🌿 Grab the free Fix It Fast Perimenopause List so you can make sense of what’s happening and what to do about it. 👉 http://go.hotflashinc.com/fix-it-fast
🔥 Join the waitlist for The Hot Truth About Hormone Therapy — the only in-depth guide that looks at all the approaches so you can make an informed decision for your body. Out June 15! 👉 http://go.hotflashinc.com/hottruth-waitlist
Hotflash inc subscribers get each new episode of the Hotflash inc Podcast a full day before anyone else.
For those who like to read, check out the AI-generated transcript.
This episode stopped me in my tracks — and I think it’ll do the same for you.
Dr. May Hindmarsh is a family medicine physician, co-host of the BS Free MD podcast, and someone who has been questioning medical dogma for decades. She was prescribing hormones to women before the WHI and after. And then menopause hit her — and even with all her training, her contacts, and a team of specialists, she spent three years unable to figure out why she felt like she was going crazy.
Here’s what makes this conversation different:
May was already on bioidentical hormone therapy when things fell apart — it wasn’t a case of needing more hormones
She has MTHFR, COMT, and other genetic mutations that affect how she metabolizes estrogen — meaning a low dose for most women hit her like a high dose
Histamine intolerance and mast cell activation syndrome were at the root of her 3 a.m. panic attacks, racing heart, rosacea flares, and night sweats — not menopause alone
COVID exposure made everything significantly worse — and she explains why this is something more women need to know about
She eventually found her “nirvana” — a micro-dose estrogen, testosterone as her superpower, and the lowest possible progesterone — but it took years of trial, error, and a lot of letting go of what the internet said she should be able to tolerate
“People know their bodies very well. If you’re trying all the things and it’s just not for you — don’t let anyone scare you or shame you on either side. It’s your one body, your one life you’re living in it.” — Dr. Mai Hindmarsh
Highlights
02:04 – Training as scientists vs. trusting pharmaceutical reps
12:39 – Practicing before the Women’s Health Initiative — what Mai actually saw clinically
17:47 – How the WHI hit her practice and why the data didn’t match what she was seeing
20:25 – Her own perimenopause begins: libido tanks, testosterone at zero, migraines spike
26:17 – When things started to go wrong
35:40 – MTHFR, COMT, and why genetic variations change everything
45:06 – What mast cells actually are and what histamine does in the body (way beyond allergies)
51:22 – Why nutraceuticals can be just as overwhelming as pharmaceuticals
53:11 – Why “just optimize more” culture is so harmful
57:06 – What she’s doing now
1:01:14 – Why you have to trust yourself over your practitioner
Connect with Hotflash inc
TikTok: @hotflashinc.menopause Instagram: @hotflashinc X: @hotflashinc YouTube: @hotflashinc Facebook: @hotflashinc LinkedIn: Ann Marie McQueen
Disclaimer
This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your treatment, supplements, or lifestyle.
AMx
If you order any of products listed in this email, Hotflash inc may receive a commission. Check Products to ensure they ship to your region.
