Is It Hot In Here? Midlife Podcast

Think it’s anxiety, stress or depression? It could be perimenopause.

In this episode, Dr Naomi Potter is joined by Jane James, menopause mentor at Menopause Care, to talk about the symptoms women often miss, what to do if your GP isn’t helping, and how to know when HRT might be right for you.

Jane also shares her own story of being dismissed and misdiagnosed before realising she was perimenopausal – and explains how lived experience can help women feel less alone and more confident in getting support.

💬 Topics include:
• Early signs of perimenopause
• Anxiety, low mood and feeling “not yourself”
• Why perimenopause is often mistaken for depression
• What to do if your GP dismisses your symptoms
• Jane’s HRT journey
• What to do when HRT stops working
• Why symptom tracking helps
• The value of menopause support groups
• Why you shouldn’t buy HRT online
• How to find the right menopause specialist

Follow Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram at @podcast_naomipotter

Follow Jane James below:
Jane’s Instagram: @janemhdg
Join Jane's Facebook Group MHDG (Menopause & HRT Discussion Group) https://www.facebook.com/groups/702855629805990/?locale=en_GB

Follow Dr Naomi Potter below:
Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

More info and menopause support at: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

0:00 – Jane James’ perimenopause story
3:05 – One ovary removed and the first menopause symptoms
6:40 – Misdiagnosed with depression instead of perimenopause
10:20 – How Jane realised it was perimenopause
14:05 – Menopause support groups and where to find help
18:00 – How to research menopause and HRT properly
22:05 – What a menopause mentor actually does
26:10 – Can you get NHS prescriptions after a private menopause appointment?
30:20 – Why so many women feel dismissed by doctors
34:10 – Jane’s HRT journey: tablets, patches, gel and progesterone
40:50 – What to do when HRT stops working
45:00 – Testosterone in menopause: benefits and side effects
48:30 – Lifestyle changes that can help menopause symptoms
52:10 – Early signs of perimenopause and symptom tracking
56:10 – How journaling can help anxiety, relationships and menopause appointments
1:00:25 – Why menopause training for GPs must improve
1:04:05 – Can you buy HRT online safely?
1:08:10 – Anxiety in perimenopause: should you try HRT or therapy?

#menopause #perimenopause #drnaomipotter

How do you know if your HRT dose is right?

In this week’s episode, Dr Naomi Potter explains how to tell whether your HRT is actually working - and why finding the right dose is rarely as simple as 'more or less'.

Naomi breaks down the biggest signs that your Hormone Replacement Therapy may need adjusting, why HRT is always a little bit of trial and error, and how your symptoms, lifestyle, absorption and medical history all shape what dose is right for you.

💬 Topics include:
• How to know if your HRT dose is right
• Signs your HRT is working
• When your oestrogen dose may be too low
• Why some women need a higher HRT dose
• How side effects can guide HRT adjustments
• Why HRT is never one-size-fits-all
• Poor absorption of transdermal HRT
• How swimming, heat, moisturiser and routine can affect HRT
• Why HRT needs can change over time in perimenopause
• How to find the best HRT regime for your lifestyle

Follow Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram at @podcast_naomipotter

Stay up to date with the podcast by following us on Instagram at: @podcast_naomipotter

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:
Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

00:00 – Introduction: How to know if your HRT dose is right00:32 – How doctors decide your starting HRT dose01:30 – When you might need a different approach (medical history)02:20 – Why HRT dosing is trial and error03:25 – No “perfect dose” – how to find what works for you04:16 – Tip 1: Are your symptoms improving?04:48 – Tip 2: Feeling like yourself again05:30 – Tip 3: Finding an HRT routine that fits your life06:47 – Lifestyle factors that affect HRT (exercise, swimming, heat)07:34 – Tip 4: Choosing the right HRT regimen for your body08:48 – Tip 5: Are you a “poor absorber”?09:56 – Final sign: When symptoms quietly disappear10:42 – Why HRT needs change over time

#menopause #perimenopause #hrt

Can weight loss injections help with menopause weight gain?

In this week’s episode, Dr Naomi Potter is joined by menopause specialist Dr Kari Nightingale to unpack one of the biggest topics in women’s health right now: GLP-1 weight loss medications. They discuss why weight can become so much harder to manage in perimenopause and menopause, how these injections actually work, who they may be suitable for, and what women need to know about side effects, safety and long-term use.

If you’ve ever felt like your body has changed overnight, your cravings have ramped up, and the old ways of managing your weight suddenly no longer work, this episode will help make sense of it all.

💬 Topics include:
• Why weight gain often accelerates in perimenopause and menopause
• What GLP-1 medications are and how they work
• Who weight loss injections may be suitable for
• The most common side effects and risks
• What happens when you stop taking them
• Why lifestyle, muscle mass and nutrition still matter
• Whether GLP-1s can be used safely alongside HRT
• The truth about appetite, cravings and insulin resistance in menopause

Follow Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram at @podcast_naomipotter

Follow Dr Naomi Potter below:
Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

More info and menopause support at: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

00:00 – Menopause, weight gain & GLP-1s explained
01:11 – What GLP-1 medications actually do
02:03 – Why weight loss injections are everywhere right now
03:24 – Who should consider GLP-1 medications?
04:17 – Why menopause makes weight loss harder
07:51 – What happens when you stop GLP-1s?
11:15 – Can weight loss injections help you exercise again?
12:03 – GLP-1 side effects, risks & pancreatitis
14:37 – Mounjaro vs Wegovy: what’s the difference?
17:05 – Are GLP-1s cheating or a real medical treatment?
19:08 – What is microdosing GLP-1s?
21:01 – Why NHS access is still so limited
22:33 – Can you take GLP-1s with HRT?
25:44 – What the GLP-1 consultation process looks like
28:34 – Muscle loss, strength training & healthy weight loss
33:22 – Sugar cravings, menopause & listener questions
35:09 – Regaining weight after stopping GLP-1s

#weightloss #weightlossmptivation #glp1

Bleeding during menopause? Find out when this is normal – and when you should see a doctor.

Unexpected bleeding in menopause can feel frightening, but it's actually more common than you may think and often nothing to worry about.

To clear any confusion, in this episode, menopause specialist Dr Naomi Potter explains the key differences between bleeding in perimenopause, bleeding while taking HRT, and bleeding after menopause. She breaks down when bleeding is completely normal, when doctors investigate further, and why you should never ignore certain symptoms.

💬 Topics include:
• Why bleeding patterns change in perimenopause
• What unscheduled bleeding on HRT means
• When bleeding should be investigated by your doctor
• The most common causes of post-menopausal bleeding
• Common benign causes like fibroids and polyps
• Why bleeding after menopause should be checked
• Treatments that can help control heavy or disruptive bleeding

Stay up to date with the podcast by following us on Instagram at: @podcast_naomipotter

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:
Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

00:00 – Bleeding in perimenopause explained
00:32 – What bleeding changes are normal in perimenopause
01:12 – When heavy periods should be investigated
01:45 – Causes of heavy bleeding (fibroids, polyps, endometrial changes)
02:05 – Bleeding when starting HRT
02:35 – Unscheduled bleeding on HRT (first 3–6 months)
03:05 – When bleeding on HRT needs investigation
03:35 – Transvaginal ultrasound: what doctors look for
04:15 – Treatments to control bleeding (progesterone, Mirena, dose changes)
04:55 – When to contact your doctor urgently
05:30 – Managing ongoing bleeding on HRT
06:05 – Treatments for heavy periods (Mirena, medications, surgery)
06:45 – How common abnormal bleeding investigations are
07:15 – Most common cause of bleeding after menopause (GSM)
07:55 – Where to find trusted menopause advice

#menopause #perimenopause #drnaomipotter

Today we're revealing the ultimate skincare routine for menopausal women.

And the good news? It's super simple!

If your skin has become dry, extra sensitive, or you're suffering from acne during midlife, this could be down to menopause. But there are things that can help – and for this week's episode, we're joined by THE skincare expert to reveal all...

Dr Naomi Potter is joined by skincare expert and bestselling author Caroline Hirons (aka the “Queen of skincare”) for a funny, no-fluff conversation about menopause skin changes. From perimenopause breakouts and pigmentation to dryness, sagging and sensitivity. Caroline opens up about her own menopause experience, why HRT helped massively, and what actually works when you want results without a 10-step routine.

Stay up to date with the podcast by following us on Instagram at: @podcast_naomipotter

Follow Caroline Hirons below:
Caroline's Instagram: ‪@carolinehirons
Caroline's TikTok: ‪@carolinehirons
Caroline's YouTube: @CarolineHirons
Caroline's skincare brand Skin Rocks: https://skinrocks.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooih8b25vzzeLOpU4-KNkHkHqW9J-aN7JvkYQ1eGPdiskK2vJRe

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:
Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

00:00 – Caroline Hirons’ skincare career
03:11 – Perimenopause skin changes explained
07:33 – Caroline’s perimenopause experience
10:25 – Post-menopause skin & dryness
11:41 – Early perimenopause skin signs
13:13 – Retinoids: benefits for ageing skin
18:32 – Lifestyle factors affecting skin
19:11 – Why washing your face matters
23:41 – Preventing skin damage early
26:05 – SPF, wrinkles & pigmentation
29:22 – SPF myths and vitamin D
32:56 – Simple daily skincare routine
38:13 – Life after perimenopause
40:08 – Perimenopause overwhelm & skin
44:20 – Caroline’s top menopause advice
49:00 – Skincare routine: morning vs night

#carolinehirons #menopause #skincare