When Hormones Confuse Healthcare: Progesterone vs. Progestin

Good Morning!

This week: Menopause Awareness Month feels like the right time to clear up what I believe to be a big hormone confusion (that is not discussed enough!) — progesterone vs. progestin. Two world-class experts join me to unpack what the mix-up means for women’s care.

I also want your feedback — and if you’re in Boston next month, come join me for a live conversation on women’s brain health at the Museum of Science.

Let’s get into it.

NEW EPISODE

Why Healthcare Gets Progesterone Wrong — And How to Get the Right Care

There’s been a lot of menopause talk lately on Fempower Health — and given it’s Menopause Awareness Month, why not lean in?

Why This Conversation Matters

When medicine confuses two hormones, women pay the price. For decades, “progesterone” and “progestin” have been used interchangeably in research, clinical care, and even drug labels — shaping treatments, side effects, and what gets reimbursed.

In my latest Fempower Health conversation, endocrinologist Dr. Jerilynn Prior and gynecologist Dr. James Simon explain how this confusion started and what’s needed to fix it. Their exchange is rigorous — and sometimes conflicting — but that’s exactly the point. It exposes how the science, systems, and incentives in women’s health still fall short.

What You’ll Learn

• Progesterone ≠ Progestin: Why these hormones act differently in the body — and why it matters for outcomes like breast, bone, and brain health.

• How we got here: Research funding, terminology, and regulatory shortcuts that shaped hormone therapy for decades.

• What guidelines say now: Estrogen therapy is evidence-backed for symptoms, but studies must separate hormone types to assess risk accurately.

• Why this impacts every woman: From IUDs to menopause care, systemic confusion affects real-world prescribing and insurance coverage.

• How to advocate: What questions to ask your clinician about formulations, dosing, and updated guidance.

Actionable Takeaways

• Ask whether your prescription includes progesterone or a progestin and what that means for your health goals.

• If you’re on an estrogen patch with a Mirena IUD, confirm whether additional progesterone is needed.

• Check the latest Menopause Society guidelines before starting or adjusting hormone therapy.

• Support continued research that distinguishes between hormone classes — it’s the foundation of better care.

The Systemic Lens

This isn’t just a medical nuance. It’s a case study in how underfunded research, incomplete trials, and vague policy language create ripple effects across care, coverage, and women’s trust in medicine.

Closing

Conversations like this show why women’s health needs both transparency and nuance.

🎥 Watch the full interview now → https://youtu.be/awq6pxW-yH8
🎧 Prefer to listen? Find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you tune in.
💬 Share this issue to help more women access accurate, evidence-based care.

A QUICK FAVOR

Your Feedback Shapes Our Work

I hear from so many of you that you love this newsletter — and that means a lot. But I’d genuinely love to know what’s landing for you (and what’s not).

3 simple bullets:

• What do you love?

• What do you want more or less of?

• What could I do differently?

👉 Reply directly to this email — I read every note.

EVENTS

Springboard Enterprises 25th Anniversary Gala

Tuesday, October 28, 2025 • 6:00 PM • Nasdaq MarketSite, New York City

Join Springboard Enterprises to celebrate 25 years of advancing women entrepreneurs. Since its founding, Springboard has accelerated more than 940 women-led companies, celebrated 240 exits and 28 IPOs, and generated $76B in global market value.

This milestone event will bring together more than 250 founders, investors, thought leaders, and innovators — honoring the women and supporters who made this success possible and launching the next chapter under new leadership.

👉 Register to attend or learn more

NYC Women's Health Policy Forum

Thursday, October 30 • New York, New York (Register to See Address)

Cure and Women's Health Advocates are teaming up to provide in-depth analysis on women's health policy, what is happening in D.C. impacting the health of women, and what we can do to shape the process from experts who have spent decades working in and with government.

Register to attend and please share with your network.

Milken Institute Future of Health Summit 2025

November 4–6, 2025 • Salamander Washington DC

The Milken Institute’s Future of Health Summit convenes global leaders to confront the toughest challenges in health — matching human, financial, and scientific resources with the most innovative ideas to drive better outcomes for every community.

Topics include women’s health, biomedical innovation, chronic disease prevention, mental health, longevity, rare diseases, and food as medicine. The summit amplifies innovative partnerships, targeted research, and policy priorities shaping the future of care.

👉 Explore the summit details

Investing in Our Brains: The Hidden Story of Women’s Brain Health

Tuesday, November 12 • Boston, Massachusetts (Museum of Science)

The Museum of Science is hosting an evening dedicated to women’s brain health — from hormones and neurobiology to funding gaps and innovation.

Yours truly (me!) 😉 will moderate a discussion with leading researchers and advocates exploring how investment, policy, and clinical research intersect to shape women’s cognitive health across the lifespan.

Register to attend and please share with your network.

COMING SOON

Ever left a doctor’s office wondering, “Did they even hear me?” You’re not imagining it — but the problem runs deeper than you think. In this week’s episode, I sit down with Dr. Sharon Malone, a board-certified OB-GYN who’s spent over 30 years caring for women, to talk about how our healthcare system broke trust on both sides of the exam room. We unpack why women feel dismissed, why doctors are burning out, and what needs to change for women to finally get the care they deserve.

Subscribe to Fempower Health on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube for alerts.