Is My HRT Actually Working? 5 Signs You're On The Wrong Dose – With Dr Naomi Potter

Is It Hot In Here? Midlife Podcast

March 30, 2026 11 mins

About

How do you know if your HRT dose is right?


In this week’s episode, Dr Naomi Potter explains how to tell whether your HRT is actually working - and why finding the right dose is rarely as simple as 'more or less'.


Naomi breaks down the biggest signs that your Hormone Replacement Therapy may need adjusting, why HRT is always a little bit of trial and error, and how your symptoms, lifestyle, absorption and medical history all shape what dose is right for you.


💬 Topics include:

• How to know if your HRT dose is right

• Signs your HRT is working

• When your oestrogen dose may be too low

• Why some women need a higher HRT dose

• How side effects can guide HRT adjustments

• Why HRT is never one-size-fits-all

• Poor absorption of transdermal HRT

• How swimming, heat, moisturiser and routine can affect HRT

• Why HRT needs can change over time in perimenopause

• How to find the best HRT regime for your lifestyle


Follow Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram at @podcast_naomipotter


Stay up to date with the podcast by following us on Instagram at: @podcast_naomipotter


Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:

Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter


For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/


00:00 – Introduction: How to know if your HRT dose is right00:32 – How doctors decide your starting HRT dose01:30 – When you might need a different approach (medical history)02:20 – Why HRT dosing is trial and error03:25 – No “perfect dose” – how to find what works for you04:16 – Tip 1: Are your symptoms improving?04:48 – Tip 2: Feeling like yourself again05:30 – Tip 3: Finding an HRT routine that fits your life06:47 – Lifestyle factors that affect HRT (exercise, swimming, heat)07:34 – Tip 4: Choosing the right HRT regimen for your body08:48 – Tip 5: Are you a “poor absorber”?09:56 – Final sign: When symptoms quietly disappear10:42 – Why HRT needs change over time


#menopause #perimenopause #hrt

Information

Episode

21

Date

March 30, 2026

Length

11 mins
  • Is My HRT Actually Working? 5 Signs You're On The Wrong Dose – With Dr Naomi Potter

    How do you know if your HRT dose is right? In this week’s episode, Dr Naomi Potter explains how to tell whether your HRT is actually working – and why finding the right dose is rarely as simple as 'more or less'. Naomi breaks down the biggest signs that your Hormone Replacement Therapy may need […]

  • The Truth About Weight Loss Injections In Menopause (GLP-1)

    Can weight loss injections help with menopause weight gain?In this week’s episode, Dr Naomi Potter is joined by menopause specialist Dr Kari Nightingale to unpack one of the biggest topics in women’s health right now: GLP-1 weight loss medications. They discuss why weight can become so much harder to manage in perimenopause and menopause, how […]

  • Is Bleeding In Menopause Normal? Doctor Naomi Potter Explains

    Bleeding during menopause? Find out wehn this is normal – and when you should see a doctor. Unexpected bleeding in menopause can feel frightening, but it's actually more common than you may think and often nothing to worry about. To clear any confusion, in this episode, menopause specialist Dr Naomi Potter explains the key differences […]

  • Caroline Hirons' Secret To Surviving Skincare In Menopause

    Today we’re revealing the ultimate skincare routine for menopausal women. And the good news? It’s super simple! If your skin has become dry, extra sensitive, or you’re suffering from acne during midlife, this could be down to menopause. But there are things that can help – and for this week’s episode, we’re joined by THE […]

  • An Honest Guide To HRT Patches – With Menopause Doctor Naomi Potter

    Are HRT patches safe – and why do they sometimes stop working? In this week’s episode, menopause doctor Dr Naomi Potter breaks down everything you need to know about HRT patches — how they work, how to use them properly, and why so many women get confused or frightened by the information leaflet. If you’ve […]

  • Am I Losing My Mind?! Or Is This Perimenopause? With Desiree Burch

    Brain fog in menopause – who else can relate?In this episode, Dr Naomi Potter is joined by comedian, voice actor and presenter Desiree Burch. You might know Desiree from competing on the gameshow Taskmaster, the narrator for Netflix's dating show Too Hot to Handle, or from her current standup comedy tour The Golden Wrath.Desiree opens […]

  • More Than The Traitors! Harriet Tyce Opens Up About Sobriety, Reinvention, And Witch Trial

    What happens when you stop drinking in midlife – and everything starts to change? In this episode, Dr Naomi Potter is joined by acclaimed crime author, former criminal barrister and The Traitors star Harriet Tyce. Harriet opens up about the turning points that led her to quit alcohol, why it became the “bedrock” for feeling […]

  • More Than The Traitors! Harriet Tyce Opens Up About Sobriety, Reinvention & Witch Trial

    What happens when you stop drinking in midlife – and everything starts to change? In this episode, Dr Naomi Potter is joined by acclaimed crime author, former criminal barrister and The Traitors star Harriet Tyce. Harriet opens up about the turning points that led her to quit alcohol, why it became the “bedrock” for feeling […]

  • Menopause Is FULL Of Fake News – How To Spot It

    The internet is full of menopause advice. But how much of it can you actually trust? In this solo episode, Dr Naomi Potter explores the growing world of menopause misinformation online – from social media 'experts' to AI-generated health advice and even deepfakes. She explains why menopause care is never one-size-fits-all, and why personalised medical […]

  • 8 Celebs Open Up About Nightmarish Perimenopause Diagnoses

    For years, these women were told they were depressed. Anxious. Burnt out. Even bipolar. In this powerful compilation episode of Is It Hot In Here?, we share eight moments from past celebrity guests where the penny finally dropped — the real cause of their symptoms wasn’t a psychiatric disorder, stress, or personal failure… it was […]

  • 9 Surprising Menopause Symptoms (and what to do about them)

    Nobody warns you about half of the symptoms that come with menopause. In this solo episode, Dr Naomi Potter talks through some of the more surprising, and often unspoken, symptoms women experience during perimenopause and menopause. The ones that don’t always make it onto the usual checklists, but regularly show up in clinic. From itchy […]

  • Testosterone For Women: The Science, New Products And Answering Your Questions

    Is testosterone something every menopausal woman needs, or is it being overhyped? In this highly requested episode, Dr Naomi Potter is joined once again by menopause specialist Dr Liz Andrew to answer your real-life questions about testosterone in menopause. No trends, no fear-mongering – just clear, evidence-based answers to the things women are genuinely worried […]

  • 7 Things You Need To Know About Post-Menopause

    Dr Naomi Potter breaks down everything women need to know about post-menopause – a stage that’s often misunderstood, under-discussed, and wrongly assumed to be symptom-free. Naomi explains what’s normal, what’s not, and how to feel supported and informed once periods have stopped. She also tackles some of the biggest questions women ask in clinic about […]

  • Menopause Is Changing In 2026 – You Heard It Here First…

    What major menopause changes are coming in 2026 – and how will they affect you? In this week’s episode, Dr Naomi Potter is joined by fellow menopause specialist Dr Liz Andrew from the Menopause Care team to break down the biggest updates shaping menopause care in 2026. Together, they unpack what it really means for […]

  • BEST OF: Unforgettable Menopause Moments (even with brain fog)

    The Best of Is It Hot In Here? 2025: The Moments You Loved Most Missed an episode this year — or want to relive the moments everyone’s been talking about? In this special compilation episode, Dr Naomi Potter looks back at some of the most powerful, honest and popular conversations from Is It Hot In […]

  • Take My Advice! Getting Through Christmas With Menopause

    Does Christmas feel overwhelming instead of joyful during menopause? In this festive solo episode, Dr Naomi Potter talks honestly about why Christmas can feel especially hard during perimenopause and menopause. We're breaking down how you can protect your energy, mood, and wellbeing during the most pressured time of year. From navigating family dynamics and emotional […]

  • Menopause & Parenting: How To Cope When Both Feel Impossible

    Struggling to juggle menopause symptoms and family life? You’re not alone. In this special compilation episode, Dr Naomi Potter brings together powerful moments from past guests who’ve shared the realities of parenting through perimenopause and menopause. If you've ever found yourself losing your temper amid menopausal rage, or you're unsure how to communicate to your […]

  • Why Am I So Anxious In Menopause? Causes & Treatments Revealed By Dr Naomi Potter

    Why does menopause make so many women feel anxious and overwhelmed? In this week’s solo episode, Dr Naomi Potter breaks down the science behind menopause-related anxiety – and what you can do to feel calm and in control again. From understanding why hormonal shifts can trigger anxiety, to recognising when something else might be going […]

  • Your Hair & Skin Survival Guide In Menopause – With Dermatologist Dr Archana Rao

    What can we do about hair and skin changes in menopause? In this week’s episode, dermatologist Dr Archana Rao joins Dr Naomi Potter to break down the real science behind menopausal skin and hair changes. Archana is THE expert when it comes to hair and skin specifically in menopause, so you're in perfect hands! From […]

  • Your Emergency Toolkit: When You Hit Rock Bottom In Menopause – Dr Naomi Potter

    When Menopause Feels Overwhelming: Understanding the Mental Health Impact Viewer discretion: this episode does contain mention of suicide. Today, Dr Naomi Potter tackles one of the most misunderstood – and under-discussed – aspects of menopause: the severe emotional distress many women experience. Naomi explains why hormonal changes can push women to emotional breaking points, what […]

  • Kate Lawler Opens Up About Menopause Struggles (fear of HRT, symptoms & marriage)

    Feel like you've lost yourself in menopause? Don't worry, getting back on track doesn't need to be a gruelling task. In this deeply honest conversation, broadcaster, Big Brother winner, and fellow podcaster Kate Lawler joins Dr Naomi Potter to talk about the emotional and physical toll of menopause. Kate opens up candidly about her fear […]

  • image of woman with dark hair named Mary Claire Haver

    The Perimenopause Masterclass: Anxiety, Brain Fog, Broken Sleep, Weight Gain & GLP-1s

    In this episode of “unPAUSED,” Dr. Mary Claire Haver answers the questions she gets asked most, sitting down solo to address what perimenopause actually is, why it starts in the brain before it ever shows up in bloodwork, and why so many women experiencing anxiety, brain fog, broken sleep, and unexplained weight gain are dismissed, […]

  • Ep. 212 – An Ovarian Cancer Journey of Self Advocacy with NP Tammy O'Rourke

    In this profoundly moving and eye-opening episode, Dr. Fiona Lovely welcomes back Dr. Tammy O’Rourke, a Nurse Practitioner with a PhD and a leading voice in hormone health. While their last conversation focused on advocating for patients, this time, Dr. O’Rourke shares a harrowing personal health journey that began with symptoms easily dismissed as menopausal—bloating, […]

  • How Light Is Affecting Your Sleep, Stress & Long-Term Health with Dr Martin Moore-Ede

    In this week’s episode of Take a Breath, I’m joined by Dr Martin Moore-Ede — one of the world’s leading experts in circadian science and the health impacts of light. After more than 40 years of research, his work reveals something most of us never even think about… how the light we’re exposed to every […]

  • 53 – Rosie Viva on bipolar disorder, hormones and mental health

    In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by model and author Rosie Viva, who speaks openly about her experience of living with bipolar disorder, something she also explores in her book, Completely Normal and Totally Fine. Rosie shares her journey to diagnosis in her early twenties, the challenges of being misunderstood, and the reality […]

  • The Tamsen Show podcast image

    Ready to Start Dating Again? This Is the Advice I Wish I Had

    If you’ve been through a heartbreak, a divorce, or a relationship that just quietly fell apart and you’re trying to figure out what comes next, this episode is for you. In this candid solo Q&A, Tamsen answers the dating questions women in midlife are actually asking but rarely say out loud. Whether you’re freshly out […]

  • Eps 401: What to Do When Progress Isn’t Showing

    Why does your progress suddenly go backwards in midlife… even when you’re doing everything right? If you’ve ever felt like things were finally working; your sleep, your energy, your routines and then suddenly it all slides backwards, you’re not alone. I’m unpacking why setbacks happen in this phase of life, especially during perimenopause, and why […]

  • The Gut Health Episode: Harvard Doctor Reveals What’s Normal (and What’s Not)

    If you’ve ever wondered whether your bloating is normal, what your poop is supposed to look like, or why your stomach seems to have a mind of its own… you are definitely not the only one.  This conversation is hilarious, science-backed, and packed with the answers to questions we all have but rarely ask.  By […]

  • Carol Vorderman: My ‘facelift’ became folklore! Can women have beauty and brains?

    It’s an age-old question: can women have both brains and beauty? (Spoiler: obviously yes!) Broadcaster Carol Vorderman says the more people comment on her body… the more thigh high boots and tight skirts she’ll wear! In this chat with Fearne, Carol charts her early life, from her family running away with the circus, to living […]

  • Can LED face masks smooth wrinkles (and which colours are best)?

    Have you ever wondered how LED face masks actually work to rejuvenate your skin? Liz shares her thoughts on light therapy and explains how to match your colour to your skin concern. Plus: why smear tests can be more painful after menopause, the difference between sachet and pill vitamins and how Liz organises her wellbeing routine. In this episode: • Why smear tests can be more painful after menopause (and […]

  • Is My HRT Actually Working? 5 Signs You're On The Wrong Dose – With Dr Naomi Potter

    How do you know if your HRT dose is right? In this week’s episode, Dr Naomi Potter explains how to tell whether your HRT is actually working – and why finding the right dose is rarely as simple as 'more or less'. Naomi breaks down the biggest signs that your Hormone Replacement Therapy may need […]

  • Cooked weight vs raw weight: How I log my protein

    If you’re tracking your food but unsure whether to log your protein cooked or raw, this episode is for you. This is a quick, practical breakdown of how I log protein and why it matters, especially if you’re working toward fat loss in menopause. When protein cooks, it loses water and typically shrinks by about […]

  • Is alcohol doing more damage in midlife than you realise? – with Prof David Nutt

    Most of us know alcohol isn’t ideal for our health. But the specific ways it affects the brain, gut, hormones and our sleep, and why those effects become more pronounced as we age, are less well understood. Leading psychiatrist and neuropsychopharmacologist Prof David Nutt joins Liz to explain exactly what happens in the body from the […]

  • The Tamsen Show podcast image

    How to Find the Meaning of Your Life (From Harvard's #1 Happiness Expert)

    Arthur C. Brooks is a happiness expert, Harvard University professor, and best-selling author. You live a good life, but you still feel unhappy. You put yourself out there, but every relationship seems to fail. You have your dream job, but something feels off. What is going on? In today’s episode of The Tamsen Show, Arthur […]

  • Eps 400: Why Your Midlife Symptoms Aren’t Just Hormones with Crystal Andrus Morisette

    No one tells you that the real shift in midlife isn’t just physical… It’s personal. In this conversation, we’re unpacking something that doesn’t get talked about enough,  how so many of us have been taught to override our needs, push through, and take care of everyone else… until our body finally says “I can’t keep […]

  • Bonus: When hormones are missed in mental health

    In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by mental health nurses Jayne and Diane to discuss the often overlooked role of hormones in women’s mental health. Drawing on their experience working in mental health services, they share how hormonal changes are rarely considered when women present with symptoms such as anxiety, depression or mood […]

  • This Simple Mindset Shift Will Change the Way You See Your Life

    Life doesn’t always go according to plan.  And even the changes you choose can bring uncertainty, questions, and moments where you wonder what’s next.  Today’s episode will show you how to move forward and find something better on the other side.  In it, Mel sits down with Dr. Maya Shankar, a cognitive scientist, expert on […]

  • If Nothing Seems to Be Going Your Way, Listen to This

    Life doesn’t always go according to plan.  And even the changes you choose can bring uncertainty, questions, and moments where you wonder what’s next.  Today’s episode will show you how to move forward and find something better on the other side.  In it, Mel sits down with Dr. Maya Shankar, a cognitive scientist, expert on […]

  • “I wish I was chic-er!” Fearne on personal style and learning new skills

    What’s been going on for you this week? What are you happy about, and what’s making you not so happy? Fearne’s here with more chat about what’s putting her and the Happy Place team in a good mood, and what’s feeling a bit rubbish …and Fearne has really really been feeling rubbish this week… This […]

  • S4 Ep198: Preventing Dementia: Estrogen? Testosterone? Prevogen?

    Preventing Dementia: Estrogen? Testosterone? Prevogen™?On November 10, 2025, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr. Marty Markary, along with the head of the FDA, RFK Jr, announced that hormone therapy would “reduce Alzheimer’s by 35%.” Where does that statistic come from? And should all women take hormone therapy to stave off dementia later in life? In […]

  • JoBeth Williams Returns to Talk Hollywood and Becoming a Grandmother

    JoBeth Williams returns to HFCT! We are thrilled to continue our conversation with actress and producer JoBeth Williams.  JoBeth is busier than ever with the movie, Not Without Hope, and producing the recent Actor Awards.  She also shares more great stories from her past movies including Kramer vs. Kramer. Her most exciting new position is […]

  • image of woman with dark hair named Mary Claire Haver

    Brain Fog, Memory Loss, and Alzheimer’s Risk During Menopause with Dr. Lisa Mosconi

    In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver continues her conversation with Dr. Lisa Mosconi, neuroscientist and associate professor of neuroscience in neurology and radiology at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Mosconi directs the Alzheimer’s Prevention Program, including the NIH-funded Women’s Brain Initiative and the Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic, and was recently […]

  • EP. 211 – Menopausal Skin Concerns and Rescue with Debbi Barber

    In this eagerly anticipated return to the podcast, Dr. Fiona Lovely welcomes back skincare innovator, Debbi Barber, to share her experience treating our menopausal skin and give us her best tips to looking great, no matter your age. Their last conversation became one of the top three most downloaded episodes of last year, and this […]

  • Step Three to a Regulated Nervous System: Building your Capacity

    In this episode, I’m taking you into the third step of regulating your nervous system — and this is where things really begin to shift. We’ve already explored awareness and regulation, but if you’ve ever felt like you’re still getting pulled into stress again and again… this is the missing piece. Today, I’m talking about […]

  • Step Three to a Regulated Nervious System: Building your Capacity

    In this episode, I’m taking you into the third step of regulating your nervous system — and this is where things really begin to shift. We’ve already explored awareness and regulation, but if you’ve ever felt like you’re still getting pulled into stress again and again… this is the missing piece. Today, I’m talking about […]

  • 52 – Why psychiatrists must start thinking about hormones

    In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by consultant psychiatrist Dr Gareth Jarvis to explore the important, and often overlooked, connection between hormones and mental health.   Louise and Gareth discuss how hormonal changes can often contribute to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance and severe mental illnesses. They also explore why psychiatrists are rarely trained to consider hormones […]

Is It Hot In Here? Midlife Podcast

Part open-clinic, part talk show, this is the podcast for women navigating perimenopause, menopause, and midlife health. Each week, menopause Doctor Naomi Potter is joined by a new guest to explore the real-life impact of their hormonal changes. From hot flushes and anxiety, to brain fog and sleep problems, no topic is off limits. Whether […]

00:00
/
00:00