What if hormone health is about far more than fertility and menopause symptoms?
In this episode of The Curious Cardiologist, Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj sits down with double-boarded OB-GYN and integrative medicine physician Dr. Jennifer Roelands to explore the connection between hormones, metabolism, fertility, cardiovascular health and longevity.
Dr. Jen shares her own experience discovering PCOS and thyroid disease after struggling to conceive her second child—and how being told she couldn't have PCOS because she was “skinny” ultimately changed the direction of her medical career.
The conversation explores why PCOS should be viewed as more than a gynecological condition, why menstrual cycles can provide important clues about overall health, and how insulin resistance, inflammation and thyroid health fit into the picture.
They then dive into perimenopause and menopause, including estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, and discuss hormone replacement therapy, healthspan, bone health, muscle, cardiovascular health and brain health.
The conversation also covers testosterone and men's health, environmental endocrine disruptors, fertility, lifestyle, nutrition and why earlier intervention may matter when it comes to chronic disease prevention.
In this episode, they explore:
• Why PCOS is more than a gynecological condition
• The connection between PCOS and metabolic health
• Why menstrual cycles may provide important health information
• Insulin resistance and inflammation
• Fertility and mitochondrial health
• Why women's health can be missed in conventional medicine
• What happens during perimenopause
• Estrogen, progesterone and testosterone
• Symptoms associated with hormonal changes
• Hormone replacement therapy and healthspan
• Early menopause and long-term health considerations
• Testosterone and men's health
• TRT, fertility and endogenous testosterone production
• Lifestyle factors that influence testosterone
• Endocrine-disrupting chemicals
• Consumer products and environmental exposures
• Why prevention should begin earlier in life
Dr. Jen also shares practical ways patients can become more informed about environmental exposures, including resources such as the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep database.
Timestamps
00:00 — Introduction: Hormones and the Missing Piece of Women's Health 02:20 — Why Dr. Jen Left Conventional Medicine 02:48 — Her Personal PCOS and Fertility Story 04:08 — Discovering PCOS and Thyroid Disease 05:08 — “My Labs Look Normal, But I Don't Feel Normal” 06:30 — Treating PCOS Beyond Medication 08:26 — Why PCOS Is a Metabolic Problem 09:52 — Should Your Period Be a Vital Sign? 10:54 — Fertility, Mitochondria and Long-Term Health 12:47 — What Conventional Medicine Gets Wrong About Lifestyle 16:07 — Why PCOS Research Is Still Limited 16:39 — The Underfunding of Women's Health Research 17:35 — Birth Control vs. Hormone Replacement 18:29 — PCOS Meets Perimenopause 20:07 — Why Prevention Should Start Earlier 21:17 — Risk Stratifying Women for Long-Term Health 22:38 — Genetics, Epigenetics and PCOS 23:53 — Pregnancy as a Window Into Future Health 25:10 — Why OB-GYNs Often Become Primary Care 26:45 — What Does Longevity Medicine Really Mean? 27:36 — Menopause as Healthspan Therapy 28:17 — When Does Perimenopause Actually Start? 29:35 — The Symptoms of Perimenopause 31:10 — Palpitations, Progesterone and Hormonal Changes 32:25 — Estrogen, Memory, Skin, Bladder and More 33:14 — Why Testosterone Is the Undervalued Hormone 34:21 — Early Menopause and Cardiovascular Risk 35:26 — The Legacy of the Women's Health Initiative 36:29 — When Should Women Consider HRT? 37:33 — Why Timing May Matter 39:25 — Andropause and Testosterone in Men 40:29 — Insulin, SHBG and Testosterone 42:12 — Who Actually Needs Testosterone Therapy? 44:18 — Why HRT and TRT Can't Replace Lifestyle 45:30 — Testosterone, Fertility and Endogenous Production 46:44 — The Amazon Analogy for Free Testosterone 47:11 — Testosterone and Cardiovascular Health 48:41 — Testosterone Therapy in Younger Men 50:03 — Medical Optimization vs. Bodybuilding 50:32 — Testosterone Risks and Side Effects 51:30 — Endocrine Disruptors Are Everywhere 52:30 — Reducing Everyday Toxin Exposure 53:54 — Why “Natural” Doesn't Always Mean Safe 55:06 — Teaching the Next Generation to Be Savvy Consumers 55:59 — Menstrual Products and Environmental Exposures 56:53 — Endocrine Disruptors and Pregnancy 58:28 — Finding Hope in Prevention 59:34 — “Eat More Plants, Not What's Made in a Plant” 59:49 — Rapid Fire: Dr. Jen's Favorite Things
What is The Curious Cardiologist?
Rethinking heart health, one question at a time.
I’m Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj—interventional cardiologist, functional medicine expert, and lifelong student of what really keeps us well. In this podcast, we go beyond prescriptions and procedures to explore the deeper drivers of health, disease, and healing.
From inflammation to intuition, cholesterol to consciousness, I sit down with doctors, researchers, and changemakers who are reshaping how we think about the heart—and the whole human behind it.
Whether you're a fellow clinician, a health seeker, or someone navigating your own transformation, this show will challenge what you thought you knew—and invite you to stay curious.