Menopause is often misdiagnosed so education is paramount. If we can know what to look out for, we will be far more equipped when we go to see the GP for help and support. This week we talk to menopause specialist Sharon Hartmann from the Newson Clinic. She works both in the NHS and the private sector so she has a window on both experiences.

The effects of menopause start in our early 40s, sometimes even sooner and often they are misdiagnosed as depression, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, even alzheimers – you'll hear all about that across the next few episodes.

If you haven't yet heard the other episodes about navigating and understanding the symptoms, they are numbers 72 78 and 79.

In this episode, Sharon Hartmann was keen to talk not just about menopause, but how to talk to your GP about HRT and we cover masses – from migraines to endemitriosis, depression to pelvic floors, to how to apply HRT, the 5 year myth, the WHI Study, testosterone, the mirena coil and libido …here's a few break points:

17:00 symptoms, both physical and psychological

19:00 pelvic floor and bladder, vaginal atrophy

28:00 body identitcal HRT

33:00 HRT and whether or not to come off (short answer, no)

38:00 what to do when your GP says no

42:00 5 year myth

46:00 Is it ever too late to start?

50:00 testosterone

51:00 libido and anxiety

54:00 bad sleep and sleep hygiene

57:00 mirena coil

We talk about the Newson Health clinic where you can get heaps of advice and help as being a great place to start and click here for the NICE guidelines to help you with approaching your GP. The Balance app is the other resource helpful for navigating and tracking your symptoms.

Please share these episodes with friends and family, it's so important to keep the conversation going.

Thank you for listening, if you'd like to follow me on social media, you can see all my links via my website

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