Longevity Optimization with Kayla Barnes-Lentz Dr. Jessica Shepherd, MD – Menopause, Hormone Therapy and Bone Health
Jan 29, 2026
Dr. Jessica Shepherd, board-certified OB/GYN and menopause expert, focuses on evidence-based hormone care and longevity. She unpacks the FDA removal of the HRT black box warning and clarifies the WHI study confusion. Timing matters: start HRT conversations in perimenopause. She highlights bone health, essential labs like ApoB and HbA1c, and the roles of inflammation, creatine, and personalized hormone strategies.
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Revisit Hormone Therapy Options
- Discuss hormone therapy as an option now that the FDA removed the black box warning.
- Ask about risks and benefits with a trained provider so you can decide for your life and health.
WHI Misinterpretation Drove Fear
- The WHI result was misinterpreted: synthetic progestin, not estrogen, drove increased breast cancer risk.
- Media soundbites created decades of fear that the research didn't actually support.
Begin HRT Conversations Early
- Start the HRT conversation in perimenopause instead of waiting until menopause.
- Begin treatment earlier for better benefit, ideally within five years of menopause or during the perimenopausal transition.
