Menopause Reimagined with Andrea Donsky
Welcome to Morphus!
We created Morphus to spark change in the conversation around perimenopause and menopause wellness, to bring together women seeking support and information, and to provide research-backed supplements for women in perimenopause and menopause. As Health Experts with over 23 years of experience as wellness educators, we bring you expert insights on perimenopause and menopause, along with the latest evidence-based scientific research.
Our goals are to help you navigate this time in your life, empower you to take charge of your health, and arm you with the resources and education to make the right decisions for yourself and your changing body.
Our name was inspired by the symbolism of butterflies, which represent beauty, transformation, and hope. Morphus combines the words "metamorphosis" + "us" (Morph/us) to represent the transformation we are all going through.
Andrea Donsky & Randy Boyer
Co-Founders, Morphus, Inc.
Menopause Reimagined with Andrea Donsky
Ep #164: The Pill Hangover: How Birth Control Affects Perimenopause, Thyroid, and Gut Health with Elizabeth Katzman
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In this interview, Andrea Donsky, nutritionist, menopause educator, and published menopause researcher and co-founder of WeAreMorphus.com, discusses how hormonal birth control can mask where you are in the menopausal transition, what labs help, and how to talk to your doctor about safer options. Elizabeth Katzman specializes in Functional Diagnostic Nutrition for women in perimenopause and menopause. She'll help you connect the dots if you've taken the pill in the past or are on the pill now.
Topic Covered:
- What the pill does (synthetic estrogen + progestin), why the “period” on it is a withdrawal bleed, and how it can hide your true perimenopause status.
- Why progestins can raise anxiety/depression risk, and how bioidentical progesterone supports sleep, mood, bones, and thyroid.
- Thyroid connection: How the pill can deplete nutrients and interfere with T4→T3 conversion, and raise hypothyroid risk when midlife thyroid issues already spike.
- Leaky gut, depleted lacto/bifido, and why protecting your mucosal lining matters for autoimmune risk.
- Testing that helps (and when): Why FSH/E2/Progesterone timing matters off the pill, plus affordable bloodwork that gives clues even when hormones fluctuate.
- How to think about nutrient repletion (methylated B’s, magnesium, zinc, selenium) and why an IUD or mini-pill (progestin-only) isn’t automatically a better choice.
- Topical/oral/vaginal progesterone options, DHEA and pregnenolone basics, and why “fit + formulation + timing” often matter more than the dose.
- Red meat, ferritin, and genetics: Why iron can climb post-menopause, when to watch ferritin, and how genetics (MTHFR, APOE) affect it.
- When your long-time GYN isn’t the right HRT partner, and how to add a practitioner who actually understands midlife hormones.
Links From The Show:
- Perimenopause, Menopause & Pelvic Health Survey
- DNA Company
- Why You Should Test Your Iron Levels in Menopause with Dr. Christy Sutton
- Dr. Thomas Perls on Longevity Tips from Studying Centenarians
- Understanding Bio-Identical Hormones (BHRT) and Menopause with Dr. Chris Shade
- Julva
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Morphus: Menopause Reimagined
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DISCLAIMER: This is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider. This podcast contains affiliate links; Morphus may earn a commission. Thank you for your support.
