Did you know that starting hormone replacement therapy has an ideal window, and starting it at the wrong time can actually impact your brain, bones, and heart? In this week's episode of Menopause Mastery, I’ll break down the science behind the critical window theory of hormone replacement therapy. Discover the truth about the Women's Health Initiative study that scared women away from hormones overnight, and learn why that poorly constructed study led to decades of misinformation. I explain how the average 63-year-old participants with existing cardiovascular disease don't represent the typical woman considering hormone therapy. Learn about the biological signals your body gives you - from sleep interruption and brain fog to the "Sahara desert" effect and joint pain - that indicate it's time to consider bioidentical hormone replacement. I reveal why progesterone decline starts in your late twenties, how testosterone affects memory and motivation, and why topical estrogen is the gold standard. Whether you're experiencing perimenopause symptoms in your 40s or wondering if it's "too late" to start hormones in your 60s, this episode provides the science-backed guidance you need to make informed decisions about your hormone health. Links: Menrva Telemedicine: https://gethormonesnow.com/ FREE Hormone Quiz: https://bit.ly/3wNJOec Living Well Dallas: https://www.livingwelldallas.com/ Hormone Reset: https://hormonereset.net/ Betty Murray Website: https://www.bettymurray.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BettyAMurrayCN/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bettymurray_phd/ Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com Connect with Dr. Betty Murray: Website: https://www.bettymurray.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BettyAMurrayCN/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bettymurray_phd/ Thank you for listening to Menopause Mastery. Empowering your health journey, one episode at a time.