Published: April, 2025
Published: April, 2025
Featured Physician
Cathleen M. BrownHost
Episode #10 of The Menopause Hour with Winona is a playback of a live Ask the Experts Q&A, hosted by Madi Baldwin with Winona's Medical Director Dr. Cathleen Brown.
In honor of Women's History Month and Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Cathleen Brown opens with a reminder on proactive screenings. She then goes on to answer real listener questions on DHEA, weight gain, and libido. An episode for anyone thinking more intentionally about their health during the menopause transition.
Podcast: The Menopause Hour with Winona
Episode Number: 10
Episode Title: Episode #10: Balancing Hormones: Libido, Weight, and Self-Care in Menopause
Host: Madi Baldwin
Featured Physician: Dr. Cathleen Brown
Published Date: April 2, 2025
Episode Duration: 1 hr 2 min
Format: Menopause Q&A
Main Topics: Colorectal cancer screening & prevention, Weight gain & protein intake, Libido & DHEA
The Menopause Hour with Winona is a health and wellness podcast hosted by Winona’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Michael Green, and Medical Director, Dr. Cathleen Brown. The show explores common questions about perimenopause and menopause through clear discussions of symptoms, treatment options, and the science behind the menopause transition.
Episodes include live Q&A sessions, doctor-led discussions, and patient stories, with topics shaped by the questions women commonly bring to their own doctors. Produced by Winona, the podcast provides practical, accessible menopause information grounded in current research.
This episode revisits a live Ask the Experts session where Dr. Cathleen Brown opened with a timely reminder: March is both Women's History Month and Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. She walked through when to start screening and why catching it early matters.
The conversation covered real listener questions on DHEA side effects and timing, why hormone or blood testing isn't needed to guide treatment, how much protein actually supports muscle maintenance in midlife, and practical guidance on low libido and weight gain that won't budge. This episode is intended for anyone ready to rethink their self-care routine during perimenopause and menopause.
Why colorectal cancer screening should start at 50, or earlier with family history
DHEA alone: what to expect, including skin and energy changes
Peach fuzz, age spots, and melasma during perimenopause
Cream vs. pill: choosing based on what fits your routine
Common early symptoms when starting HRT, like bloating and breast tenderness
Why hormone or blood testing isn't needed to guide treatment
Protein intake and strength training for maintaining muscle mass
Combining semaglutide (GLP-1 medications) safely with HRT
Low libido and the role of DHEA and emotional connection
Vaginal estrogen: how it works and when to use it
Hair thinning and DHEA: correlation vs. causation
Weighing breast cancer risk against the overall health benefits of HRT
Dr. Cathleen Brown recommended that average-risk women start colorectal cancer screening at age 50 using a colonoscopy or another approved method. Women with a family history may need to start screening 10 years before the age at which a first-degree relative was diagnosed.
Starting DHEA can trigger acne or oilier skin as testosterone levels rise, but these effects tend to fade as the body adjusts. Many women notice an energy boost and improved libido within a few weeks.
Dr. Cathleen Brown shared that women naturally lose muscle mass every year as they age, which slows metabolism even without any change in diet. She personally found she needed about 120 grams of protein a day to maintain her muscle mass and was only getting about half that before she started tracking it.
Breast cancer risk varies by HRT type and duration. For women with a uterus, progesterone is typically added to systemic estrogen to protect the uterine lining, so treatment decisions should consider the benefits and risks of the full regimen rather than either hormone in isolation.
Female hormone levels fluctuate too much throughout the day to be meaningfully tested, and major medical organizations don't require it. Dr. Cathleen Brown noted that treatment decisions are based on symptoms and how the body responds, not lab numbers.
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Dr. Cathleen Brown is a menopause specialist and physician with Winona. She brings a physician’s perspective to menopause, perimenopause, hormone changes, symptom care, and treatment options during midlife.
At Winona, Dr. Brown helps women better understand symptoms, health history, hormone changes, and when physician-reviewed care may be appropriate.
Watch the full conversation with Dr. Cathleen M. Brown on
The Menopause Hour with Winona with Madi Baldwin.
Winona helps women access menopause and perimenopause care from home. Start with a short health questionnaire, and a board-certified physician will review your symptoms, health history, and treatment options.
