Dear Menopause

• 120: Your Brain During Menopause with Dr Jen Hacker Pearson

  Your brain is undergoing a massive renovation during menopause, and Neuroscientist Dr Jennifer Hacker Pearson is here to help you understand the how and why. With nearly three decades studying neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to change itself, Dr Jen offers revolutionary insights into why perimenopause affects every woman differently and how you can harness this transformation.When estrogen levels fluctuate during perimenopause, your brain essentially panics. There are estrogen receptors throughout your neural networks, and as this crucial hormone decreases, your brain must create "workarounds" by changing its structure, function, and connectivity. This rewiring explains everything from mood swings to cognitive changes, but it also presents a golden opportunity for personal growth."Menopause is actually a gift," Dr Jen explains, challenging society's often negative perspective. Rather than viewing it as decline, she frames it as a developmental transition, a chance to become your truest, most authentic self. The extensive neural reorganisation happening during this time creates ideal conditions for consciously shaping who you want to be in your post-menopausal years.Dr Jen shares practical tools for directing this transformation, recommending meditation to reduce neuroinflammation (which increases as estrogen decreases) and journaling to understand how past experiences have shaped your brain. She also discusses fascinating research on how previous hormonal experiences like pregnancy might better prepare women for menopause, and explains why declining estrogen levels may contribute to women's higher risk of Alzheimer's disease.Download Dr Jen's free 5-minute meditation designed specifically for women in perimenopause, and discover why embracing this transition rather than fighting it could be the key to thriving through midlife and beyond.LinksGet free Meditation hereDr Jen's websiteDr Jen InstagramDr Jen LinkedInThank you for listening to my show! Join the conversation on Instagram

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• 119: The Testosterone Access Gap No One's Talking About

  We need to talk about the glaring inequity in Australian healthcare that's affecting millions of women. After 18 months on menopause hormone therapy, testosterone has transformed my life, restoring my vitality, sharpening my focus, lifting my mood, and reawakening my sexuality. Yet accessing this life-changing treatment reveals a troubling gender bias in our healthcare system.While nine testosterone products for men are subsidised through the PBS, Androfeme - the only female-specific testosterone cream in Australia - remains unsubsidised, costing women over $100 per script. This forces many of us to use male-formulated alternatives that require daily careful self-measurement, an imprecise and frustrating workaround that no woman should have to endure.The numbers are staggering: an estimated 1.34 million Australian midlife women experience Hypoactive Sexual Desire Dysfunction (HSDD), yet face significant barriers to diagnosis and treatment. Despite testosterone therapy being used safely and effectively for women since the 1940s, with Australian-made Androfemme recognised globally as a gold standard treatment, women continue to bear financial burdens that men don't face for essentially identical symptoms.The solution is straightforward: include Androfemme on the PBS, just as other menopause treatments have recently been added.Share this episode with friends, family, healthcare providers, and decision-makers. Together, we can amplify women's voices and demand the equal treatment we deserve. Women's health is not a luxury - it's time our healthcare system reflects that truth.Links:National Women's Health Advisory Council's ReviewWhat is HSDD?Australian Paper on HSDDTestosterone has been treating women since 1940'sTestosterone for women: what you need to knowThank you for listening to my show! Join the conversation on Instagram

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• 118: Postmenopausal Bleeding: Causes, Concerns, and When to Seek Help

  Postmenopausal bleeding can be an alarming experience, especially when you've gone years without a period. What causes this unexpected bleeding? When should you be concerned? Dr Ceri Cashell joins me to demystify this common but often distressing symptom.We dive into the definition of postmenopausal bleeding - any bleeding that occurs after 12 months without periods - and explore the various causes, from hormone imbalances to more serious conditions that require immediate attention. Dr Ceri uses a brilliant analogy, comparing the uterus to a jumbo jet where multiple hormone "switches" need perfect alignment for smooth operation.For women recently started HRT, bleeding can be a side effect, particularly in the first three to six months or after dosage adjustments. However, Dr Ceri emphasises that certain risk factors like obesity, family history, tamoxifen use, and smoking warrant prompt investigation. We walk through exactly what happens during medical assessment - from initial GP visits to ultrasounds that measure endometrial thickness and potentially hysteroscopy procedures.My own experience with unexpected bleeding after eight years without periods highlights how confronting this symptom can be. Dr. Ceri reminds us that while HRT offers tremendous benefits, it's not a perfect solution and may require personalised adjustments to find your hormone sweet spot. Most importantly, she urges women not to dismiss or normalise symptoms that could indicate something serious - "Women are far too good at sucking things up," she notes, encouraging listeners to prioritise their health concerns.Have you experienced unexpected bleeding after menopause? Don't wait - speak with your healthcare provider today and get the answers and reassurance you deserve.LinksHealthy Hormones WebsiteThank you for listening to my show! Join the conversation on Instagram

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• 117: Weight Loss, Hormones and Metabolic Health with Dr Lucy Burns

  Have you ever wondered why weight creeps on during menopause, despite your best efforts? Dr Lucy Burns pulls back the curtain on what she calls the "metabolic triad of menopause" – a perfect storm of declining estrogen, rising cortisol, and increasing insulin resistance that creates the ideal conditions for stubborn weight gain.As a GP who retrained in lifestyle medicine after experiencing her own health challenges, Dr. Burns offers a refreshingly honest perspective on why traditional approaches to weight management fail so many midlife women. Using the powerful analogy of a locked woodshed, she explains how high insulin levels essentially padlock your stored fat, making it impossible to access no matter how much you restrict calories or exercise.What makes this conversation truly valuable is how Dr Burns connects the dots between hormonal changes, metabolic health, and practical lifestyle solutions. She introduces her "six S's for success" – sustenance, sleep, stress management, strength training, sunshine, and social connection – as foundational pillars for reclaiming metabolic health during menopause and beyond.The discussion takes fascinating turns through hormone therapy considerations, the psychological aspects of food addiction, and why so many of us grew up alternating between strict dieting and giving up entirely. Throughout, Dr Burns maintains that improving metabolic health should be the primary goal, with weight loss simply being "a happy side effect" of addressing the underlying hormonal imbalances.If you're exhausted by diet culture but still concerned about your health during menopause, this episode offers a science-based approach that works with your changing physiology rather than against it. Discover why muscle is your "metabolic organ," how stress impacts your ability to lose weight, and practical steps to break free from the metabolic challenges of midlife.Ready to stop blaming yourself and start understanding the real science behind menopausal weight changes? Listen now and discover why it's time to focus on metabolic health, not just the number on the scale.Links:Real Life Medicine WebsiteThe Real Health and Weight Loss PodcastReal Life Medicine - InstagramReal Life Medicine - FacebookThank you for listening to my show! Join the conversation on Instagram

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• 116: ENCORE: ADHD, Autism and the Menopausal Brain

  The relationship between menopause and neurodivergence remains largely unexplored territory in women's health—until now. In this groundbreaking conversation, neuropsychologist A/Professor Caroline Gurvich shares fascinating insights into why cognitive symptoms during perimenopause may signal more than just typical hormone fluctuations.For many women, perimenopause becomes the unexpected moment when long-overlooked neurodivergent traits suddenly demand attention. "About 98% of people said their ADHD symptoms became worse across those perimenopausal years." Even more revealing, numerous women receive their first ADHD diagnosis during midlife, despite having experienced symptoms since childhood. This raises questions about why these conditions often go unrecognised, particularly in women, until hormonal shifts disrupt longstanding coping mechanisms.Listen in to learn more about Estrogen's protective effects on dopamine - a neurotransmitter central to ADHD - which diminishes during perimenopause, potentially unmasking symptoms that were previously manageable. Beyond ADHD, A/Prof Gurvich discusses how autism, dyslexia, and other neurodivergent conditions may present differently during menopause, and the compelling connections between PMDD, perinatal depression, and neurodivergence.Whether you've wondered about undiagnosed ADHD, experienced increasing cognitive challenges during perimenopause, or simply want to understand the fascinating intersection between hormones and brain function, this episode offers invaluable insights and practical guidance. Listen now to better understand your changing brain and discover strategies to thrive during this transformative life stage.Links:HER CentreHER Centre - Cognition and HormonesMENO-D Assessment Scale to detect depression in menopauseThank you for listening to my show! Join the conversation on Instagram

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