Did we all miss the memo? You know the one I mean. The one that suggests that by rights we should be dead already, & we only struggle through menopause & beyond, because we're living longer than we're programmed to, than we ever have before. This notion that suggests that only our ovaries got the memo, & the rest of us is just loitering, waiting to catch up. Many of you will have heard or read of the idea that going through menopause isn't natural, because for aons humans would have been dead by the age of 45. This is considered to be the reason why we can have such a bad time of i ..read more

You may be lucky enough to be working for a menopause-friendly employer who has awareness training in place; a policy that is reflected in action; & empathetic line management that walks the talk. Unfortunately, a 2022 study by the Fawcett Society suggests that you may be in the minority. Their report, Menopause & the workplace, suggests that workplaces are still failing women in menopause & that change is needed. One in ten women who worked during the menopause have left a job due to their symptoms. Eight out of ten women say their employer hasn’t shared information, trained staf ..read more

Preparing for a conversation about Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) with your GP is an important step in ensuring that you receive the information and support you need. Here are some steps to help you prepare for this conversation: Educate Yourself: Research HRT: Before your appointment, take the time to educate yourself & understand the different types of HRT, their potential benefits, risks, and side effects. Read medical guidelines: Familiarise yourself with the relevant medical guidelines for HRT. They're pretty lengthy, but you can find a link to the NICE (National Institute f ..read more

Exercise, Mitochondrial Health, and Brain Fitness Studies have suggested that physical activity may delay brain aging and degenerative conditions, improve cognitive processes and memory, and promote a sense of well-being. A 2019 review of 48 studies that compared the effects of exercise on both physical function and cognitive function in older adults (60 years of age or older), suggested that exercise training has a significant benefit, improving both functions in this population. Trials have found that different types of physical activity, from cardio workouts, to strength training ..read more

Cognitive behavioural therapy may not be the first thing that springs to minds when we consider tackling menopause symptoms, but it can be helpful for a range of problems, including anxiety & stress, low mood, hot flushes & night sweats, sleep problems & even fatigue. As such, & as you may have already surmised, its benefits aren't just limited to menopause, but can improve wellbeing in general for the vast majority of us. You know that stress can ramp up a range of symptoms, drive negative thought patterns and behaviours. CBT can help nip the unhelpful thoughts in the bud, red ..read more

Despite nearing the other end of clock adjustment, I read an article recently about the extra hour of sunlight from daylight savings can benefit your mental health In addition to the psychological boost of ‘hooray, summer’s on its way’, sunlight hitting the back of the eye triggers the release of serotonin, our happy hormone. It also helps regulate our circadian rhythms – our sleep/wake cycle. Getting exposure to daylight early in the day helps keep us in sync with the natural cycle of daytime/night-time and the production of melatonin – the chemical which peaks in the evening & tells ..read more

Getting a handle on your stress levels is central to managing menopause symptoms. Declining &/or fluctuating oestrogen levels are the drivers behind many meno symptoms & stress hormones can further negatively impact upon your oestrogen levels. If stress hormone adrenaline is persistently elevated, it can block oestrogen at the receptor. If a hormone cannot get into our cells, we cannot enjoy its effects. So stress can effectively make a bad situation worse in terms of declining oestrogen & its physical & mental effects. Stress can also directly cause many symptoms also associat ..read more

It is incredibly rare for women to tell me about vaginal dryness or problems with sexual function in a health work-through despite vaginal/vulval dryness affecting the majority of women in menopause. 70% of women are believed to experience some genito-urinary problems in meno but unfortunately only a small number discuss it with their GP. What women are happier talking about is their increased need to wee; multiple trips to the toilet during the night; & recurrent UTIs. These can all be part & parcel of the same underlying issue – low levels of oestrogen. There are oestrogen receptors ..read more

Did you know that the World Health Organisation has declared a sleep loss epidemic across developed nations? Two-thirds of adults in the US, Europe, Japan & South Korea fail to obtain the recommended 8 hours of sleep per night. Why does it matter? Thinking about your own habits, this may not surprise you, but did you know that routinely getting less than 6-7 hours’ sleep a night drives a hole through your immune system, increases your risk for Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke. It also disrupts hormone levels and your ability to regulate food intake. If ..read more

If you watched Davina last year on Sex, Myths & the Menopause, you’ll know that women’s risk for cardiovascular heart disease increases post menopause. Perhaps you knew this anyway? Oestrogen has a protective effect vs heart disease & declining levels in our 40s & 50s appear to be the reason why CVD may be an issue for women as we progress in age. HRT reduces our risk of heart conditions, but it is not a future health insurance policy, & whether you’re on hormone replacement or not, there are certain lifestyle choices that can help keep our risk low. Finding effective tools to ..read more