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From Being Dismissed by Doctors to Revolutionising Menopause Care in Ireland – Loretta Dingham’s Journey Is One Every Woman Needs to Hear

When Loretta experienced her first hot flushes after her periods stopped at age 49, she thought she must be the youngest woman in Ireland to go through the menopause. Little did she know that the constellation of symptoms she had battled throughout her 40s – headaches that led to brain scans, recurrent urinary tract infections, dry eyes that landed her in A&E three times, weight gain, and skin breakouts – were all connected to perimenopause, a term she had never even heard before.

After years of medical gaslighting and being told she was simply “having a bad run of things,” Loretta decided to take matters into her own hands. Her frustration turned into determination after meeting a successful professional woman who had been suffering with menopausal symptoms for over a decade without knowing where to turn.

Within months, Loretta founded The Menopause Hub – Ireland’s first dedicated menopause clinic – long before celebrity campaigns and public discourse made menopause a mainstream topic. What began as a personal mission has become a nationwide movement.

Today, The Menopause Hub provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary care through clinics in Dublin and Cork, with virtual consultations available across the country. But Loretta’s vision goes well beyond clinical care. Through The Menopause Hub Academy, she is transforming workplaces to better support women going through the menopause, aiming to halt the alarming exodus of experienced female talent from the workforce.

Her pioneering efforts have not gone unnoticed. Loretta was recently recognised by Forbes as one of their Top 50 Over 50, honouring her groundbreaking work and continued advocacy.

In this eye-opening conversation, Loretta discusses the barriers women still face in accessing proper menopause care, the life-changing benefits of personalised treatment, and her campaign for free women’s health checks. Her message is clear and urgent: women deserve better, and no one should suffer in silence.

Whether you're navigating menopause yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode is filled with invaluable insights into reclaiming your vitality and advocating for your health. Subscribe now and share this conversation with every woman in your life.

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You can watch the full episode on YouTube [here].

Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review – it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.

Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.