LISTEN TO THE PODCAST – Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
In this episode of Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, I interviewed Dr. Jen Pfleghaar, a double board-certified physician in emergency and integrative medicine, who is also the author of an upcoming book, The Perimenopause Reset. Dr. Jen brings a refreshing blend of clinical expertise and personal experience (she has Hashimoto’s too!) to help us understand and thrive through the often challenging perimenopause years.
I thought I had Hashimoto’s all figured out, then perimenopause showed up like, “Hold my gluten-free beer.” Suddenly, it felt like I got hit by a bus… driven by hormones!” My metabolism, sleep, mood, and energy all shifted. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Perimenopause can feel like an unpredictable hormone rollercoaster, but there are ways to glide through it more gracefully.
In this episode, we explore the powerful role of progesterone, the importance of cycle syncing, key lifestyle changes, and some of the most exciting innovations in women’s health, like peptides and vagus nerve support.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by symptoms or unsure what’s happening with your body, this conversation will give you clarity and hope.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
- Why perimenopause feels unpredictable and what’s actually happening hormonally. It’s not just a slow decline in estrogen. Dr. Jen explains that during perimenopause, estrogen can spike and crash wildly, while progesterone steadily drops. This hormonal mismatch is why symptoms like mood swings, anxiety, and irregular cycles can appear seemingly out of nowhere and why the traditional “wait and see” approach doesn’t work.
- The overlooked role of cortisol, and why stress hits harder now. As progesterone levels drop, its natural calming effect on the nervous system fades. Dr. Jen highlights how women in perimenopause become more sensitive to stress, and how cortisol spikes can drive insomnia, anxiety, and fatigue. She emphasizes daily tools like HRV monitoring, breathwork, and parasympathetic support to calm the system and rebalance hormones.
- Blood sugar swings aren’t just about food; they’re a hormone issue. Perimenopause shifts metabolic function, increasing insulin resistance even in healthy women. Dr. Jen connects the dots between blood sugar instability and symptoms like belly weight, brain fog, and energy crashes, and shares why protein-forward meals and strength training are non-negotiable for midlife women.
- Sleep isn’t just rest, it’s hormonal therapy. Poor sleep amplifies cortisol, disrupts blood sugar, and worsens estrogen/progesterone balance. Dr. Jen underscores how addressing the cause of poor sleep, like stress, late-night eating, or alcohol, can unlock profound hormonal improvements without starting with medications.
- Progesterone might be the missing piece for mood, sleep, and calm. As levels drop in perimenopause, many women experience anxiety, restlessness, and disrupted sleep. Dr. Jen explains why bioidentical progesterone, particularly in oral form, can be a safe, effective way to restore balance and help women feel like themselves again.
Guest Resources / Connect with Dr. Jen Pfleghaar
- Learn more at the Healthy By Dr. Jen Website
- Dr. Jen’s new book The Perimenopause Reset – available on Amazon
- Download the free e-guide Peptides for Motherhood
- Check out Dr. Jen’s Peptides 101 course
- Listen to The Integrative Health Podcast with Dr. Jen
- Follow Dr. Jen on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and X
Supplements We Discussed
- Magnesium – Foundational support for perimenopause symptoms, stress, sleep, and more. I like Rootcology Magnesium Citrate Powder.
- NAC (N-acetyl cysteine) – Supports liver detox and estrogen metabolism. I like Rootcology Pure N-acetyl Cysteine.
- Calcium D-glucarate – Helps promote healthy estrogen detox via gut support.
- Broccoli sprouts, DIM, / I3C – Support estrogen detoxification pathways.
- Milk thistle, artichoke root, dandelion – Liver support.
- Chaste Tree (Vitex) – Supports progesterone balance, especially in the luteal phase.
- Creatine – For muscle maintenance, especially when using GLP-1 peptides.
- Peptides – Peptides are revolutionizing women’s health. Some are available only by prescription, others are available as supplements. Check out Dr. Jen’s line of peptides and bioregulators!
Other Tools and Resources
- Liver support protocols – including fiber and liver-loving foods and supplements.
- Cycle syncing – adjusting diet, fasting, exercise, and social activities to different phases of the menstrual cycle.
- Castor oil packs – for liver support.
- Epsom salts – for detoxification.
- Vagus nerve stimulation – devices like TrueVaga and practices like humming, singing, and prayer to promote parasympathetic tone.
- Peptides for gut health: BPC-157, KPV, Larazotide
- Peptides for metabolic support: GLP-1 (semaglutide, tirzepatide), Growth hormone secretagogues (Ipamorelin, CJC-1295), 5-Amino-1MQ
- Peptides for intimacy: PT-141 (with oxytocin nasal spray)
- Estrogen metabolite testing – DUTCH urine test or ZRT Labs saliva test.
Books and Articles About Hormone & Thyroid Health
- The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
- The Polyvagal Theory by Stephen Porges
- Estrogen Dominance as a Trigger for Hashimoto’s
- How Supporting the Liver Is Key to Recovering from Thyroid Disease
- Why Balancing Blood Sugar is Vital for Hashimoto’s Health
- Are Your Adrenals Sabotaging Your Health
- 14 Ways Birth Control Pills Rob Us of Our Health
- Did Your Thyroid Condition Start or Worsen During Perimenopause?
Get the Full Episode Transcript
Let’s Connect!
- Follow me on Instagram:@izabellawentzpharmd
- Get my FREE weekly thyroid & gut health newsletter: Sign up here
- Subscribe & Review: If you loved this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or rate it on Spotify!
Got questions? Drop them in the comments! 🙂
About Our Host
Dr. Izabella Wentz
Dr. Izabella Wentz is a compassionate, innovative, solution-focused integrative pharmacist dedicated to finding the root causes of chronic health conditions. Her passion stems from her own diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in 2009, following a decade of debilitating symptoms.
Dr. Izabella Wentz has written several best-selling books, including the New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause, the protocol-based #1 New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Protocol: A 90-Day Plan for Reversing Thyroid Symptoms and Getting Your Life Back, the Wall Street Journal bestseller Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology: Nutrition Protocols and Healing Recipes to Take Charge of Your Thyroid Health, and her latest book, Adrenal Transformation Protocol.
Thyroid Pharmacist Blog
Instagram
Facebook
TikTok
Rootcology
About Our Guest
Dr. Jen Pfleghaar is a double board certified physician in Emergency and Integrative Medicine. She went to medical school at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, completed her training at St. Vincent’s Mercy Hospital, and did her fellowship at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine.
Dr. Jen brings more than just expertise to the table. She co-authored Eat. Sleep. Move. Breathe., a guide to living a healthier life and serves on the board of the Invisible Disabilities Association. She is a part of the American Osteopathic Association’s Bureau of Osteopathic Research and Public Health.
Her passion for healing isn’t just professional – it’s personal. After being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, Dr. Jen dove deep into the world of autoimmune conditions, hormone imbalances, and thyroid health. Now, she’s on a mission to guide others toward better health.
When she’s not sharing insights on Instagram and YouTube as @integrativedrmom or running her health hub at healthybydrjen.com, you’ll find her cheering on her four children, enjoying time on her mini farm in Tennessee, lifting weights, or soaking up wisdom from her favorite book – the Bible.
Leave a Reply