Menopause has been surrounded by misinformation for decades — and too many women, myself included, have been left to suffer in silence. That's why I invited Dr. Ceri Cashell onto the Biohackher Podcast. Ceri is not only a physician but also a passionate advocate for women's health, and in this conversation we go deep into the truths about hormones, ageing, and what women really need in midlife.
We unpack the flawed study that scared a generation of women away from hormone therapy, and explore why body identical hormones are not only safe but essential for protecting our hearts, bones, brains, and overall wellbeing. We also dive into the symptoms of perimenopause that no one warns you about — from anxiety and insomnia to vaginal dryness and brain fog — and how lifestyle shifts plus the right hormone support can be absolute game changers.
This episode is full of empowering insights, practical takeaways, and the kind of real talk we need to reclaim our health and our power as women.
In This Episode, You'll Hear Us Talk About:
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Why women have been misled about hormones — and the truth behind the science.
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The difference between synthetic, bioidentical, and body identical hormones.
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How perimenopause can start earlier than you think, and the signs to look out for.
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Why suffering through symptoms isn't a badge of honour — and how it accelerates ageing.
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Vaginal health, libido, and why local hormone therapy is the simplest, safest fix most women never hear about.
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The connection between hormones, weight gain, metabolic health, and sleep.
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Why midlife is not the end but a powerful reset — if we support our bodies in the right way.
If you're in perimenopause, menopause, or simply curious about how hormones impact women's health and longevity, this is an episode you don't want to miss.
📌 Episode Chapters
00:00 – Welcome & Introduction Azra introduces Dr. Ceri Cashell and sets the stage for a frank conversation about menopause, hormones, and midlife health.
01:00 – The Misinformation Era How a single misreported study in the early 2000s created decades of fear around hormone therapy.
07:00 – Hormones & Breast Cancer: The Truth Ceri breaks down the real data on estrogen, progesterone, and breast cancer risk — and why fear persists among women and doctors.
12:00 – Body Identical vs. Synthetic Hormones The difference between hormone types, what's safe, and what women should know when weighing their options.
18:00 – Why Breast Cancer Risk Increases with Age Ageing, cellular health, and inflammation: how biology makes breast tissue more vulnerable over time.
20:00 – Putting Menopause on the Big Stage Ceri shares the story of co-founding So Hot Right Now and putting menopause on the Sydney Opera House stage.
24:00 – Symptoms of Perimenopause From hot flushes and mood swings to brain fog and palpitations — the wide range of signs women may not realise are hormone-related.
30:00 – What Best Practice Looks Like Lifestyle, nutrition, exercise, psychological support, and hormone therapy — a personalised approach for each woman.
38:00 – How Long Should You Stay on HRT? Should women stop at 60, 70, or 80? The surprising data on long-term use of hormone therapy.
42:00 – Hormones & Longevity Why estrogen is protective for bone, brain, and heart health — and why many women should stay on HRT for life.
44:00 – The Weight Gain Struggle Understanding visceral fat, insulin resistance, and the lifestyle shifts that really make a difference.
48:00 – Sleep, Snoring & Mouth Taping Why women lose airway tone post-menopause, and whether mouth taping and breathwork can help.
50:00 – Why Sleep is Everything How hormones, melatonin, and cortisol interact to disrupt sleep — and what actually works to improve it.
53:00 – Vaginal Health & UTIs Why vaginal dryness, UTIs, and painful sex are "the lowest hanging fruit" in medicine, and how simple treatments change lives.
57:00 – Libido & Intimacy The complex mix of biology, psychology, and connection when it comes to desire — and the role of testosterone and other tools.
1:02:00 – Brain Fog & Cognitive Function How hormone decline, inflammation, and sleep all impact memory and focus — and what helps bring clarity back.
1:05:00 – Ceri's Longevity Vision Her personal goals for ageing well — from surfing in her seventies to being a fit and active grandmother.
1:07:00 – Closing Thoughts & Next Steps
Final reflections, gratitude.
ABOUT DR CERI CASHELL
Dr Ceri Cashell is a GP, published medical writer, researcher and outspoken advocate for women's health equity.
She originally trained as a physician before pivoting to primary care, combining the depth of internal medicine with the breadth of whole-person care.
Dr Ceri is the co-founder of Healthy Hormones, Australia's largest online menopause education platform, and one of the creators of the sold-out So Hot Right Now series, including events at the Sydney Opera House and a national medical conference.
Her mission is to expose the mis-medicine that has left the majority of women misdiagnosed, mistreated and dismissed, and to replace it with evidence-based, hormone-literate and personalised care that works.
She is known for blending science, systems thinking, and a no-nonsense dose of feminist fire, helping women and clinicians alike understand the power of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone across the life cycle.
Her work has been featured in national media and the Australian Senate Inquiry, and she remains unapologetically focused on one thing: getting women the medicine they were never given, and the power they've always had.
CONNECT WITH DR CERI CASHELL
WEBSITE: www.healthyhormones.au also available on the App Store https://apps.apple.com/au/app/healthy-hormones/id6749656733?l=en-GB INSTAGRAM: @drcericashell and @healthyhormones_
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