Menopause and Genetics: Why Your DNA Test Might Be Missing the Real Story

Menopause Mastery | Menopause and Genetics: Why Your DNA Test Might Be Missing the Real Story | Ep. 292 with Dr. Tracey Steady-Hardcastle 🌿Welcome to The Menopause Mastery Show! In this episode, Dr. Betty Murray talks with Dr. Tracey Steady-Hardcastle of The DNA Company about how functional genomics can help women better understand the changes happening in perimenopause and menopause. They dig into why many common DNA tests feel overwhelming or too narrow, and why a polygenic approach can give a more useful picture of how genes work together. The conversation also covers estrogen detoxification myths, MTHFR, cardiovascular risk, mood, exercise recovery, and how genetics can support more personalized decisions around diet, lifestyle, nutrition, and supplementation. In this episode, you'll learn: 🔹Why single-gene testing often misses the bigger picture 🔹What polygenic scores are and why they matter 🔹How genetics can inform menopause support 🔹What MTHFR really does and why it gets oversimplified 🔹How genes may influence mood, recovery, detoxification, and cardiovascular risk 🔹How functional genomics can help personalize health decisions If you've ever looked at a genetic report and thought, "Okay, but what does this actually mean for me?", this episode is for you. 👉 About Dr. Tracey Steady-Hardcastle: Dr. Tracey Steady is an expert in functional genomics, acupuncture, and Chinese medicine with more than two decades of experience helping women navigate perimenopause and menopause. Connect with her at: https://thednacompany.com/ 📌 Connect with Dr. Betty Murray: Website: https://www.drbettymurray.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbettymurray/ ✅ Let us know what you think! Like, comment, and subscribe on YouTube: @drbettymurray 🔗 Links: The Fierce Female Method for Longevity (Dr. Betty's book): https://fierce.hormoneshelp.com/ Menrva Telemedicine: https://gethormonesnow.com/ Living Well Dallas: https://www.livingwelldallas.com/ 🎙️ More from the Podcast: Subscribe to #MenopauseMastery → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwONPdSvb2-YYY74VhD-XBw Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/menopause-mastery/id1607369247 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNsjm32CZNXSgSFEwS3uH Thank you for listening to Menopause Mastery. Empowering your health journey, one episode at a time. #menopausemastery #menopausepodcast #drbettymurray #menopause #perimenopause #postmenopause #andropause #womenshealth #dna #menopausegenetics #genetics Menopause Mastery — Show Note Chapters 00:00 — Why Menopause Can Make Your Body Feel Completely Different 02:24 — Dr. Tracey Steady's Path Into Functional Genomics 04:23 — Why Single-Gene Testing Can Miss the Bigger Picture 05:16 — Methylation, MTHFR, and the Problem With One-Gene Solutions 08:03 — DIM, Estrogen Metabolism, and Over-Supplementation 09:17 — Genetic Disease vs. Functional Genomics 13:32 — Using Genetics to Make Smarter Health Decisions 16:20 — Carbs, Saturated Fat, and Personalized Nutrition 17:25 — Why Keto May Not Work for Everyone 20:53 — Genetics Helps You Ask Better Health Questions 22:05 — Hormones, Neurotransmitters, and Polygenic Scoring 23:27 — COMT, Estrogen Fluctuations, and Perimenopausal Mood 26:15 — The "Slow COMT" Personality and Stress Response 29:59 — How Genetics Can Point to Better Testing 34:10 — Genetics and Hormone Production, Binding, and Metabolism 35:57 — What "Estrogen Toxicity" Really Means 37:13 — Detoxification Pathways, the Gut, and Hormone Elimination 39:56 — Why Women's Health Can't Be Treated in Silos 41:25 — Genetics, Exercise Performance, and Recovery 44:16 — How Genetics May Affect Hormone Therapy Response 45:58 — DNA 180 vs. the Newer DNA Testing Panel 48:29 — Prioritizing Your Biggest Health Risks and Opportunities 51:04 — Final Takeaways and Where to Learn More