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Dr. Brendan McCarthyAuthor: Dr. Brendan McCarthy
Welcome! Dr. Brendan McCarthy founded Protea Medical Center in 2002. While hes been the chief medical officer, Protea has grown and evolved into a dynamic medical center serving the Valley and Central Arizona. Through successful case after successful case, Dr. McCarthy has been dedicated to hormone balance, healthy metabolism, and the best quality of life. Dr. McCarthys hallmark is his unorthodox approach to mental/emotional wellness and its link to hormone balance in women and men. Through the use of blood work and clinical investigation, Dr. McCarthy gets to the bottom of possible causes for common conditions such as anxiety, PMS, depression, slow metabolism, weight gain, insomnia and now wants to share his knowledge to the viewers with his podcast. Join the discussion, ask questions, and welcome to the podcast! Language: en Genres: Alternative Health, Education, Health & Fitness Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Why Progesterone Sometimes Backfires
Episode 172
Wednesday, 7 January, 2026
Dr. Brendan McCarthy, Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Tempe, Arizona, brings closure to an important and often misunderstood topic: progesterone reverse responders. Some women take progesterone expecting calm, better sleep, and emotional balance — but instead experience anxiety, irritability, agitation, or feeling “wired but tired.” These responses are real, not imagined, and not a personal failure. In this episode, Dr. McCarthy explains: What progesterone reverse responding actually is (and what it is not) Why this reaction is not an intolerance or allergy How progesterone’s downstream metabolites affect the brain The difference between the 5-alpha reductase pathway and sulfation pathways Why labs can look “normal” while symptoms feel anything but Common mistakes providers make (pushing the dose, “waiting it out,” or masking symptoms) Why stress physiology plays a major role How thoughtful, patient-centered medicine can help women heal Most importantly, this episode emphasizes listening to women, validating lived experiences, and practicing medicine with curiosity, humility, and care. Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more. If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start. 👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it. 📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book: Jump Off the Mood Swing – A Sane Woman’s Guide to Her Crazy Hormones https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-Swing-Hormones/dp/0999649604 📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy: Instagram: @drbrendanmccarthy TikTok: @drbrendanmccarthy Website: www.protealife.com 💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments!
