Are you worried about bone loss, osteopenia, or osteoporosis? In this episode, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Maki from Progress Your Health dive deep into what women can do—beyond medication—to protect and rebuild bone density through hormones, nutrition, supplements, and lifestyle. Learn how to: ● Understand your DEXA scan and what your T-score really means ● Support bone strength through weight-bearing exercise & muscle building ● Use HRT (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone) to slow post-menopausal bone loss ● Balance calcium, magnesium, vitamin D + K2, and collagen the right way ● Avoid common pitfalls with over-supplementation ● Discover why healthspan + lifespan matter for women after 50 Whether you’re in perimenopause, post-menopause, or simply want to build stronger bones for the decades ahead, this episode gives you the complete, practical roadmap to maintaining bone density—naturally. If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.

Learn how to read a DEXA scan—step by step. In this live session, Dr. Valorie and Dr. Maki walk through real patient case studies and show you exactly how to interpret T-scores, Z-scores, and FRAX so you can understand osteopenia vs osteoporosis, track progress over time, and focus on what actually moves the needle for stronger bones. What you’ll learn ● T-Score vs Z-Score: What they measure and which one matters most for decisions ● FRAX (hip & major fracture risk): When it’s useful—and when it’s misleading ● Case studies over multiple years: How lifestyle, protein intake, weight-bearing exercise, and HRT can influence bone density ● Osteoclasts vs Osteoblasts: Why bone remodeling matters (and what meds really do) ● Practical next steps: Protein targets, weight-bearing basics, and common pitfalls (chronic calorie deficit, low-carb + low-calorie impacts on thyroid/muscle) Key topics covered ● Reading the lumbar spine and femoral neck numbers ● Normal, osteopenia, osteoporosis cutoffs (and context) ● Why “maintain” can be a win—and when improvement is realistic ● How vegetarian/pescatarian diets can still support bones (smart protein strategy) ● HRT’s role for bones—helpful but not the whole story If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.

In this episode, Dr. Robert Maki walks through his exact testosterone rhythmic dosing protocol—how he cycles doses daily across a 26 to 28-day month and seasonally (25% / 50% / 75%) to align with Dr. Valorie’s cycle. We cover why this “rhythm over static” approach is designed to preserve receptor sensitivity (avoiding the down-regulation common with large, infrequent injections), plus practical details like application sites, off-days, and lab targets. What you’ll learn: ● The men’s “rhythm”: monthly sync with partner + annual seasons (lowest winter → highest fall) ● Why off-days on 14 & 28 help up-regulate receptors ● The fall (75%) day-by-day outline: ramp, peak (days 16–19), taper ● Cream application, transfer precautions (partners, kids, pets), sweat/timing tips ● When static dosing or injectables can cause receptor down-regulation—and how rhythmic dosing differs ● Goals: year-round testosterone typically 600+, higher during summer/fall phases (context-dependent) If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.

In this episode, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki break down exactly how Dr. Valorie runs her personal rhythmic dosing—including the day-by-day estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) schedule that recreates a 28-day ovarian cycle. If you’ve heard us talk about “In-Betweeners” (women transitioning from late perimenopause into early menopause) and wondered how rhythmic dosing actually works in real life, this walkthrough is for you. What you’ll learn ● The difference between static vs rhythmic HRT—and why some In-Betweeners thrive on a cyclical protocol ● How a day-12 estradiol surge (with a softer “landing” on day 13) can mimic physiology ● When and why progesterone starts on day 14 and peaks around day 21 ● Why a predictable, light, 3–4 day period is part of the safety of rhythmic dosing ● How we individualize doses (E initial / E± adjustments) for history, tolerance, and goals Dr. Valorie’s high-level rhythm (summary) ● Days 1–5: Estradiol twice daily (build the baseline) ● Days 6–11: Gradual E2 increases leading to a day-12 peak ● Day 13 → luteal: Step down E2; start progesterone day 14, titrate to a day-21 peak, then taper ● Cycle length: ~26–28 days, with a short, light withdrawal bleed If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.

Estrogen dips can trigger migraines—especially in perimenopause. Here’s how to spot it and what helps. Dr. Valerie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki explain why sudden drops in estradiol can spark headaches/migraines in cycling women, perimenopause, and menopause, plus what to do if HRT dosing (patch vs BiEst vs rhythmic) is making things worse. They also cover DIM (diindolylmethane)—when it helps vs when it can exacerbate low-estrogen symptoms, and supportive options like magnesium glycinate, B-complex, Vitamin D, and blood sugar balance. What you’ll learn ● How luteal-phase and ovulation-time estrogen drops trigger migraines ● Why perimenopause creates spike-and-crash estradiol patterns (and headaches) ● Menopause migraines from low estrogen—and how to adjust HRT ● When estradiol patches can worsen headaches (and alternatives) ● DIM: smart dosing, cycling, and when to avoid over-lowering estrogen ● Simple supports: magnesium glycinate, B vitamins, Vitamin D, glucose/insulin balance ● Local vs systemic hormones and why total estrogen load matters If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.

Should you use estradiol cream on your face? Dr. Valerie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki explain why estriol (E3) is a gentler, safer alternative for wrinkles, melasma, vaginal health, and hormone balance during perimenopause and menopause. They share the risks of estradiol absorption, why it can throw off your HRT program, and why estriol is often the better choice—for both skin care and vaginal tissues. You’ll also learn about systemic vs local hormone use, melasma risk, and the real-world challenge of getting access to estriol. If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.