We are living in a time where “hormone imbalance” is one of the most common diagnoses given

to women —

and one of the least helpful.

It sounds medical. It sounds validating.

But it tells you absolutely nothing about what is actually wrong.

In this episode of Endocrine Matters, Dr. Arti Thangudu breaks down why the term “hormone

imbalance” is not a real medical diagnosis — and what it’s often being used to cover up.

This episode explores:

🧠 Why “hormone imbalance” is not a recognized diagnosis in medicine

📊 The difference between real endocrine conditions and vague symptom labels

⚠ How this term is used to oversimplify complex medical issues

🔍 The truth about adrenal fatigue and why it’s not a real diagnosis

💊 The risks behind unregulated hormone and adrenal support supplements

📈 Why hormone testing like the DUTCH test is often misunderstood or misused

🩺 What a proper hormonal evaluation should actually look like

Dr. Thangudu also explains how women often end up with this label — not because their

symptoms aren’t real, but because the healthcare system frequently fails to provide thorough,

individualized evaluation.

And when that happens, it creates space for vague diagnoses, unnecessary supplements, and

missed conditions that deserve real treatment.

This episode is about reclaiming clarity in your health.

Because your symptoms are real —

but the explanation you’re given needs to be real too.

About the Host

Dr. Arti Thangudu is a board-certified endocrinologist specializing in endocrinology, diabetes,

and metabolism, with additional certification in Lifestyle Medicine and menopause care. She

focuses on evidence-based care, metabolic health, hormone health, and improving

transparency in healthcare.

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• Why “hormone imbalance” is not a real medical diagnosis

• The difference between vague symptom labels and true endocrine disorders

• What adrenal fatigue actually is (and isn’t)

• The risks of hormone and adrenal supplements

• How proper hormone testing and diagnosis should be done

Resources Mentioned

If you’ve been told you have “hormone imbalance,

” consider discussing proper evaluation with a

qualified physician, including:

• Thyroid function testing

• PCOS evaluation

• Menopause and perimenopause assessment

• Adrenal function testing when appropriate

Learn More / Connect

✨ See Dr. Thangudu in clinic:

Complete Medicine → https://www.sacomplete.com/💌 Stay connected:

Sign up for the newsletter → https://www.sacomplete.com/complete-medicine-blog

📲 Follow Dr. Arti Thangudu

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/drartithangudu

About Endocrine Matters

Endocrine Matters is a podcast dedicated to hormone health, metabolic health, thyroid disease,

menopause, obesity medicine, and evidence-based healthcare education.

Each episode breaks down complex medical topics so patients can make informed, empowered

decisions about their health.

We are living in a time where thyroid advice is everywhere — and much of it is oversimplified, misleading, or just plain wrong.

If you have Hashimoto’s or hypothyroidism, you’ve probably been told to go gluten-free.
But is that actually necessary?

In this episode of Endocrine Matters, Dr. Arti Thangudu breaks down the science behind one of the most common recommendations in the thyroid world — and explains why the truth is far more nuanced than what you see online.

This episode explores:
🧠 What Hashimoto’s thyroiditis actually is and how autoimmune disease works
📊 The real relationship between gluten, celiac disease, and thyroid disorders
⚠️ Why “go gluten-free” became such common advice — and where it falls short
🔍 What the latest research actually shows about gluten and thyroid health
🩺 When a gluten-free diet is necessary — and when it’s not
💡 Why proper diagnosis and treatment matter more than restrictive diets

Dr. Thangudu also addresses the growing problem of misinformation in thyroid care — and how to identify whether someone is giving you evidence-based medical guidance or simply repeating popular wellness narratives.

The goal of this episode is not to dismiss patient experiences, but to bring clarity, context, and science back into the conversation.

Because your thyroid care should be based on your diagnosis — not internet trends.

About the Host
Dr. Arti Thangudu is a board-certified endocrinologist specializing in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism, with additional certification in Lifestyle Medicine and menopause care. She focuses on evidence-based care, metabolic health, hormone health, and improving transparency in healthcare.

In This Episode You’ll Learn
• Whether gluten causes Hashimoto’s or hypothyroidism
• The difference between celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity
• Why thyroid patients are often told to go gluten-free
• What the evidence actually says about diet and thyroid disease
• How to approach thyroid treatment in a personalized, evidence-based way

Resources Mentioned
Episodes referenced:
• Compassionate Thyroid Care
• Thyroid Treatment & T3 Therapy with Dr. Ruchi Gaba

Learn More / Connect
✨ See Dr. Thangudu in clinic:
Complete Medicine →https://www.sacomplete.com/

💌 Stay connected:
Sign up for the newsletter → https://www.sacomplete.com/complete-medicine-blog

📲 Follow Dr. Arti Thangudu
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/drartithangudu

About Endocrine Matters
Endocrine Matters is a podcast dedicated to hormone health, metabolic health, thyroid disease, menopause, obesity medicine, and evidence-based healthcare education.

Each episode breaks down complex medical topics so patients can make informed, empowered decisions about their health.

Women’s libido is one of the most misunderstood topics in medicine.

For decades, low libido in women has been oversimplified into a hormone problem, a menopause problem, or something women are just expected to tolerate in silence.

But women’s sexual desire is far more complex than that.

In this episode of Endocrine Matters, Dr. Arti Thangudu sits down with Dr. Anu Sidhu, a family medicine and Lifestyle Medicine physician, to talk about the real causes of low libido in women, what actually affects female sexual desire across the lifespan, and why a woman’s libido should never be reduced to a single hormone level or a one-size-fits-all prescription.

This episode explores:
🧠 Why women’s libido is different from men’s libido
💊 How hormones, stress, sleep, medications, relationships, and mental health all affect sexual desire
⚠️ Why low libido is often misunderstood in medical care
📚 The role of Bibliotherapy and erotic reading as an evidence-based treatment option
💉 When Testosterone may help — and when it may not
🩺 Which medications commonly lower libido, including antidepressants, blood pressure medications, and oral contraceptives
🤝 Why women deserve whole-person, nuanced care for sexual health

Dr. Thangudu and Dr. Sidhu also discuss how shame, embarrassment, and lack of education keep women from talking about libido concerns — even though millions of women experience low sexual desire at different stages of life.

This is a conversation about women’s sexual health, women’s libido, low libido treatment, hormones, relationships, body image, medication side effects, and why libido should be approached as a whole-body, whole-life issue.

If you’ve ever wondered:
Why is my libido low?
Can stress cause low libido?
Does Testosterone help women’s libido?
Do antidepressants affect libido?
What causes low libido in perimenopause or menopause?
Can low libido be treated without medication?

This episode is for you.

Women deserve better conversations about sexual health.

And they deserve clinicians who understand that libido is not just about hormones — it is about biology, psychology, relationships, safety, stress, and context.

About The Host

Dr. Arti Thangudu is a board-certified Endocrinologist specializing in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, with additional certification in Lifestyle Medicine and menopause care. She focuses on evidence-based care, metabolic health, hormone health, and improving transparency in healthcare.

About The Guest

Dr. Anu Sidhu is a Family Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine physician with nearly 20 years of clinical experience. She is the founder of Spring Monarch Primary Care, a direct primary care practice in Houston, Texas, and she is passionate about helping women become agents of their own health.

Learn more about Dr. Sidhu here:
Spring Monarch Primary Care →https://www.springmonarchmd.com/

Follow Dr. Sidhu:
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/anu.sidhu.md
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@anu.sidhu.md

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• What really causes low libido in women
• Why women’s libido is highly responsive and multifactorial
• How stress, sleep, body image, and relationships shape desire
• Which medications commonly lower libido
• The role of Testosterone in women’s sexual health
• Why Bibliotherapy may help improve libido
• How physicians can approach women’s sexual health more effectively

Learn More / Connect

✨ See Dr. Thangudu in clinic:
Complete Medicine →https://www.sacomplete.com/

💌 Stay connected:
Sign up for the newsletter → https://www.sacomplete.com/complete-medicine-blog

📲 Follow Dr. Arti Thangudu
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/drartithangudu

About Endocrine Matters

Endocrine Matters is a podcast dedicated to hormone health, metabolic health, thyroid disease, menopause, obesity medicine, and evidence-based healthcare education.

Each episode breaks down complex medical topics so patients can make informed, empowered decisions about their health.