Dr. Brendan McCarthy
Welcome! Dr. Brendan McCarthy founded Protea Medical Center in 2002. While he’s 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. McCarthy’s 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!
Episodes
In today’s episode, we’re talking about the role men play in fertility and women’s health. Too often, the fertility journey places the burden entirely on women, physically, emotionally, and medically. Dr. McCarthy unpacks why that’s both inaccurate and damaging, and shares what true masculinity looks like during this chapter: support, presence, and courage. From hormone imbalances and sperm health to the overlooked emotional toll m...
Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!
In this episode, Dr. McCarthy opens up about the psychological hurdles men face when it comes to reproductive health, how avoidance can create deep relationship wounds, and why it's critical for male partners to step into fertility conversations with courage and compassion.
He breaks down:
✔️ The emotional weight women carry in fertility journeys
✔️ How low testosterone and sperm...
Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!
PMS isn’t just a hormone issue—it affects relationships too.
In this episode, Dr. McCarthy breaks down how hormone shifts impact emotions, communication, and connection. It’s a message for men who want to understand what’s really going on—and how to show up better.
💡 Topics:
Why PMS can trigger relationship tension
The science behind progesterone and mood
How self-silencing buil...
Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!
Today he continues answering your most pressing questions about testosterone and hormone therapy in Part 2 of our Testosterone Q&A series.
In this episode, Dr. McCarthy dives into:
Why your labs can look "normal" while you still feel terrible
The difference between DHEA and actual testosterone therapy
The role of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in blocking free testoste...
Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!
In this episode, I’ll be responding to your questions and comments. As always, thank you for being part of this community. Your questions fuel these episodes — and I’m honored to keep showing up for you. 🧪 Have questions about your labs? Drop them in the comments — I may cover them in the next episode. 💬 Yes, I do read them (even in movie previews).
Dr. Brendan McCarthy found...
Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!
In this episode, he dives deep into the powerful potential, and the necessary precautions, of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in women. He shares why this once-taboo treatment is gaining traction, how it may reduce the risk of breast cancer by up to 50%, and why lab testing and clinical nuance are absolutely non-negotiable. Dr. McCarthy also addresses medical betrayal, the...
Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!
In this deeply personal episode, he shares why lab work—especially testing FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone)—is non-negotiable in hormone replacement therapy.
This is not about gatekeeping. It’s about understanding. It’s about caring. Dr. McCarthy recounts a formative memory of meeting a woman who underwent surgical menopause and was never told what would happen to her body af...
Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!
In this video, Dr. Brendan McCarthy breaks down common misconceptions about hormone testing and treatment during perimenopause — including why many influencers and physicians get it wrong. From the misuse of expensive boutique tests like the Dutch test, to the dangers of suppressive hormone therapies without proper lab monitoring, Dr. McCarthy explains the science behind hormone ...
Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!
Can you start hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or bioidentical hormones without lab testing? Technically—yes. But should you? In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy, Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center, shares his medical perspective on why skipping labs could put your health at risk.
Responding to viral videos that suggest lab work is unnecessary, Dr. McCarthy walks y...
Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!
This episode takes you deep into the real-world practice of prescribing testosterone therapy for women.
This is not a high-level overview—this is a nuts and bolts breakdown:
✅ Who it's for
✅ How it's dosed
✅ What labs to run
✅ What delivery methods are safest
✅ Why it's often done wrong—and how to get it right
With over 20 years of clinical experience, Dr. McCarthy shares the i...
Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!
In this episode we dive deep into one of the most misunderstood and debated topics in hormone health: testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for women. You may have heard horror stories—or glowing reviews. But what’s the truth?
Dr. McCarthy discusses:
- Why testosterone matters for women’s health
- How it affects brain chemistry, mood, bone density, and even breast tissue
- Its r...
Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!
Today’s episode is all about testosterone therapy in women—a topic that’s often misunderstood, highly debated, and rarely taught in depth. I’m sharing what I’ve learned over my years of clinical experience, how I approach testosterone use in women safely, and why the conversation around it needs to evolve.
Dr. Brendan McCarthy founded Protea Medical Center in 2002. While he’s b...
Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!
Explore how progesterone travels through the body depending on the method of delivery—oral, transdermal, or injection. Dr. McCarthy explains why certain forms may not be effective for all patients and discusses how the body metabolizes progesterone, influencing its therapeutic impact. This episode is essential for anyone considering or currently on hormone replacement therapy.
...
Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!
Today’s episode is all about answering YOUR submitted questions — real concerns from real women — about hormone therapy, reverse responses to progesterone, MTHFR, estrogen detoxification, and more. This episode is packed with insights to help you better understand your body and your options.
Dr. Brendan McCarthy founded Protea Medical Center in 2002. While he’s been the chief ...
Welcome to the podcast! In this deeply personal Q&A episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy—Chief Medical Officer at Protea Medical Center—responds to your most powerful and vulnerable questions about hormone replacement therapy, including:
- Why some women reverse-respond to progesterone
- What to do when testosterone creams trigger migraines
- How to safely navigate HRT with MTHFR or methylation issues
- The emotional toll of being dis...
Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy! Welcome to Part 3. In this episode, Dr. McCarthy dives deep into the complex world of reverse responders—women who experience increased anxiety or worsened symptoms from progesterone instead of the calming effects it typically provides.
If you’ve felt forgotten or unsupported in your hormone journey—this episode is for you.
Dr. Brendan McCarthy founded Protea Medical Center in 2...
Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!
While progesterone is often prescribed for its calming and hormone-balancing effects, some women experience the exact opposite—increased anxiety, depression, and emotional instability. This phenomenon, known as reverse responding, is more common than many realize.
In this episode we explore:
The neurological effects of progesterone and why it can backfire
The role of allopregn...
Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!
Today he addresses a topic many women have been waiting to hear more about: why some people don't tolerate progesterone well.
Often overlooked in both conventional and alternative medicine, "reverse responders" experience heightened anxiety, insomnia, or mood shifts when taking progesterone — a reaction that defies the standard approach. Dr. McCarthy explores the science behind thes...
Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy! In this episode we're wrapping up our migraine series by answering your most frequently asked questions. Dr. Brendan McCarthy, Chief Medical Officer at Protea Medical Center, dives deep into the science behind progesterone, its effects on the brain, and why some people experience negative reactions. He also discusses estrogen therapy, common side effects, and why personalized medici...
Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy! In this episode, we dive into the complexities of migraines, particularly the role of triptans in treating them. Dr. McCarthy addresses a common misconception about migraine pathophysiology, discusses the importance of lifestyle and genetic factors, and explains why understanding the root causes of migraines is crucial for effective treatment. He emphasizes the importance of a compr...
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