The Dr. Brighten Show: Empowering Conversations on Women’s Health and Hormones
Join Dr. Jolene Brighten for expert insights, real-life strategies, and uplifting stories designed to help you thrive—body, mind, and spirit.
Latest Episodes
GLP-1 Weight Loss in Menopause: How HRT Amplifies Results
If your midlife metabolism suddenly stopped playing by the old rules, you’re not imagining it. In this episode, Dr. Brighten breaks down how perimenopause and menopause shift insulin sensitivity, fat distribution, appetite, and recovery and where glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (think semaglutide/Ozempic, Wegovy, liraglutide, tirzepatide as a related incretin therapy) can fit safely alongside hormone therapy, lifting, protein, and …
Endometriosis, HRT, and Menopause: Expert Answers on Surgery, IVF & What Really Helps| Dr. Melissa McHale
Does endometriosis go away after menopause? Many women hope so, but the reality is more complex. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, I sit down with Dr. Melissa McHale to unpack the latest science, surgical risks, and what women truly need to know about navigating endometriosis during perimenopause and menopause. 🎧 Don’t miss this conversation — hit play …
Progesterone Side Effects & Intolerance: Why You Feel Worse on Progesterone| Dr. Jolene Brighten
So you finally got your progesterone prescription to help you sleep better, feel calmer, and support your hormones, but instead of feeling better, you’re more anxious, moody, and wide awake at night. You might have progesterone intolerance. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, I uncover why some women experience the opposite of the “calming” benefits they’re promised, and …
Articles
Foods High in Polyphenols: Polyphenol-Rich Foods List, Health Benefits, and Best Sources
Foods high in polyphenols include berries, grapes, dark chocolate, coffee, tea, and spices like turmeric and cloves. These plant compounds are antioxidants that fight inflammation, balance hormones, and support heart, brain, and gut health. But polyphenols do more than just protect your cells. For women navigating hormone shifts in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, they offer support for metabolism, inflammation, …
Heavy Periods in Perimenopause: Causes, Clots, and How to Stop Heavy Bleeding
Heavy periods in perimenopause are one of the most common (and frustrating) symptoms women face in their 40s and 50s. If you’ve noticed heavier bleeding, large clots, or sudden flooding during your period, you’re not alone. Perimenopause is a time of major hormonal shifts, and for many women, one of the most noticeable (and disruptive) changes is to their periods1, …
Perimenopause Anxiety Disorder: Can Unbalanced Hormones Like Progesterone Cause Anxiety?
Hormonal changes during midlife, including perimenopause and menopause, usually cause more than just hot flashes and irregular cycles.For many women, this time can trigger what feels like a perimenopause anxiety disorder—sudden waves of worry, restless nights, and emotional unease.At least 40% to 50% of perimenopausal women1 report dealing with mental health challenges, such as mood swings and insomnia, that they …
Menopause and Autoimmune Disease in Women: Symptoms, Flare-Ups, and What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You
If you’re a woman navigating both menopause and an autoimmune disease at the same time, you might have noticed your symptoms shifting in ways your doctor didn’t fully prepare you for. For example, unpredictable flare-ups, stubborn signs of inflammation, and hormonal chaos can all occur during this transitional phase and can feel like a storm no one warned you about. …
Best ADHD Podcasts for Women
If you're a woman navigating ADHD—whether you’re newly diagnosed, in your 30s or 40s, or noticing your symptoms intensify during PMS or perimenopause—this list is for you. ADHD in women often goes unrecognized or misunderstood. But the right podcast can help you feel validated, supported, and equipped with tools that actually work for your brain and body. From hormone-aware strategies …
The Benefits of a Weighted Vest for Women
A weighted vest is a fitness tool that adds extra resistance to your body by evenly distributing weight across your torso. By making your muscles work harder during everyday movements—like walking, running, or bodyweight exercises—it can help you burn more calories, build muscle endurance, strengthen bones, and improve posture and balance. Weighted vests aren’t just for athletes. Research shows they …
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What others say
Dr. Brighten's work is so important for women's health. Whenever women with thyroid, menstrual or fertility issues come to work with Dr. Brighten they find have better periods, feel better, they have more energy and in many cases they are able to reverse their conditions. I highly recommend Dr. Brighten's work.Dr. Izabella Wentz, Thyroid Pharmacist, NYT Best Selling Author of Hashimoto's Protocol
Dr. Jolene Brighten is a powerful force supporting women’s health and well-being. In a world where oral contraceptives are doled out like candy, Dr. Brighten guides women through reestablishing hormonal balance and reclaiming their lives. This book will help countless women in great need.Maya Shetreat-Klein, MD, author of The Dirt Cure
If you are a woman and you are dealing with hormone issues, adrenal issues or a thyroid condition then this is your go-to doctor. Her clinic will help you restore your hormones, get your energy back and improve your period. I have been recommending my readers to her for many years because she gets the results that you are desiring.Dr. Mariza Snyder, Best Selling Author
Dr. Jolene Brighten and her women health clinics help women address their hormone imbalances and autoimmune disease by getting to the root cause.Dr. Trevor Cates, Spa Doctor, Best Selling Author
Dr. Brighten is someone I look to help me often with patients that I have questions about with women's health issues. I find that her wisdom and knowledge of women's health is unparalleled. I really value her expertise.Dr. Alejandra Carrsaco Functional Medicine MD