Forum Health, Michigan

10/26/2026

Your hormones don't take a 30-year break.

We talk about your first period. Then, somehow, the next big hormone conversation isn't until perimenopause.

What about the decades in between?

Hormones fluctuate throughout your teens, menstrual cycles, and reproductive years. Yet so many conversations about women's hormone health skip straight from puberty to menopause.

Alicia Barkholtz, FNP-C, explains why understanding your hormones matters at every stage of life.

🎧 Comment HORMONES and we'll DM you the link to the full podcast episode.

10/26/2026

A single hormone measurement is a snapshot.

But hormones don't stay frozen in place throughout the day.

The DUTCH test uses dried urine samples collected across the day to look at certain hormones and their metabolites, giving functional medicine providers another tool for understanding hormone patterns alongside symptoms, health history and other testing.

Our guide explains what DUTCH testing measures, how it works and where it may fit into a broader hormone evaluation →

https://forumhealth.com/blog/dutch-test-understanding-your-hormones-just-got-easier/

Test your hormones with the DUTCH test. Get the help you need with Forum Health.

10/25/2026

Before you toss the seeds from that Halloween pumpkin, give them a second look. 🎃

Pumpkin seeds pack a surprising amount into a small bite, including magnesium, zinc, healthy fats and fiber.

Roast them. Toss them on a salad. Add them to granola. Or just eat them by the handful.

We're breaking down 4 reasons pumpkin seeds deserve a spot in your fall snack rotation →

https://forumhealth.com/blog/four-reasons-to-eat-pumpkin-seeds-this-season/

Learn about the health benefits of pumpkin seeds in time for the fall season. Schedule an appointment with Forum Health today!

10/23/2026

What do your evening lights have to do with your sleep? 💡

Bright light at night can delay melatonin production, making it harder for your body to recognize when it's time to wind down.

Emily Rodriguez, CNM, APRN, shares a simple habit her family uses as the days get shorter: turning down the lights and sometimes having dinner by candlelight.

Try swapping bright overhead lights for softer, warmer lighting in the evening. It's a small change that can help support your natural sleep-wake cycle.

🎧 Comment SLEEP and we'll DM you the link to the full podcast episode.

10/23/2026

♻️ Antibiotic. Relief. Then another UTI. ♻️

For women caught in that cycle, clearing the current infection and understanding why the next one keeps happening are two different problems.

Hormonal changes, the vaginal and gut microbiome, bacterial biofilms, immune factors and other underlying issues may all be part of the bigger picture.

Our bladder health specialist walks through 7 possible drivers of recurring UTIs and why a deeper evaluation can matter →

https://forumhealth.com/blog/why-do-utis-keep-coming-back/

Recurrent UTIs aren't bad luck -- they're a signal your body's ecosystem is off. [The Bladder Expert], Jana Rogers APRN, breaks down the [7 root causes of recurrent UTIs] and how to finally stop the cycle.

10/22/2026

Why does stress seem to hit harder during perimenopause?

As estrogen and progesterone fluctuate, changes in mood and sleep can make an already stressful week feel even more exhausting.

Emily Rodriguez, CNM, APRN, explains why your health history matters when discussing hormones and stress, including past illnesses, infections, and environmental exposures.

🎧 Comment EMILY and we’ll DM you the link to the full podcast episode.

10/21/2026

What does testosterone have to do with women’s strength?

Women produce testosterone, and it helps maintain muscle tissue. Margaux Cousturian, PA-C, MMSc, discusses that connection in this clip on perimenopause, muscle strength, and metabolism.

🎧 Comment PERIMENOPAUSE and we’ll DM you the link to the full podcast episode.

10/21/2026

Quick reminder that Tara Scott, MD, FACOG, FAAFM, NCMP has a free Hormone Code Masterclass tomorrow, Thursday October 22nd at 7pm ET / 6pm CT / 4pm PT.

If you’ve been wanting real answers about why you feel the way you do, this is the one to show up for, and it’s also the first step if you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to work with Tara and her team.

Here’s the link 👉 https://bit.ly/4B9GeYG

10/21/2026

Your bladder responds to hormonal changes, too.

⭕ Urgency.
⭕ Frequency.
⭕ Waking up at night to go.
⭕ Burning without an active infection.
⭕ Recurring UTIs.

For some women, these symptoms begin or become more noticeable as estrogen changes during perimenopause and menopause, but the hormonal connection is often overlooked.

Our bladder health specialist explains what estrogen has to do with the urinary tract and why treatment isn't always one-size-fits-all →

https://forumhealth.com/blog/bioidentical-hormones-bladder-health/

Hormones and bladder function are more connected than most women realize. The Bladder Expert, Jana Rogers APRN, breaks down how estrogen decline affects the bladder, what bioidentical hormones can and cannot do for urinary symptoms, and when hormone eva...

10/20/2026

Why is the weight showing up around your middle now?

During perimenopause, changing estrogen levels can shift fat storage toward your abdomen rather than your hips and thighs. That helps explain why a familiar pair of jeans might suddenly fit differently at the waist.

Margaux Cousturian, PA-C, MMSc, discusses the hormone connection behind what her patients call “menopause belly.”

🎧 Comment PERIMENOPAUSE and we’ll DM you the link to the full episode.