Dr. Tyna Moore · 2026-02-10 · Tyna Moore (host)
Weight Gain on HRT For Middle Aged Women: What’s Really Causing It (And How To Avoid It) | Ep. 247
27 research-tied claims examined: 1 contradicted 3 overstated 3 context 18 supported 2 unverified
3 Overstated
Excessive doses of testosterone in women can lead to increased aromatase activity, converting excess testosterone into estrogen.
"the one thing that has made me gain weight the most quickly and just kind of out of nowhere has been when I have used uh testosterone at too high a dose. All of a sudden my body likes to do the aromatization process of my aromatase enzyme kicks up and I convert all my testosterone into estrogen." (said at 0:06:13)
While testosterone can be converted into estradiol by the enzyme aromatase, the claim that high doses of testosterone induce aromatase enzyme activity and convert all exogenous testosterone into estrogen is exaggerated. A meta-analysis of clinical trials examining androgen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women found that direct testosterone administration significantly increases serum testosterone levels without significantly raising circulating estradiol (E2) or estrone (E1) levels (PMID 32016915). Increases in estrogen levels were observed following DHEA administration, but not with direct testosterone therapy.
Low progesterone levels are a primary cause of miscarriage.
"Low progesterone is a massive reason for miscarriage." (said at 0:23:37)
Low progesterone is predominantly a downstream marker of a failing or non-viable pregnancy rather than a primary causal driver of miscarriage. Approximately 50% to 70% of early miscarriages are caused by embryonic chromosomal abnormalities. When an embryo is genetically abnormal or implantation fails, insufficient human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) signaling leads to corpus luteum failure, resulting in secondary low serum progesterone. Furthermore, large randomized controlled trials (such as the PRISM trial) and Cochrane meta-analyses demonstrate that routine progesterone supplementation does not significantly improve live birth rates in unselected women with early pregnancy bleeding, though a modest benefit is observed in specific subgroups with both bleeding and a history of recurrent pregnancy loss.
- context: A Randomized Trial of Progesterone in Women with Bleeding in Early Pregnancy. (The New England journal of medicine 2019) · cited 197x in the literature
"Among women with bleeding in early pregnancy, progesterone therapy administered during the first trimester did not result in a significantly higher incidence of live births than placebo." (abstract, conclusions, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi) - context: Micronized vaginal progesterone to prevent miscarriage: a critical evaluation of randomize… (American journal of obstetrics and gynecology 2020) · cited 165x in the literature
"The PROMISE trial studied 836 women from 45 hospitals in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands and found a 3% greater live birth rate with progesterone but with substantial statistical uncertainty. The PRISM trial studied 4153 women from 48 hospitals in the United Kingdom and found a 3% greater live birth rate with progesterone, but with a P value of .08." (abstract, results, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi) - context: Progestogens for preventing miscarriage: a network meta-analysis. (The Cochrane database of systematic reviews 2021) · cited 91x in the literature
"In women with no previous miscarriages and early pregnancy bleeding, there is probably little or no improvement in the live birth rate (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.04, high-certainty evidence) when treated with vaginal micronized progesterone compared to placebo." (abstract, results, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi)
Loss of estrogen in the brain causes a drop in dopamine levels.
"You have this incredible drop in dopamine as the estrogen leaves your brain and you just want to stop moving." (said at 0:33:19)
Preclinical evidence demonstrates that 17β-estradiol modulates central dopaminergic pathways—enhancing striatal dopamine release, turnover, and receptor sensitivity—and that estrogen depletion can alter dopamine signaling related to motor and reward circuitry. However, describing this as an "incredible drop in dopamine" as estrogen declines is an exaggeration of the literature. Rodent models comparing surgical and gradual menopausal depletion show complex, region-specific, and transient monoamine changes rather than a generalized, severe deficit in total brain dopamine, and human clinical evidence on dopamine depletion during menopause remains sparse and indirect.
- context: Estrogenic modulation of brain activity: implications for schizophrenia and Parkinson's di… (Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN 2002) · cited 144x in the literature
"Despite the numerous animal studies on the effects of estrogens in the brain, clinical data are sparse and often contradictory." (abstract, passage verified)
pubmed - partial: Comparison of transitional vs surgical menopause on monoamine and amino acid levels in the… (Molecular and cellular endocrinology 2018) · cited 24x in the literature
"In OVX- and VCD-treated rats, changes were observed which were both brain region- and time point-dependent. In the HPC levels of norepinephrine, 5-HIAA, TRP and TYR were significantly reduced at 1 week, but not 6 weeks, in both OVX and VCD-treated rats relative to proestrus and diestrus. In the FCX, dopamine levels were elevated at 6 weeks after OVX relative to diestrus." (abstract, results, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi) - supports: Sex and estradiol effects in the rodent dorsal striatum. (The European journal of neuroscience 2024) · cited 12x in the literature
"A key brain region sensitive to E2 is the dorsal striatum (also called caudate-putamen), which controls motor behaviour, goal-directed learning and habit learning... In particular, estradiol influences dopamine release, dopamine receptor expression and dopamine transporter expression." (abstract)
pubmedfull study (doi)
Unverified means no publication matching the claim was located; it does not prove the claim false. Spotted an error? See the corrections policy - disputes from the people quoted are prioritized.