Turning up the heat on a life stage science is still catching up to.

Ok, most of us may have gotten “the period talk.” But the “menopause talk?” Not so much. For something that half the world will experience, menopause and perimenopause are still wildly misunderstood. Luckily, the DNA detectives are finally reopening a mystery that’s been overlooked for too long.

In this episode, Dr. Kaylee Byers unpacks the science behind menopause. She calls on educator Shirley Weir to understand what menopause and perimenopause actually are– and why so many people feel dismissed when they try to get answers. Plus, reproductive genomics researcher Dr. Aspasia Destouni reveals what our genes (and a few unlikely informants– from orcas to naked mole rats) can teach us about the rebellious internal clock that drives ovarian aging.

Special thanks to Andrea Rathborne- creator, host and producer of the Half Betty podcast.

A note on language: This episode often uses the terms “women” and “female” interchangeably, but we want to acknowledge that menopause is not experienced exclusively by women. People of various gender identities can go through perimenopause and menopause, and it's important to be inclusive in how we talk about this life stage.

Resources: Menopause and perimenopause can feel isolating, and support isn’t always easy to find. Check out resources below for guidance and trusted support networks.

- Resources to help you on your menopause health journey- Menopause Foundation of Canada

- Menopause & Midlife Health- BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre

- Older Adults - Trans Care BC

- Balancing Your Health and Wellness During Menopause- First Nations Health Authority

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Highlights

(5:05) What are menopause and peri-menopause

(14:09) Why menopause ages on a different timeline than the rest of the body

(20:24) What genomics (and naked mole rats!) reveal about ovarian aging

(24:29) Which animals experience menopause and the evolutionary reasons why

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Show Notes/Resources:

1. Menopause and Perimenopause- Health Link BC

2. ‘Unprepared and Disoriented.’ New Findings on Menopause Impacts- The Tyee

3. IN HER WORDS Women’s Experience with the Healthcare System in British Columbia- BC Women’s Health Foundation, Pacific Blue Cross

4. Health and Economics Research on Midlife Women in British Columbia- Women’s Health Research Institute at BC Women’s

5. Menopause and Work in Canada- Menopause Foundation of Canada

6. Postreproductive killer whale grandmothers improve the survival of their grandoffspring- PNAS

7. Demographic and hormonal evidence for menopause in wild chimpanzees- Science

8. Naked mole rats defy the biological law of aging- Science