Perimenopause, Progesterone & Migraines: Dr. Carrie Jones on Hormones, Detox & Gut Health

Perimenopause isn’t subtle… and it definitely isn’t “just stress.”

In this episode of The Midlife Realignment, Esther sits down with hormone expert Dr. Carrie Jones for a real, science-backed conversation about what actually happens to your body in perimenopause — and what helps.

Dr. Jones shares her personal perimenopause journey, including brain fog, insomnia, phantom smells, and ocular migraines… and explains how she manages symptoms using progesterone, blood sugar support, targeted supplements, and daily tracking.

This conversation goes far beyond “just take hormones” and dives into the why behind symptoms — from estrogen detox pathways to gut motility, ferritin, inflammation, and microbiome health.

In this episode, we cover:

• Early and surprising signs of perimenopause (including memory lapses and migraines)
• Why progesterone can be a game-changer for sleep, PMS, and migraines
• How blood sugar drops can trigger migraines in midlife
• What ocular migraines are and why hormones play a role
• How to use at-home hormone tracking tools like Mira
• The difference between one-day lab testing vs daily hormone trends
• When progesterone dosing needs to change in perimenopause
• Why hormone cycling after menopause is controversial
• Pellets vs topical hormones vs injections… pros, cons, and real talk
• Estrogen detox explained simply (phase 1, 2, and 3)
• Why low ferritin is so common in midlife women
• The connection between gut health, thyroid function, and hormone balance
• How constipation, progesterone, and estrogen affect gut motility
• Simple foods that support detox and the microbiome (broccoli sprouts, jicama, fermented foods)
• Why variety in your diet matters more than perfection
• Daily grounding habits that support hormone health (journaling, sleep routines, community)

This episode is packed with practical insights for women navigating perimenopause who want clarity, not chaos.

Connect with Dr. Carrie Jones:

• https://drcarriejones.ck.page/labtestchecklist
• IG: @dr.carriejones
• Youtube.com/@drcarriejones

Connect with Esther

• Website: estherblum.com
• Instagram: @gorgeousesther

Disclaimer: This podcast is for education only and is not medical advice.