Episode 169

Published September 8, 2026

In this episode, Dr. Tara Scott and Mark Newman join host Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton to explore hormone misinformation, the differences between hormone testing methods, and the hormonal drivers often missed by single-point testing.

Their conversation also covers:

• The benefits and risks of using AI to interpret hormone labs
• What single-point testing can miss when it comes to cortisol testing and cycle mapping
• The importance of baseline and follow-up hormone testing versus the conventional symptom to prescription pipeline
• How common symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, and anxiety can have overlapping hormonal drivers that may not be noticeable in single-marker testing
• The increase in virtual care and how patients in underserved areas are gaining access to specialized hormone care

Key Moments

0:45 Episode Introduction

3:01 Introduction to Hormone Therapy Misinformation

5:58 Self-Testing and AI in Hormone Management

9:01 The Role of Providers in Hormone Therapy

12:14 The Shift Towards Functional Medicine

15:11 Curiosity and Patient Care

17:57 The Importance of Comprehensive Testing

20:58 Navigating Hormonal Imbalances

23:58 The Future of Hormone Therapy

33:46 DUTCH Direct

34:13 Understanding Serum Testing for Cortisol

40:09 The Importance of Free Hormones

46:13 Exploring Fatigue in Women

48:18 Weight Gain: Unpacking the Causes

52:49 Cycle Mapping and Hormonal Changes

55:56 Anxiety and Hormonal Connections

1:00:10 The Virtual Care Model in Hormonal Health

About our speaker

Dr. Tara Scott, widely known as “The Hormone Guru,” is an internationally recognized women’s health expert, educator, and speaker specializing in hormones, thyroid health, menopause, infertility, stress, and metabolic wellness. With more than two decades of clinical experience and triple board certification in OB/GYN, Functional Medicine, and Integrative Medicine, she blends traditional medical expertise with a root-cause, whole-person approach that helps women understand why they feel the way they do.

Her path into this work was deeply personal. After experiencing endometriosis, infertility, irregular cycles, and the loss of her brother at a young age despite “normal” conventional findings, Dr. Scott became determined to pursue a model of care focused on prevention, deeper investigation, and long-term vitality. That journey led her to found Revitalize Medical Group and later Hormone Guru Academy, where she empowers women with science-backed strategies to restore hormone balance and prevent chronic illness.

Today, Dr. Tara serves patients through Forum Health Akron, teaches medical professionals, and speaks internationally on evidence-based hormone therapy and integrative care. Her work is grounded in compassion, clinical rigor, and the belief that no woman should be told to simply suffer through symptoms that have an underlying cause.

Show Notes

Learn more about Dr. Tara Scott, Forum Health, and follow her on Instagram @hormonegurumd!

Follow Forum Health on Instagram @forum_health and on YouTube!

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