Continuing the conversation we started in Series 3 episode 5 about the 5 gynaecological cancers, this episode we delve into the complex topics of taking HRT after having cancer, why some women might consider having risk reducing surgery, when is it appropriate to get tested for altered genes and how would you know. To chat through these topics with us and much more we are delighted to welcome back onto the podcast Tracie Miles from the Eve Appeal.Useful links and resources:· The Eve Appeal : www.eveappeal.org.uk· The Protector trial: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/fmd/research/protector/· Women’s Health concern : www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets· British Menopause society: thebms.org.uk/publications/tools-for-clinicians· Menopause Matters : www.menopausematters.co.uk· Let’s Talk Menopause : www.letstalkmenopause.co.uk· NHS inform: www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/womens-healthTracie MilesTracie’s nursing career over four decades has focused in the main on gynaecology , specifically oncology , with 28 years as a gynae - oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist, complimented by a senior role in cancer genomics within the new NHS services. Tracie is a member of various all party parliamentary committees, NICE specialist committees looking at women’s health, is a Cochrane reviewer and has published nationally/ internationally on gynae cancers and genomics. Tracie is a senior lecturer at the University West of England, her passion for translating knowledge, advances in science into practice is satisfied in her role as Information Nurse Consultant to the Eve Appeal, the Gynaecology Cancer Research Charity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In Series 3, episode 1, we tackled the macronutrients and glucose spikes as well as a reminder about a few basics we should all be remembering. This time we take a dive into the topic of micronutrients. Why some women might need a wee boost in certain areas going through this transitional stage of life and which nutrients are we actually talking about… the ones that can have an impact on symptoms associated with the menopause. We’re delighted to welcome back onto the podcast nutritionist Jackie Lynch to continue this conversation, and we also touch on a few topics like supplements… on the microbiome… never enough time, fear not we will return to this topic at some point! Useful links & resources:Women’s Health concern : www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheetsBritish Menopause society: thebms.org.uk/publications/tools-for-cliniciansMenopause Matters : www.menopausematters.co.ukLet’s Talk Menopause : www.letstalkmenopause.co.ukNHS inform: www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/womens-healthJackie Lynch: https://www.well-well-well.co.uk/ The Menopause Matters, Let’s Talk Podcast is hosted by Dr Heather Currie MBE, founder of Menopause Matters & Ruth Devlin founder of Let’s Talk Menopause.Heather is a gynaecologist with special interests in menopause, Premenstrual syndrome and cervical screening. She is a trustee and past chair of the British Menopause Society (BMS), Co-editor of post Reproductive Health, the journal of the BMS, Clinical advisor to Scottish government for the Women’s Health Plan for Scotland, and founder and MD of Menopause Matters, set up in 2001. Awarded MBE for services to healthcare in 2021.Ruth is a retired nurse, an educator, a reflexologist & has training in cognitive behaviour therapy. She is the founder & MD of Let’s Talk Menopause, set up in 2012 & author of the book Men…Let’s Talk Menopause. Jackie LynchAward-winning nutritionist, Jackie Lynch is the founder of the WellWellWell nutrition clinic, where she specialises in women’s health and the menopause.She is the host of the popular diet & lifestyle podcast The Happy Menopause and is the author of several books including her latest book, The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish (Watkins, 2020) Jackie’s nutrition clinic was recognised as Menopause Nutrition Clinic of the Year in the 2021 and 2022 London & South-East Prestige Awards.Her advice features in a range of national media and she has appeared as a guest expert on radio and TV, including Channel 4’s Superfoods.Jackie is past Chair of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition. She is a Fellow of the British Association for Nutrition & Lifestyle Medicine and a Member of the British Menopause Society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Testosterone…a word which conjures up certain expectations for some women alongside causing additional confusion for others. In this episode we set a few things straight for you and to help us do that we were delighted to chat with Professor Susan Davis, the renowned leading specialist and researcher on this topic. This episode once again reinforces the need for evidence based, trusted information and the importance of listening to the right people. Useful links & resources:· Women’s Health concern : www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets· British Menopause society: https://thebms.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/08-BMS-TfC-Testosterone-replacement-in-menopause-DEC2022-A.pdf · Menopause Matters : www.menopausematters.co.uk· Digital MM magazine: https://menopausematters.pressreader.com/ (80th edition has additional information & interview with Prof Susan Davis)· Let’s Talk Menopause : www.letstalkmenopause.co.uk· NHS inform: www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/womens-health· National Institute for Health and Care Excellence: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/chapter/recommendations· https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/104/10/4660/5556103· https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/3476072/menopause-toolkit-update.pdf Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode we continue the conversation about complementary therapies and delve into the well known restorative effects of reflexology, a renowned source of relaxation for many, although there are a few sceptics out there who wonder how a bit of ‘fiddling with your feet’ can really help! To help us understand everything we’re delighted to welcome onto the podcast experienced reflexologist Sally Earlam. We chat through the theory behind how it can help with symptoms associated with the menopause, what it can help with, is it genuinely relaxing and much more. Useful links & resources:· Women’s Health concern : www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets· British Menopause society: thebms.org.uk/publications/tools-for-clinicians· Menopause Matters : www.menopausematters.co.uk· Let’s Talk Menopause : www.letstalkmenopause.co.uk· NHS inform: www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/womens-health· Sally Earlam reflexology: https://sallyearlam.co.uk/· Association of Reflexologists: https://www.aor.org.uk/Complementary and Natural Healthcare council: https://www.cnhc.org.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
There’s a whole range of complementary therapies out there to choose from, is it all a load of hocus pocus…are they worth looking into to help give you that truly holistic approach when coping with symptoms associated with the menopause or looking to enhance your overall quality of life and wellbeing…To help us start to navigate our way through this topic we’re delighted to welcome back onto the podcast Dr Becky McCormick who talks about the benefits of acupuncture and hypnotherapy…can they really help…what if you have a phobia about needles…how long have these therapies really been around…all very interesting!· Useful links & resources:· Women’s Health concern : www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets· British Menopause society: thebms.org.uk/publications/tools-for-clinicians· Menopause Matters : www.menopausematters.co.uk· Let’s Talk Menopause : www.letstalkmenopause.co.uk· NHS inform: www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/womens-health· The British Medical Acupuncture Society: https://www.medical-acupuncture.co.uk/· National Hypnotherapy Society: https://nationalhypnotherapysociety.org/· Complementary and Natural Healthcare council: https://www.cnhc.org.uk/The Menopause Matters, Let’s Talk Podcast is hosted by Dr Heather Currie MBE, founder of Menopause Matters & Ruth Devlin founder of Let’s Talk Menopause.Heather is a gynaecologist with special interests in menopause, Premenstrual syndrome and cervical screening. She is a trustee and past chair of the British Menopause Society (BMS), Co-editor of post Reproductive Health, the journal of the BMS, Clinical advisor to Scottish government for the Women’s Health Plan for Scotland, and founder and MD of Menopause Matters, set up in 2001. Awarded MBE for services to healthcare in 2021.Ruth is a retired nurse, an educator, a reflexologist & has training in cognitive behaviour therapy. She is the founder & MD of Let’s Talk Menopause, set up in 2012 & author of the book Men…Let’s Talk Menopause.Becky is a GP, a Western Medical Acupuncturist, is a clinical hypnotherapist, has training in cognitive behaviour therapy and teaches advanced communication skills for healthcare professionals.Assistant producer and audio engineer: Gregor Reid Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Another hot topic to cover and one which has improved enormously in recent years. There still remains a disparity of experiences for employees between organisations, with each organisation having to look at what works for them and their staff.There are however some basics which everyone should be putting in place and to help guide us through this interesting topic we are delighted to welcome onto the podcast Neil Hudson-Basing.We chat through the need for a comprehensive menopause policy, why co-production and collaborative is important, gaining that valuable feedback from your employees.Having a structural approach to raising awareness and education, getting that kick start event in place which then starts to open up & normalise conversations. The need for putting in place follow up events using a range of formats to accommodate individual learning styles. What practical, reasonable adjustments can you facilitate for your staff which can make such a difference and provide genuine support.Then there’s the topic of allyship – what does that really mean and so much more! Definitely worth a listen, some really useful insights and practical tips, especially if you’re a manager struggling to know where to start or wanting to gain a fresh look at your yearly plan moving forward. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode we discuss the 5 gynaecological cancers; vaginal, vulva, womb, ovarian and cervical.We are delighted to welcome onto the podcast clinical nurse specialist Tracie Miles. We cover the key red flag symptoms to look out for, the need to regularly self check certain areas and the importance of getting to know your own normal.We discuss the importance of cervical screening, more commonly known as cervical smears and why we need to increase the uptake of attending appointments, nationally. Likewise, we highlight the importance of getting the HPV vaccine whilst still at school – all genders.We chat through what the barriers are for some people accessing these free preventative healthcare measures and what we can all do to raise awareness about the importance of getting a diagnosis as early as possible, which can massively improve survival rates.We touch on risk reducing surgery, getting into the area of genomics and why some people can be more likely to develop cancer due to their genetics. A topic to discuss further in another episode, alongside the role of HRT following a diagnosis of cancer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Another important topic to cover and one which many of us ignore, to a certain extent, until something untoward happens…often out of the blue.We chat through the importance of looking into and taking preventative measures from as early an age as possible, very much taking a holistic approach.What are your bone cells actually up to as you move around day in, day out – there’s a lot going on! We explain the different terminology and why something like osteoporosis is classed as a silent disease.What are the risk factors…ones that you can’t avoid and ones which you can do something about.Then there’s the role estrogen plays and the role HRT can play. Lots of food for thought but essentially be aware of what we can all do for ourselves, take action and get that healthy lifestyle sorted. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
With the overlap of symptoms between neurodiverse conditions and the menopause it can all become a very complex topic…having a better understanding of how everything interacts is essential, especially where medication is concerned.To help to explain everything we’re delighted to welcome onto the podcast Trudi Roscouet who explains brilliantly what it can feel like being neurodiverse whilst going through the menopause and how challenging it can be having that double whammy.We chat about whether people really need to get a diagnosis, the fine line between establishing the cause of symptoms, how ADHD can exacerbate the menopausal symptoms and importantly an insight into ways to cope with symptoms.It’s really interesting listening to Trudi as she breaks everything down into relatable, bite sized pieces of information, a fabulous insight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Looking after you heart health is a must for everyone, regardless of gender, but there remains a low level of awareness of the importance of heart health in women and then you get those fluctuating hormones into the mix aswell.We chat through the preventative measures everyone can look into…general awareness of risk factors, the importance of lifestyle factors, movement & exercise as well as keeping a regular eye on your blood pressure. This is the time when a home kit is a good idea to regularly check your blood pressure.We discuss the ‘hot potato topic’ of the link between menopause, HRT and heart disease - the role estrogen plays when it comes to heart health, alongside the benefits and risks of HRT if required.A really interesting episode to listen to and relevant for everyone, regardless of age or gender. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode we focus on the importance of looking at what you’re eating & drinking and why it’s important not to exclude any of the major food groups, starting with the macro-nutrients.We’re delighted to welcome nutritionist, Jackie Lynch onto the podcast to talk us through everything in more details. We tackle the topic of those sugar spikes, not forgetting the importance of preventative healthcare when it comes to your heart and bone health.A great topic to start series 3 with giving everyone practical options which can help individuals gain that sense of control back, alongside working towards getting a good quality of life long term. We also have our regular myth busting moment to keep you all on the straight and narrow…in other words combating any misinformation out there!Jackie LynchAward-winning nutritionist, Jackie Lynch is the founder of the WellWellWell nutrition clinic, where she specialises in women’s health and the menopause.She is the host of the popular diet & lifestyle podcast The Happy Menopause and is the author of several books including her latest book, The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish (Watkins, 2020) Jackie’s nutrition clinic was recognised as Menopause Nutrition Clinic of the Year in the 2021 and 2022 London & South-East Prestige Awards.Her advice features in a range of national media and she has appeared as a guest expert on radio and TV, including Channel 4’s Superfoods.Jackie is past Chair of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition. She is a Fellow of the British Association for Nutrition & Lifestyle Medicine and a Member of the British Menopause Society.Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/WellWellWellUKFacebook: https://www.instagram.com/wellwellwelluk/The Happy Menopause podcast: https://www.well-well-well.co.uk/podcastThe Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish: https://amzn.to/397BhlA Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2024 Christmas, end of year round up.We thought it would be nice to end the year with a one off episode to help you keep on track over the festive period and to provide a brief summary of some relevant key messages, now the NICE guidelines have been updated. Don’t forget there are 2 series (6 episodes in each) already released, packed with an abundance of information for you to dip in and out of. Available on your usual podcast platform.We would like to thank you all for listening and we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Useful links & resources:Women’s Health concern : www.womens-health-concern.orgMenopause Matters : www.menopausematters.co.ukBMS : www.thebms.org.ukNICE guidelines : www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23Let’s Talk Menopause : www.letstalkmenopause.co.ukMenopause Matters;Let’s Talk podcast : https://shows.acast.com/menopause-matters-lets-talkJackie Lynch/Nutritionist : www.well-well-well.co.uk Squeezy app : www.squeezyapp.com : pelvic floorDaisy Network : www.daisynetwork.org : Premature menopause/POI The Eve Appeal : www.eveappeal.org.uk : 5 gynae cancersEndometriosis UK : www.endometriosis-uk.orgThe Royal Osteoporosis Society : theros.org.ukPCOS : www.womens-health-concern.org/shop-items/polycystic-ovary-syndrome/PMS: www.pms.org.uk/CBT self help guide : ‘Living Well Through The Menopause' & ‘Managing Hot flushes and Night sweats; A cognitive behavioural self-help guide to the Menopause’ by Myra Hunter and Melanie Smith: https://tinyurl.com/bde7f86k Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Do menopausal symptoms have an impact on relationships, and do our relationships affect our views on and use of HRT …well, we’re all different, but for some people if can really have a significant impact. For those it does affect, whether at home or within the workplace, we’re delighted to say Dr Claire Macaulay has joined us again, this time with her other hat on as a sex and relationship therapist.Even if you don’t think you’ve got anything to worry about this is definitely worth a listen!Useful links & resources:The Eve Appeal: https://eveappeal.org.ukThe Squeezy app: https://squeezyapp.comWomen’s Health concern : www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheetsBritish Menopause society: thebms.org.uk/publications/tools-for-cliniciansMenopause Matters : www.menopausematters.co.ukLet’s Talk Menopause : www.letstalkmenopause.co.ukPleasure Possibility : https://www.pleasurepossibility.comLoveLab: https://bit.ly/RADICALCOUPLESTHERAPYClaire is offering a 50% discount on a LoveLab Relationship Diagnostics Call The 50% discount code for our audience is - LOVELABGIFTNHS inform: www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/womens-health Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
No one is too young to be menopausal. Sadly this statement is true with a significant percentage of people falling into the POI bracket which means they will be under 40 years old and then a further group of people falling into the early menopause bracket which is between the ages of 40 and 45 years.We talk about the relevance of blood tests and how to provide adequate support and treatment.We chat about the importance of replacing estrogen, if possible, if you go into an earlier menopause and we tentatively start to chat about testosterone…to be continued! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Periods… wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a period free life, just saying…Currently HRT is the first line treatment for menopausal symptoms but, there is no way of predicting how you as an individual might react to HRT before trying it and remember, we’re all different.Why it’s important to have a check up 3 months after starting HRT - what side effects are normal to experience and what should you be concerned about.We discuss the importance of not mucking around with well researched regimes and what do we actually mean by regimes… plus the importance of keeping it as simple as possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
CBT is a fabulous option to consider if HRT isn’t a viable option; either you can’t take it, don’t want to take it or it just doesn’t suit you. CBT also works really well in combination with HRT.Dr Becky Smithson joins us to give us an insight into how it all works alongside explaining the human stress response…You will also learn that CBT isn’t just useful when going through the menopausal transition, it’s useful throughout life, for all genders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
HRT and the risk of hormone dependent cancers like breast cancer.HRT is such a complex topic which, combined with people’s perception of risk, can all become very confusing and for some far too daunting to even consider…we run through further pros & cons.Remember there’s a potential risk with any medication you chose to take…we continue to discuss the well researched benefits and risks of HRT…There are many alternative options to manage menopausal symptoms if you do develop breast cancer, we chat through what can become a bit of a balancing act…Is there a risk as an individual if you have a family history of breast cancer…and we’re delighted to be joined by our guest for this episode, Dr Claire Macaulay, an oncology doctor specialising in breast cancer who continues to simplify and explain the complexities around this topic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We’ve decided to take the bull by the horns and tackle the huge topic of HRT. In this episode we discuss which hormones we’re actually talking about that tend to flip about and go all wonky.We talk about tweaking the type, dose and route… taking an individualised approach and what is the ‘window of opportunity’.We run through the benefits and risks, touching on why you might not want to take HRT, for varying reasons.Then there’s the ever-confusing medical terminology - what do we mean by bio-identical hormones and body identical hormones.We’re delighted to be joined by our guest for this episode, Dr Becky Smithson, who gives us an insight into a GPs perspective. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What a huge impact these symptoms can have on your quality of life yet, remarkably, they remain some of the most under reported & under treated ones.We completely understand that it can be very embarrassing going and talking about these symptoms but there is so much help you can get alongside things you can do yourself so please don’t hesitate to seek out professional help & get referred to a pelvic health specialist/ physiotherapist if needed.We talk through all the symptoms you could experience, why you’re experiencing them in the first place and what are the options available to manage & cope with these symptoms.We’re delighted to be joined by Myra Robson, a pelvic health specialist/ physiotherapist and founder of the Squeezy App, who gives us an insight into her vast experience in this area bringing up the even more challenging topic to talk about…faecal/anal incontinence. We hope you understand after listening to this episode that you are very much not alone in experiencing these symptoms. There is, as always, a huge difference in everyone’s experience, they are extremely common and are some of those long term symptoms so unless you tackle them they’re not going to go away. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
These are some of the most under reported, under treated symptoms and fall into the category of your longterm symptoms, although we realise that for some of you the others you might be experiencing can often feel like long term ones as well! We go through a quick recap about your basic anatomy…this can often be a tad hazy for a few folk and then straight into the nitty gritty of all the potential symptoms you could experience. As always lots of options to look into to help manage and cope with these symptoms. We talk about moisturisers, lubricants, and of course vaginal estrogen, as well as giving some top tips around basic hygiene. How do you start to have that conversation about these symptoms and what about prolapses & lichen sclerosus.Fear not, we haven’t forgotten something, the next episode follows on with the urinary side of matters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.