Professor Joyce Harper is professor of Reproductive Science at the Institute for Women's Health, University College London. She's also Director of Education at the IfWH, Head of the Department of Reproductive Health and Director of the Centre for Human Reproduction. She's worked in the fields of fertility, genetics, reproductive health and women's health for over 30 years.

Joyce and I connected on Twitter because we're both concerned about the over-medicalization of menopause and how there seems to increasingly be an over-dependence on HRT. We both know there are many natural ways to help us transition vibrantly through menopause. Not sufficient for some but enough for many.

I was delighted to find a kindred spirit in what can sometimes feel like a lonely wilderness. We're both aware our views on this podcast may prove contentious, but we're passionate about making sure women have all the information they need about menopause.

We talk about:

• The over-medicalization of a natural transition in women's lives
• The difficulties of expressing opinions on Twitter
• The many natural ways to help ourselves during perimenopause
• Getting the four pillars of long-term health right
• Investing in midlife for our well-being in older age
• The benefits of being post-menopause
• Challenging negative views of menopause and ageing in general
• Changing perceptions about menstruation and womanhood
• Rethinking estrogen dependence
• How we're the guinea pig generation for HRT
• The importance of doing your research on menopause
• How you may know more than your doctor if you do that research
• How we are meant to go through menopause and have a different hormonal profile after it

And lots more!

Find out more about Joyce and her work on her website. You can also find her on Twitter @ProfJoyceHarper but please be nice (to keep the conversation going!)

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