Meet Your Body with Jessica Valant, MSPT

Meet Your Body with Jessica Valant, MSPT

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): What Every Woman Should Know

Sep 10, 2026 · 51 min · 14 segments

Hormone replacement therapy is having a resurgence—but HRT isn’t one medication, one dose or the right choice for every woman. In this episode of Meet Your Body, physical therapist and women’s health…

Hormone replacement therapy is having a resurgence—but HRT isn’t one medication, one dose or the right choice for every woman. In this episode of Meet Your Body, physical therapist and women’s health expert Jessica Valant breaks down what hormone replacement therapy actually is, what it can—and can’t—do, and the important factors to consider when deciding whether HRT might be right for you. Jessica walks you through the three hormones you hear about most in the menopause conversation—estrogen, progesterone and testosterone—including why each might be prescribed and the different ways they can be taken. You’ll learn: - What HRT is and who might be a good candidate - The differences between estrogen, progesterone, progestins and testosterone - Pills, patches, gels, creams and vaginal estrogen—and why the route of administration matters - What changes after a hysterectomy or removal of the ovaries - Special considerations for women with a history of breast cancer or endometriosis - What “bioidentical” hormones actually means - Why the timing of starting HRT matters - The proven benefits of HRT - The questions to ask your healthcare provider when considering hormone therapy Most importantly, this isn't a conversation about whether HRT is simply “good” or “bad.” Your age, symptoms, medical and surgical history, personal risk factors, goals and preferences all matter. Whether you’re curious about HRT, already taking hormones or have been told hormone therapy isn’t an option for you, this episode will give you the information and questions you need to have a more informed, individualized conversation about your health. Resources mentioned in this episode: ⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⚫︎ Hormones in Perimenopause and Menopause: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body-with-jessica-valant-mspt/id1649561552?i=1000787395575⁠ ⚫︎ About the Women's Health Initiative Study: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body-with-jessica-valant-mspt/id1649561552?i=1000788451085 ⚫︎ Podcast references: ⁠Dr. Heather Hirsch and Dr. Kelly Casperson ⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⚫︎ YouTube workouts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jessica Valant Pilates app:Apple IOS - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/mry5ya8r⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Google - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/yh3ty5fp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hormone replacement therapy is having a resurgence—but HRT isn’t one medication, one dose or the right choice for every woman. In this episode of Meet Your Body, physical therapist and women’s health…

What HRT Means5:35 – 11:09

Jessica ValantHost

5:35

So HRT, what does that even mean? HRT is hormone replacement therapy.

Jessica ValantHost

5:42

You will also see right now the letters MHT, menopausal hormone therapy.

Jessica ValantHost

5:49

That is another term that's out there.

Jessica ValantHost

5:51

But in general, it's typically still called HRT.

Jessica ValantHost

5:55

So that is, that's what I'm gonna use here, HRT.

Jessica ValantHost

5:59

So what is that? It's hormone replacement therapy.

Jessica ValantHost

6:03

So it is where we use hormones As a therapy, as a treatment in some way to help women in their bodies, and there are a few ways that this can happen.

Jessica ValantHost

6:17

So one is you have probably heard the terms bioidentical and synthetic, okay? That's one we're gonna touch on off the bat, just what does that mean.

Jessica ValantHost

6:27

Bioidentical simply means that the hormone that you are being given has the same chemical structure as the ones that you produce.

Jessica ValantHost

6:36

So if you are given a hormone and it's a bioidentical hormone, it means its chemical structure is identical to what you make as a human being.

Jessica ValantHost

6:47

If it's synthetic, it means it is not the exact same, okay? It's different.

Jessica ValantHost

6:53

They are both man-made.

Jessica ValantHost

6:54

That's what I want you to understand.

Jessica ValantHost

6:55

Bioidentical means it is still created.

Jessica ValantHost

6:58

We are still making it, but it has the exact same structure as what your body makes.

Jessica ValantHost

7:04

Your body will not be able to tell the difference when it's given to you.

Jessica ValantHost

7:07

It's the same structure.

Jessica ValantHost

7:08

Versus synthetic, which means it is not.

Jessica ValantHost

7:10

It is not the same structure, okay? Another thing to know is the word compounded.

Jessica ValantHost

7:15

So if somebody says it's compounded, that's a word that's thrown around a lot right now.

Jessica ValantHost

7:20

Compounded means that it is made in a pharmacy, and it's typically compounded or, um, put together with something else.

Jessica ValantHost

7:30

And this has to be specifically prescribed for you, and it goes to a pharmacy who hopefully specializes, and that's something you would wanna look into is who is making this, who's compounding it for you.

Jessica ValantHost

7:42

But it would be for your specific needs, so they might be mixing a couple things together or putting it in different ratios.

Jessica ValantHost

7:48

Some doctors that I have spoken to and even interviewed here on the podcast really prefer to do that.

Jessica ValantHost

7:54

Like, they want to have things compounded.

What HRT Means5:35 – 11:09

Jessica ValantHost

5:35

So HRT, what does that even mean? HRT is hormone replacement therapy.

Jessica ValantHost

5:42

You will also see right now the letters MHT, menopausal hormone therapy.

Jessica ValantHost

5:49

That is another term that's out there.

Jessica ValantHost

5:51

But in general, it's typically still called HRT.

Jessica ValantHost

5:55

So that is, that's what I'm gonna use here, HRT.

Jessica ValantHost

5:59

So what is that? It's hormone replacement therapy.

Jessica ValantHost

6:03

So it is where we use hormones As a therapy, as a treatment in some way to help women in their bodies, and there are a few ways that this can happen.

Jessica ValantHost

6:17

So one is you have probably heard the terms bioidentical and synthetic, okay? That's one we're gonna touch on off the bat, just what does that mean.

Jessica ValantHost

6:27

Bioidentical simply means that the hormone that you are being given has the same chemical structure as the ones that you produce.

Jessica ValantHost

6:36

So if you are given a hormone and it's a bioidentical hormone, it means its chemical structure is identical to what you make as a human being.

Jessica ValantHost

6:47

If it's synthetic, it means it is not the exact same, okay? It's different.

Jessica ValantHost

6:53

They are both man-made.

Jessica ValantHost

6:54

That's what I want you to understand.

Jessica ValantHost

6:55

Bioidentical means it is still created.

Jessica ValantHost

6:58

We are still making it, but it has the exact same structure as what your body makes.

Jessica ValantHost

7:04

Your body will not be able to tell the difference when it's given to you.

Jessica ValantHost

7:07

It's the same structure.

Jessica ValantHost

7:08

Versus synthetic, which means it is not.

Jessica ValantHost

7:10

It is not the same structure, okay? Another thing to know is the word compounded.

Jessica ValantHost

7:15

So if somebody says it's compounded, that's a word that's thrown around a lot right now.

Jessica ValantHost

7:20

Compounded means that it is made in a pharmacy, and it's typically compounded or, um, put together with something else.

Jessica ValantHost

7:30

And this has to be specifically prescribed for you, and it goes to a pharmacy who hopefully specializes, and that's something you would wanna look into is who is making this, who's compounding it for you.

Jessica ValantHost

7:42

But it would be for your specific needs, so they might be mixing a couple things together or putting it in different ratios.

Jessica ValantHost

7:48

Some doctors that I have spoken to and even interviewed here on the podcast really prefer to do that.

Jessica ValantHost

7:54

Like, they want to have things compounded.