Hormone Myths Debunked: How to Thrive During Menopause with Dr. Betty Murray | Ep 60

Welcome to the Libido Lounge

Dr. Diane: Welcome to the Libido Lounge, where we focus on all things love, lust, and libido. We believe that fabulous sex is as important to health as exercise and good food. Hi everybody, welcome back to another episode on the Lounge. I’m your libido expert, Dr. Diane Mueller, and I’m so excited about the conversation we’re going to have today.

We’re going to talk about hormones, dispel some myths, cover the challenges women face during menopause, and explore solutions. For the first time on this show, we’ll dive into the role of toxins and how they disrupt our hormones, especially during the menopause transition.

To help us with this, I have with me a dear friend, Dr. Betty Murray. She’s a brilliant women’s functional medicine health researcher and nutrition expert who has shared stages with legends like Dr. Mark Hyman. Thank you for being here, Dr. Betty!

Dr. Betty: Thank you! I’m so excited to have this conversation.

The Truth About Hormone Myths and Menopause

Dr. Diane: Let’s dive right in. I want to get into toxins, but first, can we start by dispelling some common myths around hormones for our listeners who may be new to this topic?

Dr. Betty: Absolutely. First, women need to understand that living into our 80s is unnatural. Back in 1900, the average lifespan was 57 years. During the Civil War era, it was in the 40s. So now, we’re living 30–35 years beyond fertility — something almost no other species does. Hormones are protective. When our ovaries stop functioning, that’s when aging and health risks spike.

Dr. Betty: It never made sense to me that we could safely handle wildly fluctuating hormones throughout fertility, take high-dose birth control, and yet suddenly at age 50, hormones are supposed to become dangerous. It defies logic.

Before 2002, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was standard care since the 1950s. Between 40–80% of women used it without increased risks of breast or ovarian cancer. In fact, it was protective. The shift came after the Women’s Health Initiative in 2002, which erroneously reported that hormones caused breast cancer. Even in that study, estrogen alone reduced breast cancer risk by 23%.

Dr. Diane: Such important context. And it’s mind-blowing how these myths continue despite the science.

The Role of Toxins and Xenoestrogens

Dr. Diane: Let’s talk toxins. How do external toxins play into our hormone cycles?

Dr. Betty: We have three primary estrogens: estradiol, estrone, and estriol. We metabolize them and prepare them for elimination. But many environmental toxins — like pesticides, herbicides, plasticizers, fragrances — act as xenoestrogens, meaning they mimic estrogen.

Dr. Betty: These fake estrogens bind to estrogen receptors but don’t give us the protective benefits of our natural hormones. They disrupt function and increase cancer risks. For example, atrazine, a pesticide, can literally change the sex of frogs from male to female in contaminated environments.

Dr. Diane: So important. And just to clarify for our audience, BPA-free plastics often contain phthalates, which can be even more problematic than BPA.

Are Phytoestrogens Safe?

Dr. Diane: Let’s clarify something else: phytoestrogens, like those found in flax and soy. Should we eat more of them?

Dr. Betty: Yes — but in moderation. Flax, for example, has been shown to reduce cancer cell growth and hot flashes. Seed cycling — using pumpkin, sesame, and flax seeds — can influence hormones. But remember, our ancestors never consumed eight cups of ground flax a day! Use them as food, not medicine. More is not better — variety and balance are key.

Dr. Diane: Exactly. And online messaging can be so confusing. For every good food, there’s something out there saying it’s bad. It gets overwhelming fast.

The Medical Gaslighting of Menopause

Dr. Diane: Let’s talk about perimenopause and menopause. So many women get gaslit by their doctors. I’ve heard clients say their doctor told them to “suck it up” or “grow some balls.” It’s wild.

Dr. Betty: It’s heartbreaking. Before 2000, 40–80% of women received hormone replacement. Today, only 1.83% do — and 100% of us go through menopause!

Most doctors get less than three hours of menopause training, even gynecologists. They aren’t hormone experts — they’re trained as surgeons. So if your doctor dismisses your symptoms, fire them.

Dr. Betty: If they start prescribing antidepressants or sleep meds without even considering your hormones, walk away. Demand proper care or find someone who knows how to provide it.

The Importance of Proper Hormone Testing

Dr. Diane: So what about testing? Many doctors just monitor symptom improvement — like fewer hot flashes — but no actual lab work.

Dr. Betty: Huge red flag. There are 69 common menopause symptoms, and hot flashes are just a couple. You might not even feel some of the changes happening, like tissue degradation. Relying solely on symptoms is risky.

Dr. Betty: Blood tests are a quick snapshot but don’t show how hormones are used or cleared. Hormones travel in “taxi cabs” called binding proteins. Blood only shows total hormones, not what’s available or being detoxed.

The gold standard is urinary testing — it shows active hormones and how your body detoxes them. That helps us determine safe and effective dosing and long-term health strategies. We want to protect your brain, heart, and bones — not just eliminate hot flashes.

Estrogen Detox and DNA Protection

Dr. Diane: That’s so helpful. And let’s not forget: poor estrogen detox pathways can lead to DNA damage, which accelerates aging and increases cancer risks.

Dr. Betty: Exactly. These pathways are critical, even if you don’t use hormone replacement.

Other Red Flags and What to Watch For

Dr. Diane: Beyond hormones and toxins, are there other red flags women should be aware of?

Dr. Betty: Yes. This is why I pursued my PhD — my own perimenopause was rough despite already being in functional medicine. Turns out I have several genetic mutations affecting estrogen detox.

If you’ve had heavy periods, clotting, fibroids, endometriosis, or fibrocystic breasts, you likely have issues in your detox pathways. Another clue? If you suddenly can’t tolerate wine or beer in your 40s, feel flushed or get headaches — that’s another sign that your detox systems are faltering.

Final Thoughts

Dr. Diane: This has been such a powerful, eye-opening conversation. Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom, Dr. Betty!

Dr. Betty: Thank you! It was a joy being here.

Dr. Diane: You can find me on YouTube, on Instagram, and check out our Modern Libido Club for so much more!