Complete Midlife Wellness Center

Progesterone is one of the most important reproductive hormones in a woman's body, yet there is often confusion about what progesterone levels actually mean and whether they should be measured.

In this video, I explain what progesterone is, how it is produced, how levels change throughout a woman's reproductive life, and why interpreting a progesterone blood test is often more complex than many people realize.

We'll discuss:

✔️ The role of progesterone in the menstrual cycle and reproductive health
✔️ How progesterone levels change from the reproductive years through perimenopause and menopause
✔️ The normal rise and fall of progesterone during a menstrual cycle
✔️ Why progesterone levels can vary dramatically from day to day in perimenopause
✔️ Common signs and symptoms associated with declining or fluctuating progesterone
✔️ When progesterone testing may provide useful information—and when it may not
✔️ Why symptoms and clinical context are often more informative than a single laboratory value

One of the most important concepts to understand is that progesterone is not a static hormone. Its levels change throughout the cycle and can fluctuate significantly during perimenopause, making a single blood test difficult to interpret in many situations.

My goal is to help you better understand the physiology of progesterone so you can make more informed decisions about your health and have more productive conversations with your healthcare provider.

💻 Interested in booking an appointment? Click here: https://completemidlifewellnesscenter.com



https://youtu.be/s13pJ2M17Ag

Progesterone Levels Explained: What Every Woman Should Know | Dr. Susan Hardwick-Smith Progesterone is one of the most important reproductive hormones in ...

Sleep changes are one of the most common concerns we hear from women in perimenopause.

As hormones fluctuate, sleep can become lighter, less restorative, and more unpredictable. You may find yourself waking in the middle of the night, struggling to fall back asleep, or feeling tired even after spending enough hours in bed.

Hormonal changes that can affect sleep include:

✓ Fluctuating estrogen levels that impact sleep quality and temperature regulation
✓ Lower progesterone levels that may contribute to anxiety and restlessness
✓ Hot flashes and night sweats that interrupt sleep
✓ Changes in circadian rhythm that make sleep less predictable
✓ Increased sensitivity to stress and early morning waking

The good news is that sleep disruption during perimenopause is common—but it is not something you have to simply accept.

If your sleep has changed in your 40s or 50s, our team can help you understand why and explore options to help you feel like yourself again.

Schedule a consultation with us to discuss your symptoms and create a personalized plan for better sleep and better health.
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Yes—but perhaps not in the way you've been told.

One of the biggest misconceptions about perimenopause is that if your hormone levels are "normal," your symptoms can't be hormonal.

I see women every day who have been told they're too young for perimenopause, that their labs are normal, or that what they're experiencing is simply stress. Yet they know something is changing.

The reality is that perimenopause is a time of hormonal unpredictability. Estrogen can fluctuate dramatically, progesterone typically declines, and these shifts can affect everything from sleep and mood to energy, weight, focus, and libido.

That's why I believe every woman should establish a Midlife Baseline around age 40.

A thoughtful evaluation—including symptoms, hormone testing, metabolic health, cardiovascular risk, and body composition—gives us a clearer picture of what's happening today and helps us make better decisions for the future.

Your symptoms matter.

Your labs matter.

Come see us. Together, we'll look at your symptoms, your health history, and your Midlife Baseline to create a plan that is right for you.

Now that we understand much more about the potential health benefits of menopausal hormone therapy, I want to tackle one of the questions I hear most often: when should you start hormone therapy, when should you stop it, and is there ever a point when it's too late to begin?

We know that starting estradiol close to menopause can help support healthy blood vessels and may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and other age-related conditions. But what if you weren't offered hormones when you first entered menopause and are now 10 or more years beyond it?

In this video, I discuss what the research actually shows about starting estrogen later in life, who may benefit, who may not, and why some of the perceived risks have often been overstated or misunderstood.

I'll also take a closer look at the Women's Health Initiative study that changed the course of hormone therapy conversations more than 20 years ago. We'll discuss what the study found, the limitations that were recognized over time, the lessons we learned from it, and why its conclusions do not apply equally to all women.

I'll also discuss the ELITE trial and what it taught us about the timing of hormone therapy, including findings that suggest estrogen may help preserve vascular health when started closer to menopause.

I'll explain what the researchers discovered, how these findings have influenced our understanding of hormone therapy today, and what they may mean for women who are considering treatment now or wondering whether they missed their opportunity to benefit from it.

Whether you're considering hormone therapy for the first time, wondering if you should continue taking it, or questioning whether you've missed your opportunity to benefit from it, I'll walk you through what we know today.

By the end of this video, you'll have a clearer understanding of the evidence behind starting, stopping, and starting hormone therapy later in life—and the questions you should be asking when making these decisions for yourself.

If you'd like personalized guidance, you can schedule an appointment with me or one of our Menopause Society Certified Practitioners. We offer in-person care in Houston and Cypress, Texas, as well as virtual appointments for patients throughout Texas, California, and New Mexico.

https://completemidlifewellnesscenter.com
https://completemidlifewellnesscenter.com/on-hormone-consultations/info/
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Hormone Therapy Timing: When to Start, When to Stop, and Is It Ever Too Late? | Dr. Susan Now that we understand much more about the potential health benefit...

🚨 JUST RELEASED: New Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines

This is one of the most important women's health updates of 2026 — and many women haven't heard about it yet.

The brand-new recommendations from American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists may change:
✔️ How often you need cervical cancer screening
✔️ Which tests are now recommended
✔️ Whether you need a Pap smear, an HPV test, or both
✔️ When screening can safely stop after age 65
✔️ The role of new at-home HPV testing options

In this newly released YouTube video, Dr. Susan Hardwick-Smith breaks down what these guidelines mean for real women and why these changes matter.

You'll learn:
• Screening recommendations for ages 21–29
• HPV testing guidance for ages 30–65
• When screening may safely end after age 65
• Home-collected HPV testing, including the Teal Wand
• Who may need more frequent screening and why

As our understanding of cervical cancer prevention continues to evolve, so do the recommendations. Staying informed helps you make confident, evidence-based decisions about your health.

And remember: not needing a Pap smear every year does not mean you should skip your annual wellness visit. Preventive care involves much more than cervical cancer screening alone.

🎥 This is a must-watch video for every woman. LINK IN BIO

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ACOG NEW GUIDELINES - LINK IN BIO

Do I Still Need a Pap Smear? Brand-New ACOG Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines Just Released New cervical cancer screening recommendations have just been releas...

Midlife health deserves more than a quick visit and a one-size-fits-all solution.

At Complete Midlife Wellness Center, our team is united by a shared mission: helping women navigate perimenopause, menopause, and beyond with evidence-based care, compassion, and expertise.

We are proud to be one of the few practices in the country dedicated exclusively to women’s midlife wellness, with providers certified by The Menopause Society and a team deeply committed to staying at the forefront of women's health science.

Whether you visit us in person or virtually across Texas, you’ll find a team that listens, educates, and partners with you every step of the way.

Because midlife isn't the end of your story. It's the beginning of a powerful new chapter—and you deserve a team that knows how to help you thrive.

✨ Menopause-Certified Providers
✨ In-Person & Virtual Care Across Texas
✨ Personalized, Science-Based Midlife Healthcare

A gentle yet powerful mobility session designed to help you move better, feel stronger, and improve flexibility throughout the entire body. This flow focuses on spinal mobility, hip opening, posture support, and functional movement patterns that help counteract stiffness from everyday life, desk work, stress, and strength training.

In this session, we move through:
• Cat–Cow Stretch — to mobilize the spine and improve posture
• Downward Dog into Three-Legged Dog — to open the hamstrings, hips, calves, and shoulders
• World’s Greatest Stretch — a full-body mobility movement for hips, spine, chest, and hamstrings
• 90/90 Hip Rotations — to improve hip mobility and support lower-back health
• Thoracic Open Books — to increase upper-back rotation and improve posture
• Goblet Squats — to integrate mobility, strength, balance, and functional movement

Perfect as a recovery session, warm-up flow, mobility day workout, or daily movement practice for overall longevity and joint health.

Because mobility is not just about flexibility — it’s about longevity, strength, confidence, and continuing to feel at home in your body through every stage of life.

Move with Kelley ✨

Kelley Workman
Master Personal Trainer
www.kelleymoves.com



https://youtu.be/2U1G96-NYT4?si=pUAAER5M2Cth5X-i

Full Body Mobility & Stretch Flow | Empowering Midlife Wellness with Dr. Susan A gentle yet powerful mobility session designed to help you move better, feel stronger, and improve flexibility throughout the entire body. This flow focuses...

Perimenopause doesn’t begin overnight.
Your body starts changing long before menopause officially arrives.

The good news?
There are ways to support your body before symptoms become overwhelming.

At Complete Midlife Wellness Center, we believe in a more proactive approach to midlife health — one rooted in awareness, prevention, and understanding your personal baseline.

A thoughtful Midlife Baseline Assessment can help you better understand:
• hormonal shifts
• metabolic and cardiovascular health
• cognitive and emotional well-being
• bone health and long-term vitality

Because preparing your body for perimenopause isn’t about “fixing” yourself.
It’s about giving your body the support, information, and care it deserves as it evolves.

✨ Midlife is not the beginning of decline.
It’s the beginning of a new phase that deserves preparation and expert care.

🔗 Book your Midlife Baseline consultation through the link in bio.