Effin Hormones

"Sexuality is our life force energy"

Dr Claire Macaulay is an Oncology Doctor, who also helps peri and menopausal women have the sex lives they want.

Her dual career came about after one of her breast cancer patients told her that she didn't know which was worse - the fact that she was going to die of cancer one day or the fact that she couldn't have sex with her husband. Cancer patients can experience menopause as part of their treatment. Those menopausal symptoms can have a huge impact on people's ability to have sex.

Claire realised that her patients really needed support and The Pleasure Possibility was born. She works with women who are in the perimenopausal or menopausal phase of life, whether naturally occurring or due to medical treatment.

Hands up - the Effin Hormones gang were a bit nervous talking about this at the start... But Claire is massively down to earth, incredibly knowledgable and funny too. She really does break down some barriers and make this issue OK to talk about. You'll learn a LOT!

Claire mentions a meditation, which you can access here:

I want meditation

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Effin Hormones is sponsored by Better Help

What's Better Help, we hear you cry?!

"If one person feels heard, then that's important."

Meera Bhogal is a menopause expert, personal trainer and fitness coach, who runs the platform Meera’s Made from Scratch, which includes training plans, clubs, and support with health, nutrition and exercise. 

Meera’s passionate about raising awareness of menopause, particularly with South Asian women. She has also spoken to people at Sikh Gurdwaras - helping to break down taboos about menopause in South Asian communities.  She’s even been to parliament to talk about it.  

If you bought Dr Louise Newson’s latest book, The Definitive Guide to Perimenopause and Menopause, then you’ll have read about Meera, as she contributed to that too.  

Do you want to take part in a research study about menopause? Meera mentions this global research study: 

The Menopause Million

and Terri mentioned this report on average ages in menopause in The Journal of Midlife Health

Check out Meera’s Menopause Symposium, which is happening on 01.07.23!

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Effin Hormones is sponsored by Better Help

What's Better Help, we hear you cry?!

Why can't we get hold of #HRT?

What protection do you have at work if you're off due to #menopause or #perimenopause symptoms?

And -who's looking out for our interests?

The gang get back together for a big old catch up about the politics of menopause. Hearing from campaigners like Carol Vorderman, Kate Muir, Carolyn Harris MP and Mariella Frostrup.

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Effin Hormones is sponsored by Better Help

'Don't put yourself at the bottom of the pile'

Sam Walker has wise words for you if you've been struggling through perimenopause and menopause.  

Sam is an award winning broadcaster; podcaster and author. She worked on national radio in the UK, before upping sticks and moving to - Phoenix Arizona! Her award winning podcast Desert Diaries tells you the story. She’s now an audio consultant and podcaster.

Emma and Helen hear Sam's perimenopause story, which was incredibly tough for her at times. Remember, if you're struggling, and you're in the UK and Ireland, the Samaritans number is 116 123. They’re always there, day or night. In the rest of the world please do look up your local mental health number.

Sam got through it, thanks to HRT and has regained her health and her sanity. In fact, she's about to run the London Marathon! She's raising money for Breast Cancer Now and would be incredibly grateful for any support.  Donate by clicking on this link, or you can find out more on Sam's instagram.

 Connect with Effin Hormones, a podcast about perimenopause and beyond

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Effin Hormones is sponsored by Better Help

What's Better Help, we hear you cry?!

"If a dinner lady from Swansea can make changes, anyone can."

Carolyn Harris MP has been a dinner lady and a barmaid. Nowadays - she's an MP who's been doing INCREDIBLE work as the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Menopause. If you're getting HRT on prescription in England, it's thanks to Carolyn that you're going to be able to pay for your prescription yearly. That means you're going to save a lot of money.  

Carolyn breaks a LOT of the stereotypes of what you might expect an MP to be like. She's happy to have a good swear with the Effin Hormones gang; she dyes her hair all kinds of different colours - and most importantly she gets things done, with cross party support.

She's as far away from a career politician as you can possibly imagine, but as she says, she's not doing anything that other people can't do.  The Effin Hormones gang get inspired to keep on raising awareness and influencing government policy. Hopefully you'll feel inspired too.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Effin Hormones is sponsored by Better Help

What's Better Help, we hear you cry?!

Without Louise Minchin, there would be no Effin Hormones!

Louise is a TV presenter, journalist and author. She's well known in the UK for being one of the presenters of BBC Breakfast, a job she’d had for years until announcing her departure in 2021.

Louise was holding down that high profile job while going through perimenopause. At the time, she kept asking the production team to cover menopause - because she knew it would get a big response from viewers. In the end, her producer decided to cover it - for a whole week! Louise told her story as a part of it. Louise's openness had a huge impact on both the audience - and producer Helen, who came up with the idea for Effin Hormones after seeing the impact that BBC Breakfast’s Menopause Week was having.

You'll hear all about that, plus you'll find out why Louise is so passionate that women experiencing menopause get the right information and support. Hopefully you'll also get some inspiration on taking up sport too. Louise credits her new passion with getting her through some trying times.

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Sarah Graham is an award winning health writer, whose book 'Rebel Bodies', is a manifesto for change when it comes to women's health. Find out why it's not all in your head, in this bonus Effin Hormones episode!

Has Emma solved her hot flushes with HRT? Has Helen finally worked out whether she's perimenopausal or not?!

The gang have a couple of updates for you. Seeing as it's the start of a new year, Emma, Helen, Beena and Terri also put the world to rights and discuss what more needs to be done to improve menopause and perimenopause care for all.

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Sharon and her husband JB are the first couple to chat to the Effin Hormones gang! What a brilliant couple they are too. They’re both very much in love, and a right laugh to hang out with. So - how did they cope when menopause hit Sharon like a ton of bricks? 

Sharon and JB discuss the impact menopausal symptoms have had on Sharon's career, her mental health and their relationship.  They also share some great tips on how to communicate with each other through what can be an incredibly challenging and frightening time.  They’ve managed to get through it together with their shared interests and a cracking sense of humour. 

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"Companies collaborate in the menopause space to make a difference"

Sally Mueller and Michelle Jacobs are the co-founders of Womaness - a new brand covering the menopause market in the United States.

They've worked for huge US brands like Target, Pfizer and the shopping TV network HSN. But as Sally asks, "Why was I creating all these brands for millennials? Why am I not tackling this space for women like me?"

They’re on a mission to spread some - as they call it - 'menopositivity' into the world.

Plus, the Effin Hormones gang discuss the importance of checking your boobs and bits, to keep yourself healthy. Here are a couple of links to help with that:

NHS: How to check my breasts

Coppa Feel

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