Katie Rowan Wellness

Please make sure you are getting your hormones from someone who has specialized training in prescribing hormone therapy.

Allow me to reintroduce myself.

I’m Katie, an internal medicine physician, former primary care doctor, women’s hormone health enthusiast, and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner.

Note that this is referring to the risk of initial breast cancer diagnosis. This does not apply to risk of progression or recurrence after a breast cancer diagnosis. That’s a different story for another day.

Let’s clear this one up, because this one has done a LOT of damage.

Back in 2002, the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study dropped and the headlines basically said:

“Hormones cause breast cancer.”

And just like that, an entire generation of women (and doctors) got scared off hormone therapy.

Here’s what actually happened:
→ The formulation used was conjugated equine estrogen + a synthetic progestin (MPA)
—not the same as the estradiol + progesterone most commonly used today
→ It was a small absolute increase, presented in a way that made it sound a lot bigger.

The risk is due to MPA, not the hormones we commonly use today, and it resulted in 1 additional breast cancer case per 1000 women, roughly equal to the breast cancer risk from a nightly large glass of wine.

In women who took estrogen alone (after hysterectomy), there was actually a decreased risk of breast cancer

What that original messaging did?
It left women:
• under-treated
• dismissed
• struggling through symptoms they were told to just “deal with”

All because of fear that wasn’t fully grounded in the actual data.

Comment below if thiss surprised you.

If you’re looking for medical advice, look for a degree, not just a ring light.

Tip from a dermatologist to keep you and your stinky teenagers smelling fresh as a daisy.

Most people think it’s an ‘either/or’ situation, but here’s the truth: Systemic and Vaginal estrogen are actually a powerhouse duo.

Systemic Estrogen is for the big picture. It travels through your bloodstream to tackle hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and bone health.

Vaginal Estrogen is your “localized specialist.” It’s the gold standard for treating the Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM)—that means dryness, burning, itching, and those pesky repeat UTIs.

They are different medications with different jobs. Using them together isn’t “too much.” For many, it’s exactly enough.

Are you using one, both, or still weighing your options? Let’s chat in the comments. 👇

We need to change the conversation around exercise in midlife.

This is not about:
💪getting jacked
💪 getting smaller
💪 proving something to anyone

It’s about building a body that supports you as you age.

Because starting in your 30s and accelerating in your 40s and beyond:
→ muscle mass declines
→ bone density drops
→ stability and balance change

And that’s where strength training comes in.

✔️ Build muscle to protect against muscle loss
✔️ Strengthen bones to reduce fracture risk
✔️ Improve stability to prevent falls
✔️ Maintain independence for decades to come

This is long-game training.

It’s being able to:
🛒 carry your own groceries
🐒 get up off the floor
✈️ travel, move, live fully

Start where you are. Stay consistent.
Your future self is paying attention.

What have you done for your future self today? 👇