What do women, Doctors, and professionals keep getting wrong about menopause?

In this myth-busting episode of Is It Hot In Here?, Dr Naomi Potter takes on 13 of the most common menopause misconceptions—and sets the record straight.

From “HRT causes cancer” to “Menopause means the end of my sex life” and “Menopause starts at 50”, Naomi unpacks the facts behind the misinformation and outdated advice that too many women are still being told today.

Whether you’re just entering perimenopause or knee-deep in hot flushes and hormone confusion, this episode will empower you with clarity, science-backed answers, and a big sigh of relief.

Further reading:

https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/blog/hormones-and-hrt
https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/blog/hrt-risks-and-benefits
https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/blog/signs-hrt-is-not-working
https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/blog/testosterone-and-menopause
https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/blog/contraception-in-menopause
https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/blog/hrt-and-breast-cancer
https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/blog/hrt-perimenopause
https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/blog/hrt-weight-gain

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:
Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF7Fep/?mibextid=wwXIfr
For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/
Submit a question for Naomi to read at: [email protected]

0:00 – Intro
0:23 – Myth 1: Menopause doesn't start until 50
1:10 – Myth 2: You ca only be on HRT for 5 years
2:18 – Myth 3: You should just put up with menopause symptoms
3:08 – Myth 4: Every women should be on HRT
4:19 – Myth 5: You are not menopausal if you have no symptoms
4:59 – Myth 6: You need a blood test to diagnose menopause
7:12 – Myth 7: HRT causes cancer
9:43 – Myth 8: You cannot use HRT if you have a family history of cancer
13:16 – Myth 9: Testosterone is only for men
14:26 – Myth 10: I cannot get pregnant once I start perimenopause
16:13 – Myth 11: Menopause means the death of sex
16:54 – Myth 12: I will gain weight during menpause
18:26 – Myth 13: Quality of life goes downhill from menopause

#menopause #perimenopause #hrt

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:00:23 Myth 1: Menopause doesn't start until 50
• 00:01:10 Myth 2: You ca only be on HRT for 5 years
• 00:02:18 Myth 3: You should just put up with menopause symptoms
• 00:03:08 Myth 4: Every women should be on HRT
• 00:04:19 Myth 5: You are not menopausal if you have no symptoms
• 00:04:59 Myth 6: You need a blood test to diagnose menopause
• 00:07:12 Myth 7: HRT causes cancer
• 00:09:43 Myth 8: You cannot use HRT if you have a family history of cancer
• 00:13:16 Myth 9: Testosterone is only for men
• 00:14:26 Myth 10: I cannot get pregnant once I start perimenopause
• 00:16:13 Myth 11: Menopause means the death of sex
• 00:16:54 Myth 12: I will gain weight during menpause
• 00:18:26 Myth 13: Quality of life goes downhill from menopause

Why does your gut feel different during menopause – and what can you do about it?

This week, Dr. Naomi Potter is joined by Dr. Megan Rossi – AKA The Gut Health Doctor – a dietitian and scientist leading the conversation on gut health.

From bloating and reflux to stubborn weight gain, Megan explains how hormonal shifts can disrupt digestion in midlife – and how smart, simple food choices can make all the difference.

Whether you're a kitchen novice or a seasoned cook, Megan’s tips are practical, science-backed, and doable for every budget.

Stay up to date with Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram: @hotinherepodcast_drnaomipotter

Follow Dr. Megan Rossi below:
Megan’s Instagram: @theguthealthdoctor
Megan’s TikTok: @theguthealthdoctor
Megan’s Website: https://www.theguthealthdoctor.com/

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:
Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF7Fep/?mibextid=wwXIfr

For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/
Submit a question for Naomi to read at: [email protected]

#menopause #guthealth #guthealthdoctor

How can our diets help us through menopause and midlife?

Dr. Megan Rossi AKA The Gut Health Doctor explains.

Full episode with Dr. Megan Rossi will be out on the Is It Hot In Here podcast later this month!

We've released 10 episodes of Is It Hot In Here? so far, so today we're looking back at some of the biggest lessons our guests have shared.

Featuring Lorraine Candy discussing how community got her through menopause, Dame Kelly Holmes on top fitness tips for midlife women, and Lou Featherstone on body confidence.

#menopause #perimenopause #drnaomipotter

Feeling isolated in midlife? You’re not alone — and today’s guest, Nadia Nagamootoo, knows exactly how that feels.

Nadia is a chartered psychologist, CEO of Avenir Consulting Services, and host of the Why Care? podcast. In this episode, she opens up to Dr Naomi Potter about her long, emotional journey with fertility struggles — and how those years shaped not just her 30s, but her experience of perimenopause.

Doctors told Nadia she had a low ovarian count, which resulted in her struggles to conceive. So the question is: do fertility struggles also suggest that Nadia will have menopause struggles? Can the two be connected? Dr. Naomi Potter is here to explain.

Nadia confesses she was “in denial” about hitting perimenopause. Together, she and Naomi explore how hormone changes intersect with mental health, identity, and the weight so many women silently carry.

They also speak candidly about why menopause support needs to be more inclusive. As a South Asian woman, Nadia highlights how healthcare research and treatment often overlooks diverse experiences — and why that has to change.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt lonely, misunderstood, or overwhelmed in midlife. It’s a powerful, personal conversation — with practical insights and hope woven throughout.

Stay up to date with Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram: @hotinherepodcast_drnaomipotter

Follow Nadia Nagamootoo below:
Nadia’s Instagram: @nadianagamootoo
Nadia’s website: https://www.nadianagamootoo.com/
Nadia’s podcast Why Care?: https://www.nadianagamootoo.com/podcast

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:
Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF7Fep/?mibextid=wwXIfr

For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

Submit a question for Naomi to read at: [email protected]

#menopause #DrNaomiPotter #perimenopause

What happens when the loneliness and libido spikes in midlife drive you to “crash out” of your marriage?

In this week’s episode of Is It Hot in Here? Dr Naomi Potter is joined by Fashion Editor and artist Stacey Duguid.
In this raw conversation, Stacey explains how she “went looking for attention” and found it, her marriage ended in chaos, she “wrecked her financial future”, moved house and had a breakdown, all while unknowingly experiencing perimenopause.

Together, Naomi and Stacey explore the complex impact of hormonal changes, and how an increased sex drive can be as difficult and destructive as its opposite. Is there a scientific explanation behind Stacey’s choices? Could an earlier diagnosis or menopause care have changed her path? What do other women need to know?

Whether you’re in the thick of perimenopause yourself, supporting someone who is, or just beginning to wonder what this stage of midlife might bring — this episode is filled with insight, reassurance, and practical advice to help you feel more prepared and less alone.

Stay up to date with Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram: @hotinherepodcast_drnaomipotter

Follow Stacey Duguid below:
Stacey’s Instagram: @staceyduguid
Stacey’s TikTok: @mydivorceinoutfits
Stacey’s book: In Pursuit of Happiness: Mating, Marriage, Motherhood, Money, Mayhem: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pursuit-Happiness-Mating-Marriage-Motherhood/dp/0349435197

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:
Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF7Fep/?mibextid=wwXIfr

For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

Submit a question for Naomi to read at: [email protected]

#menopause #StaceyDuguid #DrNaomiPotter

I see so many women, with so many symptoms and confusion about what is happening to them, and why, that I wanted to break it down for you. So here is a Clinic Cheat Sheet to help break it down for you!

In this episode of my Is it Hot in here? podcast, I break down the signs and symptoms we go through in clinic to establish if they are related to perimenopause, general ageing, or other medical conditions - be they psychological, physical or emotional – and clarify the different symptom management and treatment options. From brain fog and burnout to skin and hair changes, low libido, joint pain and allergies, we cover it all.

So whether you are wondering if what you’re feeling is “just ageing,” or you’ve already started HRT and want to understand more, this episode will really help.

Stay up to date with Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram @hotinherepodcast_drnaomipotter

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:

Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter

Is It Hot In Here’s Instagram: @hotinherepodcast_drnaomipotter

Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF7Fep/?mibextid=wwXIfr

For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

Submit a question for Naomi to read at: [email protected]

#menopause #perimenopause #menopausesymptoms

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:00:23 What Dr Naomi asks women in clinic (are they perimenopausal?)
• 00:01:19 What are you currently experiencing?
• 00:01:52 Spotting menopause symptoms
• 00:02:33 Physical menopause symptoms (eye changes, hearing changes, skin changes, gut changes, libido etc.)
• 00:03:33 Psychological menopause symptoms (low mood, anxiety, dementia-like symptoms, brain fog etc.)
• 00:04:32 Rage in menopause
• 00:05:15 Other medical conditions alongside menopause
• 00:06:14 Medications alongside menopause
• 00:06:41 How your lifestyle impacts menopause
• 00:07:15 Family history and menopause
• 00:09:20 Hair changes during menopause
• 00:10:41 Skin changes during menopause
• 00:12:50 Libido changes during menopause
• 00:14:00 Loss of motivation during menopause
• 00:15:02 Brain fog during menopause
• 00:16:52 Allergies during menopause
• 00:18:12 Is it menopause or just ageing?
• 00:19:05 How to get help
• 00:19:57 What does HRT do in menopause?
• 00:20:37 Why you should take yourself seriously (you DO matter!)
• 00:21:19 What to do if you have more questions about menopause

​In this episode of Is It Hot In Here?, Dr. Naomi Potter sits down with George Smart, fiancé of TV presenter Lisa Snowdon who appeared on the podcast last episode, to explore the often-overlooked role of partners during menopause.

Lisa claimed George was her rock throughout years of pain, fear , anxiety and confusion, so this week George explains how he set out to help her as best he could. He also offers advice to the many listeners who messaged us after listening to Lisa talk about him. He discusses the scarcity of resources available for men to understand menopause and offers practical advice for partners striving to provide meaningful support during this transformative period.

Follow George Smart below:
George’s Instagram: @i_smarticus

Stay up to date with Is It Hot In Here? on Instagram: @hotinherepodcast_drnaomipotter

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:

Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter

Is It Hot In Here's Instagram:

Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF7Fep/?mibextid=wwXIfr

For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

Submit a question for Naomi to read at: [email protected]

#drnaomipotter #menopause #georgesmart

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:01:09 Meeting Lisa Snowden & becoming “that guy”
• 00:02:29 Lisa’s symptoms hit hard
• 00:03:22 How George supported her (without trying to fix it)
• 00:04:36 “It wasn’t Lisa being Lisa anymore”
• 00:05:10 The no-kids talk: George’s calm clarity
• 00:06:47 Why men have zero resources on menopause
• 00:08:38 The power of communication in tough times
• 00:10:51 When George realized this wasn’t just Lisa’s journey
• 00:13:27 Listener Q&A: “She’s changed. Do I just accept it?”
• 00:16:47 “You’re doing them a favor”: speaking up at work

With so much medical misdirection, how can women get the help they really need during mid-life?

In today’s episode of Is It Hot In Here? Dr Naomi Potter is joined by UK broadcaster and model Lisa Snowdon.

Lisa’s signs of early menopause were terrifying to her, and missed by medical practitioners failing to recognise the symptoms. It led her on a long, emotionally painful and punishingly expensive journey; she was put on antidepressants and effectively told to suck up aging, she was told she would never have children at a time when she was still considering starting a family, she was treated with a shocking lack of empathy as her symptoms “shape-shifted”.

At the time Lisa didn’t know what she needed, or how to properly advocate for herself. So, if you are hoping to understand your mid-life, and how to better equip yourself for conversations around symptoms, make sure you tune in.

Follow Lisa Snowdon below:

Lisa’s Instagram: @lisa_snowdon

Lisa’s TikTok: @lisa__snowdon

Lisa’s podcast We Aren’t Getting Any Older: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/were-not-getting-any-younger/id1771370805

Stay up to date with Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram @hotinherepodcast_drnaomipotter

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:

Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF7Fep/?mibextid=wwXIfr

For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

Submit a question for Naomi to read at: [email protected]

00:00 - Lisa Snowdon’s Career and MasterChef Win

02:09 - Early Menopause Panic and Anxiety

03:54 - Misdiagnosed and Given Antidepressants

07:44 - Struggling for a Perimenopause Diagnosis

12:08 - Night Sweats, Palpitations, and Relationships

15:09 - Menopause Damaged Confidence and Career

20:11 - Financial Impact of Untreated Menopause

23:12 - Life-Changing Treatment with Dr. Potter

32:46 - Fertility, Acceptance, and Societal Pressures

39:43 - Audience Q&A: Fertility and Libido Advice

#naomipotter #lisasnowdon #menopause

• 00:00:00 Lisa Snowdon’s Career and MasterChef Win
• 00:02:09 Early Menopause Panic and Anxiety
• 00:03:54 Misdiagnosed and Given Antidepressants
• 00:07:44 Struggling for a Perimenopause Diagnosis
• 00:12:08 Night Sweats, Palpitations, and Relationships
• 00:15:09 Menopause Damaged Confidence and Career
• 00:20:11 Financial Impact of Untreated Menopause
• 00:23:12 Life-Changing Treatment with Dr. Potter
• 00:32:46 Fertility, Acceptance, and Societal Pressures
• 00:39:43 Audience Q&A: Fertility and Libido Advice

How can you bounce back from burnout and is it really possible to reinvent yourself mid-menopause?

In today’s episode of Is It Hot In Here? Dr Naomi Potter is joined by the former Editor of Hello! magazine, Rosie Nixon.

Rosie is no stranger to an intense, highly demanding job. While at Hello! Magazine, she was facing press nights every Friday, deadlines against the clock, and covering exclusive stories with A-List celebs. Robbie Williams, the Royal Family, you name it! For a long time she thrived… until she didn’t. In her late 40s “I collapsed on the bed in a pool of tears,” she recalls. “And I just thought: I am done.”

The timing was not a coincidence. Although she didn’t, at the time, recognise the symptoms, Rosie was also experiencing peri-menopause. So how much of this work-related stress was exactly that – and how much was being exacerbated by midlife hormonal turbulence?

Rosie’s journey to psychological, social and professional reinvention is emotional, inspiring and educational. Want to know how you could do the same? This episode is just for you.

Follow Rosie Nixon below:

Rosie’s Instagram: @rosiejnixon

Rosie’s TikTok: @rosiejnixon

Rosie’s website: https://www.rosienixon.co.uk/

Rosie’s book Be Kind: https://www.rosienixon.co.uk/be-kind

Rosie’s reinvention retreats: https://www.rosienixon.co.uk/reinvention-retreats

Stay up to date with Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram @hotinherepodcast_drnaomipotter

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:

Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter

Is It Hot In Here's Instagram:

Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF7Fep/?mibextid=wwXIfr

For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

Submit a question for Naomi to read at: [email protected]

#rosienixon #drnaomipotter #menopause

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:01:15 Who is Rosie Nixon?
• 00:03:06 What was it like working for big magazines?
• 00:04:01 Robbie Williams' secret wedding
• 00:06:54 The end of Rosie's magazine career (the peak of burnout)
• 00:09:38 Learning to listen to your body
• 00:11:19 A spark of excitement for change
• 00:12:30 How to make such a drastic career change (separating your work from your identity)
• 00:16:04 Recognising that menopause was contributing to work stress
• 00:17:55 Advocating for yourself with your GP
• 00:19:56 Will antidepressants help during menopause?
• 00:20:50 The 'perfect storm' of work burnout and menopause
• 00:22:06 Rosie's experience on HRT ("they weren't for me")
• 00:23:54 HRT causing bad skin
• 00:25:40 HRT alternatives
• 00:28:59 Work life balance
• 00:30:44 Should women get a blood test during menopause?
• 00:35:19 Menopause symptoms can come and go
• 00:37:07 Advice on how to change careers during menopause
• 00:40:53 Outro