Menopause Matters, Let’s Talk

In this episode we have an enlightening conversation about supplements.

An unregulated industry which has become an absolute minefield to navigate.

We were delighted to be joined by Kevin Leivers, the founder and chief formulator of The Naked Pharmacy, who helps us to understand the importance of being able to make informed decisions about products based on facts not fiction.

Do we really need them, how do you know if they’re safe to take and why it’s seriously not a good idea to submit your body to a cocktail of products.

The most important message…keep it simple…listen to the end to find out what might be worth looking into if you’re needing additional support for symptoms associated with the menopause.

Guest: Kevin Leivers M.R.Pharm.S

Founder, CEO and chief formulator of The Naked Pharmacy with a career in both conventional and natural pharmaceutical industries spanning over forty years.

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Stress management…an invaluable insight into coping tools and strategies

This is such a useful episode to listen to not only to hear about coping with stress whilst going through the menopause but it also gives you fabulous insight into tools and strategies for every day life stresses.

We were delighted to be joined by the wonderful Dr Melanie Smith, an experienced clinical psychologist who specialises in this area.

Listen to hear how to combat the perfect storm that is often brewing for many women who are usually spinning multiple plates during this significant physical transition.

Chronic stress - when levels of stress are raised for prolonged periods this can have a long term impact on health and wellbeing…hear how to differentiate between everyday life stresses and the stress from the impact of menopausal symptoms. What does a bio-psycho-social approach really mean and understand why it’s not just about hormones and fixing hormones.

Mel beautifully explains how Cognitive Behaviour Therapy works and how it genuinely helps to manage stress levels. I know, one not to miss…

Guest: Principal Clinical Psychologist (chronic pain and MSK) at Salford Royal Hospital.

Specialises in Biopsychosocial Approaches to Menopause and is co-author (with Professor Myra Hunter) of Managing Hot Flushes and Night Sweats (A cognitive behavioural self-help guide to the menopause) and Living well through the Menopause (An evidence based cognitive behavioural guide).

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This episode is well worth a listen - it gives clarity about gaining the right research, how to get it, why that is so important and what would ‘gold standard research’ look like…

We chat about why you should only seek evidenced based, trusted information - we direct you to the right places you can find it. This is becoming an increasing challenge for every woman when we have social media platforms that are swamped with misinformation.

We invited the fabulous Dr Paula Briggs, a consultant in sexual and reproductive health, to help us with our discussions and also had an interesting conversation about the new non-hormonal drugs which are soon to become available to help with vasomotor symptoms; what are they and how do they work.

As always we have an interesting nugget of knowledge…happy listening.

Guest: Dr Paula Briggs.

Paula is a Consultant in Sexual and Reproductive Health based at Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust.

She is an Honorary Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Liverpool and Immediate Past Chair of the British Menopause Society.

She is devoted to delivery of women’s health care, research and education. Her main interest is menopause management with a particular interest in urogenital atrophy.

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One of the most interesting and reassuring episodes to listen to when once again we sort out the facts from fiction. We were delighted to be joined by Dr Pauline M. Maki who gives us a better understanding about everything and cuts through all the misinformation.

What is going on when we hit perimenopause, is it dementia – no – the symptoms you’re experiencing are a by-product of your hormones going wonky and your ovaries shutting down.

Our brains don’t like hormonal changes, particularly fluctuating, unpredictable changes.

So many questions get answered throughout this episode… Do symptoms resolve...what does the research say...do social disparities have an impact…which other symptoms can have an impact on your brain.

Mentioned before in previous episodes…it’s the perfect storm going on for many women. Listen to understand how our brains adapt to the changes in estrogen and what is brain plasticity.

We talk about optimising our brain health…why it’s important to treat other symptoms you may be experiencing first and why we need to be focussing on bringing the healthiest brain into menopause.

Why it’s important to make sure you’re bringing an optimally resilient brain to your menopause transition and into the post-menopausal years. Why heart health is brain health…keeping an eye on your heart health will help to optimise your brain health.

Then we talk treatments - why it’s so important to treat symptoms with evidence based interventions and not woo hoo products that have not been properly tested and aren’t recognised, accredited treatments.

When to use HRT and when it’s not advised…listen to get clarity on the facts about HRT and dementia.

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This is a fascinating insight into the interaction between your gut and your brain. We were delighted to be joined by consultant gastroenterologist Dr Elena Eliadou to give us a better understanding about everything.

Reassuringly Elena points out early on in this episode that it’s not your fault things can sometimes become a tad imbalanced. She has a fabulous metaphor which explains what happens when the interaction of various systems in your body go a bit wonky.

Listen to understand what dyspyosis is and what the effect declining & fluctuating levels of estrogen can have on your gut.

Elena importantly flags up the worrying increase in younger people presenting with symptoms of bowel cancer and highlights the alarm - the red flag symptoms, to look out for to enable early diagnosis and treatment.

Getting back to the estrogen…what part does the microbiome play in recycling estrogen in the body and what’s the bio-psycho-social approach all about. Hear why it’s so important to invest time in yourself and your health and what is one of the easiest, most successful practical tools to learn which can help to combat chronic stress alongside giving you that sense of control back.

We find out if there is a specific menopause diet and why it’s important not only what we eat but how we eat…then there’s gut-directed hypnotherapy and behavioural therapies …do they work?

Make sure you listen to the end to find out Elena’s top 3 takeaway key messages.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Workplace support for menopause continues to evolve, but there is still a gap between what organisations believe is adequate and what employees actually need. In this episode, we welcome Deborah Garlick, founder and CEO of Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace and the driving force behind the Menopause Friendly and Menstruation Friendly Accreditations. Drawing on more than a decade of experience, Deborah shares practical advice on creating supportive, inclusive workplaces, highlighting the importance of listening to employees, recognising that every menopause journey is different, and moving away from one-size-fits-all solutions.

Together, we explore how employers and managers can build confidence in supporting colleagues, encourage more open and multigenerational conversations, and foster lasting cultural change through strong leadership. We also discuss the introduction of Menopause Action Plans, the role they play in reducing the gender pay gap, and the steps organisations can take to create workplaces where people experiencing menopause can truly thrive.

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Our bodies are designed to move, they need to move in order to stay healthy. If you’re trying to manage menopausal symptoms, movement can be a life changer.

For the latest episode of The Menopause Matters, Let’s Talk Podcast, Julie Robinson from Move it or Lose it joins Dr Heather Currie MBE and Ruth Devlin. A former PE teacher, Julie has spent her career translating research into practical, inclusive exercise, inspiring everyone to move more. They chat about why doing a combination of movement and exercise is so important… what FABS mean and why everyone bangs on about balance and strength exercising.

Throughout the episode there are sprinklings of fabulous practical everyday tips, all approachable at any level, which will have a positive impact on your bone, muscle and heart health, as well as your mental health.

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Menopause myths vs Reality

Heather and Ruth cut through the misinformation and get the facts on menopause symptom management with leading UK endocrinologist Dr. Annice Mukherjee to separate sense from the "bonkers" advice out there.

We recap on the menopause transition, understanding how hormones shift and eventually reach a stable equilibrium.

We explore the bigger picture - why overall health, simple lifestyle tweaks and self care can be your best tools. We clarify the truth about HRT; why you need an individualised approach and why it’s not just about estrogen.

Also, what do you need to know about the weight loss jabs and and the dangers of cherry picking advice.

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The last of our 12 mini podcasts, debunking 12 menopause myths in the countdown to Christmas is:

Women experience menopause in the same way.

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