The Menopause Myth: Why Your "Normal" Hormone Labs Are Lying to You with Ann-Marie McQueen

In this episode of BS Free MD, hosts Tim and May Hindmarsh sit down with award-winning journalist Ann-Marie McQueen to unpack the “bullshift” and uncertainty around perimenopause and hormone replacement therapy. McQueen stresses that perimenopause is a clinical diagnosis rather than a laboratory one, since standard blood tests often fail to capture the “movie” of fluctuating hormones that leave many women feeling like they are losing their minds.Throughout the discussion, they examine the risks of “FOMO-ing” into hormones driven by influencer marketing, the deceptive use of relative risk to promote HRT as a preventative for dementia or heart disease, and the need for recognizing bio-individuality in treatment. Ultimately, the conversation shows that healing is multifaceted—often requiring a “low and slow” approach to hormones alongside foundational lifestyle changes like nervous system regulation, morning sunlight, and proper sleep to reclaim one’s health during this sovereign stage of life.