In this illuminating episode of Keeping Abreast, Dr. Jenn Simmons sits down with Dr. Taz Bhatia, board-certified physician, integrative medicine pioneer, and champion for women’s health, to explore the intricate world of hormones through every season of a woman’s life. Dr. Taz shares her personal hormonal journey, the gaps she witnessed in conventional medicine, and why personalized, root-cause driven care is essential. Together, she and Dr. Jenn break down how birth control, stress, gut health, and generational patterns shape hormonal balance. They also dive into innovative diagnostic approaches, including the auria test, and discuss why hormones are often misunderstood, and mismanaged, in modern medical systems. This conversation empowers women to understand their physiology, challenge outdated narratives, and take an active role in their health across puberty, fertility, perimenopause, and beyond. In This Episode, You Will Learn: Why hormonal changes form a lifelong continuum How birth control can mask deeper imbalances The role of gut health and liver detoxification in hormone balance Why progesterone deficiency is so common today How stress and cortisol impact young women’s hormones The importance of personalized hormone therapy Why patients must advocate for their own health How hormonal patterns can be passed through generations Why breast cancer is often linked to hormone deficiency, not excess How innovative tools like the auria test may revolutionize screening Episode Timeline Highlights: 00:00 Introduction & Dr. Taz’s personal hormonal journey 02:45 Why traditional hormonal treatments fall short 06:02 How experience reshaped her integrative practice 09:06 Birth control concerns & long-term impacts 11:57 How hormonal suppression affects whole-body health 14:58 The value of holistic, root-cause approaches 17:53 Cultural resistance to new medical paradigms 20:57 Innovations in breast cancer screening (auria test) 23:50 Why change is so hard in established medicine 27:00 Understanding hormonal patterns & testing 29:51 The need for comprehensive hormone education 33:39 Hormonal shifts from puberty to menopause 43:53 Personalized hormone therapy done right 01:01:29 Gut health, the microbiome & hormonal balance 01:04:47 Empowering patients to own their health journey Where to find Dr. Taz Bhatia: Website: holplus.co Social: @DrTazMD To talk to a member of Dr. Jenn's team and learn more about working privately with RHMD, visit: https://jennsimmons.simplero.com/page/377266?kuid=327aca17-5135-44cf-9210-c0b77a56e26d&kref=vOKy0sAiorrK To get your copy of Dr. Jenn's book, The Smart Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer, visit: https://tinyurl.com/SmartWomansBreastCancerGuide To purchase the auria breast cancer screening test go here https://auria.care/ and use the code DRJENN20 for 20% Off. Connect with Dr. Jenn: Website: https://www.realhealthmd.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJennSimmons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjennsimmons/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jennsimmons