Heather Hirsch MD MS NCMP

Heather Hirsch MD MS NCMP Women's health physician, podcast host, and media contributor on a mission to make your hormones make sense in your 40s and 50s.

Pre-order my new book The Perimenopause Survival Guide, out in October.

Brain fog is one of the most common and frustrating symptoms women describe in perimenopause and menopause. And while it...
06/03/2026

Brain fog is one of the most common and frustrating symptoms women describe in perimenopause and menopause. And while it can feel scary, it’s often connected to shifting estrogen levels and the way hormones impact the brain. For many women, the right menopausal hormone therapy can make a noticeable difference in clarity, focus, and quality of life. If you’ve been told to “just deal with it,” it may be time for a second opinion.

Check out jointhecollaborative.com and get matched with a Collaborative clinician who can walk you through your symptoms and your options.

If s*x hurts, you keep getting UTIs, or dryness is affecting your life, it may be GSM. GSM happens when low estrogen aff...
06/02/2026

If s*x hurts, you keep getting UTIs, or dryness is affecting your life, it may be GSM. GSM happens when low estrogen affects the vaginal and urinary tissues, causing symptoms like dryness, burning, pain with s*x, urgency, incontinence, and recurrent UTIs.

It is common, treatable, and not something you have to just live with.

Check out my free hormone health guide https://heatherhirschmd.myflodesk.com/freeclass?fbclid=IwY2xjawOlgk1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEwNVF4QURiNXRDNDZuQVMxc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPNTE0NzcxNTY5MjI4MDYxAAEeCk8GOHq-hj5kD3kuqTwGvViVNGBRLsXFuzoKCt8RVt5hev_WEoKqiGo8Xao_aem_01MHUCiDsoITQkW2cfDhiA

05/18/2026

If progesterone helps you feel calm, lowers your anxiety, or improves your sleep, taking it nightly (continuous use) is usually my top recommendation. Plus, it is much harder to forget a dose when it’s part of your nightly routine. Other options include cyclic use (12 days a month) or even every other night, though that can be tricky to track.

Want the full breakdown? Watch the complete video on my YouTube channel!

Your period coming every 17, 21, or 25 days instead of your usual cycle length can be one of the first signs of early pe...
05/18/2026

Your period coming every 17, 21, or 25 days instead of your usual cycle length can be one of the first signs of early perimenopause.

This is called cycle crowding, and it can happen as ovulation becomes less consistent and hormones start to fluctuate.

Perimenopause does not always start with hot flashes. Sometimes it starts with your period showing up way earlier than expected.

💖 Click here for The Perimenopause Survival Guide
https://amzn.to/3KIsBKz

05/18/2026

Hormone therapy is not one-size-fits-all. Think of it like a Chipotle order: some women only need one “ingredient,” like estrogen after a hysterectomy or with an IUD. Others may use progesterone alone for sleep, anxiety, or hot flashes if estrogen is not an option. And some may need the full bowl: estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and vaginal estrogen.

The point is, your hormone therapy “recipe” should be individualized to your body, your symptoms, and your medical history.

Check out my free mini course for patients by clicking https://heatherhirschmd.myflodesk.com/freeclass?fbclid=PARlRTSAQJoFJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAadtXbdBltMX68fO9V0ua4_sks4vqYxKwwkEbREDDFtl4QsrbRdDl4h-J3mxvA_aem_HTAnTY6_PMuoy5TMHaWVRw

The IUD is not just about birth control. For many women in perimenopause and menopause, a hormonal IUD can be a helpful ...
05/17/2026

The IUD is not just about birth control. For many women in perimenopause and menopause, a hormonal IUD can be a helpful option because it is reversible, minimally invasive, and can provide benefits beyond pregnancy prevention.

It may help manage heavy bleeding, protect the uterine lining when using estrogen therapy, and offer a more localized progesterone option for some patients.

As always, the right choice depends on your body, your symptoms, your goals, and your medical history, but this is a conversation worth having with a menopause-informed clinician.

Check out my free hormone health guide https://heatherhirschmd.myflodesk.com/freeclass?fbclid=IwY2xjawOlgk1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEwNVF4QURiNXRDNDZuQVMxc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPNTE0NzcxNTY5MjI4MDYxAAEeCk8GOHq-hj5kD3kuqTwGvViVNGBRLsXFuzoKCt8RVt5hev_WEoKqiGo8Xao_aem_01MHUCiDsoITQkW2cfDhiA

05/17/2026

Heart palpitations in midlife can feel scary, but they may be connected to fluctuating estrogen. When estrogen levels become more volatile, some women notice extra beats or a “bubbling” feeling in the chest. Always check with your clinician about new or worsening heart symptoms.

Check out jointhecollaborative.com and get matched with a Collaborative clinician who can walk you through your symptoms and your options.

I was recently quoted in Oprah Daily in an article by Beauty Director Kate Sandoval Box about fragrance sensitivity and ...
05/16/2026

I was recently quoted in Oprah Daily in an article by Beauty Director Kate Sandoval Box about fragrance sensitivity and one of Oprah’s Favorite Things.

And of course, I had to talk about perimenopause.

One of the more surprising symptoms I hear from my perimenopause patients is a heightened sensitivity to smell, also called hyperosmia.

Estrogen doesn’t just affect your ovaries. It also helps regulate how the brain processes odors. So when estrogen starts fluctuating, your sense of smell can go into overdrive.

Read the full article at the link in my bio.

05/16/2026

In this Ask Me Anything, I’m answering a question I’m hearing more often: can women in their 70s and 80s still use hormone therapy?

The protective benefits of hormone therapy are best studied when started within 10 years of the final period, but that does not mean women later in life have no options.

Some women continue to have symptoms for decades, including joint aches, sleep issues, brain fog, mood changes, and genitourinary symptoms of menopause.

Click this link and I’ll add you to my newsletter so you’re the first to hear what I’m teaching, what’s new in women’s health, and the things I don’t always share on social. https://heatherhirschmd.myflodesk.com/freeclass?fbclid=PARlRTSAQK6BlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAadaQWp0digI3WW7IK1h6yxSMP8Pap6ueqKSKsvnL6AH04K6NANhZKA5NVca6Q_aem_SrWA-9l6MUS4W2DnUWEncA

Still thinking about this event at our new headquarters in New York City.Being able to teach, advocate for, and help mov...
05/15/2026

Still thinking about this event at our new headquarters in New York City.

Being able to teach, advocate for, and help move the conversation forward for women in midlife truly feels like a dream come true. This work is deeply fulfilling, and I’m so grateful to be part of changing the way menopause care is understood and delivered.

I shared some of my biggest takeaways on menopause care, hormone therapy, and where I believe this conversation is headed in 2026.

The full talk is accredited for 2 CEUs and is now available to watch on YouTube.

Address

Chestnut Hill, MA

Website

https://heatherhirschacademy.com/, https://jointhecollaborative.com/

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