect

The difference between systemic and vaginal estrogen

Why vaginal estrogen can be an important medical intervention—not simply a "cream"

How estrogen can affect vaginal tissue, pH, and urinary health

The role of androgens like testosterone in vaginal and genitourinary health

What we know—and still don't know—about vaginal estrogen transfer to a partner

Why informed consent means truly understanding your treatment

Questions you can ask your provider about your hormone therapy and monitoring

Dr. McCarthy's goal is simple: to give women unbiased information so they can feel more informed, curious, and confident when making decisions about their health.

This episode is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about what treatment approach is appropriate for you.

 

📚 Download the free research resources and citations:
Visit www.protealife.com for episode notes, references, and educational materials.

 

Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more.

If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.

👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it.

📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book:
Jump Off the Mood Swing – A Sane Woman’s Guide to Her Crazy Hormones
https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-...

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:
Instagram: @drbrendanmccarthy
TikTok: @drbrendanmccarthy
Website: www.protealife.com

💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments!

An elevated estrone level can be alarming—especially when you search online and immediately find scary information about cancer, diabetes, or obesity. But does a high estrone level automatically mean something is wrong? In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy, Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center, takes a closer look at estrone and why it shouldn't be treated as a simple “good” or “bad” hormone. Dr. McCarthy also discusses his own evolution in understanding estrone and why he believes good medicine requires continually questioning what we think we know. The goal isn't to tell you what decision to make. It's to give you better information so you can have a more informed conversation with your healthcare provider.

 

📚 Download the free research resources and citations:
Visit www.protealife.com for episode notes, references, and educational materials.

 

Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more.

If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.

👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it.

📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book:
Jump Off the Mood Swing – A Sane Woman’s Guide to Her Crazy Hormones
https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-...

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:
Instagram: @drbrendanmccarthy
TikTok: @drbrendanmccarthy
Website: www.protealife.com

💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments!

Should every woman take estrogen? Or should no one?

According to Dr. Brendan McCarthy, both extremes miss the point. The best hormone therapy is personalized, evidence-based, and designed around the individual—not headlines or trends.

In this episode, Dr. McCarthy explains why today's growing "estrogen for everyone" movement can be just as concerning as the outdated fear created by the Women's Health Initiative study. Hormone replacement therapy isn't about following the crowd—it's about understanding your body, your risks, and your long-term health goals.

In this video, you'll learn:

Why hormone therapy should never be one-size-fits-all

The difference between individualized care and "pill mill" medicine

What the Women's Health Initiative actually studied—and how it was misinterpreted

Why estrogen helps with some conditions more than others

The questions every woman should ask before starting hormone replacement therapy

How experienced clinicians monitor hormones to keep treatment safe over time

At Protea Medical Center, we believe hormone therapy should be built around you—your symptoms, your lab work, your health history, and your goals.

If you're considering hormone replacement therapy, make sure you're working with a provider who takes the time to explain your options, monitor your progress, and adjust treatment as your body changes.

 

📚 Download the free research resources and citations:
Visit www.protealife.com for episode notes, references, and educational materials.

 

Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more.

If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.

👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it.

📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book:
Jump Off the Mood Swing – A Sane Woman’s Guide to Her Crazy Hormones
https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-...

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:
Instagram: @drbrendanmccarthy
TikTok: @drbrendanmccarthy
Website: www.protealife.com

💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments!

When someone says, "estrogen causes cancer" or "estrogen causes blood clots," what estrogen are they talking about?

In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy explains one of the biggest misconceptions in hormone replacement therapy (HRT): estrogen isn't a single hormone—it's a family of hormones. Understanding the differences between estradiol, estrone, and estriol can completely change how you view your treatment, your lab work, and the conversations you have with your healthcare provider.

You'll learn why the type of estrogen, how it's delivered (oral, patch, injection, pellet), and how it's monitored all matter. Dr. McCarthy also discusses why informed consent goes beyond signing paperwork—it means truly understanding the treatment you're receiving and why it was chosen for you.

In this episode:

What estradiol, estrone, and estriol actually do

Why estrogen is a family—not a single hormone

How oral estrogen differs from patches, injections, and pellets

Why delivery method changes how your body metabolizes estrogen

The difference between bioidentical, synthetic, and animal-derived estrogens

Why lab timing and monitoring are essential for safe HRT

The importance of true informed consent in hormone therapy

Four questions every patient should ask before starting estrogen

📚 Download the free research resources and citations:
Visit www.protealife.com for episode notes, references, and educational materials.

 

Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more.

If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.

👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it.

📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book:
Jump Off the Mood Swing – A Sane Woman’s Guide to Her Crazy Hormones
https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-...

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:
Instagram: @drbrendanmccarthy
TikTok: @drbrendanmccarthy
Website: www.protealife.com

💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments!