# Ep. 637 HRT Dosing: Absorption, Timing, and Lab Testing |Menopause, Perimenopause, Hormone Replacement Therapy

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/everyday-wellness-midlife-hormones-menopause-and-science-for-women-35-72097/ep-637-hrt-dosing-absorption-timing-and-lab-testing-menopause-perimenopause-hormone-replacement-therapy
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/everyday-wellness-midlife-hormones-menopause-and-science-for-women-35-72097/ep-637-hrt-dosing-absorption-timing-and-lab-testing-menopause-perimenopause-hormone-replacement-therapy.md
Podcast: [Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Menopause, and Science for Women 35+](https://stenobird.com/podcast/everyday-wellness-midlife-hormones-menopause-and-science-for-women-35-72097)
Published: 2026-09-03T07:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/CTH7151387573.mp3
Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/CTH7151387573.mp3
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Duration seconds: 991

## Resource

Welcome to this week’s Midlife Minute episode. Today, we’re diving into listener questions about HRT dosing and the confusion surrounding administration. We explore several key themes, including absorption issues, lab draws, and cycling versus daily continuous dosing. I also compare oral progesterone with vaginal and transdermal progesterone. Stay tuned for more! IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: The estradiol dosage range I prefer, for bone protection How heart disease risk can influence the route you select for HRT I clarify the “start low and slow” approach to HRT dosing Why women with uteruses need progesterone when taking estrogen  Why HRT dosing can become more complicated during perimenopause How FDA-approved bioidentical hormones differ from compounded preparations Various factors to consider when using an estradiol patch Alternative routes of administration for women who feel unwell when taking progesterone orally How providers can safely transition women from transdermal estradiol patches to other options Connect with Cynthia Thurlow   Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website. Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com  Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow.  Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut. Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book The Midlife Pause Supplement Line Research: Please visit https://www.cynthiathurlow.com/podcast for research.

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## Transcript

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