Menopause Mastery

Menopause Mastery | Midlife Sexual Health: Healing Trauma and Reclaiming Pleasure in Intimacy | Episode 304 with Brooke Bralove Welcome to Menopause Mastery! 🌿 Sexuality and intimacy can change dramatically during midlife and menopause. But what happens when past trauma, stress, relationship challenges, or years of putting everyone else first make it difficult to feel safe, connected, or interested in sex? 💭 Dr. Betty Murray welcomes Brooke Bralove, a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and certified sex therapist, for an honest conversation about sexual trauma, nervous system responses, intimacy, and the possibility of rediscovering pleasure at any age. Together, they explore how trauma can affect the body and relationships, how Accelerated Resolution Therapy® (ART) may help people process distressing experiences, and why sexual pleasure should be about your own well-being—not simply meeting someone else's expectations. 👉 In this episode, you'll discover: 00:00 – Why sexual trauma and intimacy deserve more conversation 03:30 – The collective impact of sexual trauma and women's experiences 07:00 – Menopause, changing relationships, and the importance of pleasure 10:30 – Reconnecting with your sexuality and understanding what affects desire 14:00 – Resentment, relationship dynamics, and barriers to intimacy 17:30 – Understanding fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses 21:00 – How Accelerated Resolution Therapy® (ART) works with trauma 25:00 – Desire differences between partners and how to normalize them 29:00 – Spontaneous versus responsive desire 33:00 – Creating a transition from daily stress to intimacy 36:30 – How to start difficult conversations about sex with your partner 40:00 – Solo pleasure, sexual confidence, and rediscovering what feels good 43:00 – Reconnecting with your sense of aliveness 45:00 – Where to find Brooke Bralove What has made you feel disconnected from your own aliveness—and what might help you reconnect with it? Midlife may bring changes to your body, your relationships, and your desire, but it doesn't mean you have to give up on intimacy or disconnect from the parts of yourself that make you feel alive. Remember one important thing: your sexuality, your pleasure, and your sense of aliveness don't have an expiration date. If today's conversation with Brooke Bralove resonated with you, please subscribe to Menopause Mastery, leave us a five-star review, and share this episode with a woman who might need to hear it. These conversations help break down stigma and remind women that intimacy, healing, and pleasure are still possible at every stage of life. Thank you for joining us. ✨ 🔗 To connect with Brooke and discover more about ART: Website: https://brookebralove.com   Instagram and Facebook: @brookebralovepsychotherapy 📌 Connect with Dr. Betty Murray:  Website: https://www.drbettymurray.com/    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbettymurray/  🔔 Let us know what you think! Like, comment, and subscribe on YouTube:  @drbettymurray     🔗 Links: Menrva Telemedicine: https://gethormonesnow.com/   https://getmenrva.com/  Living Well Dallas: https://www.livingwelldallas.com/ The Fierce Female Method for Longevity (Dr. Betty's book): https://fierce.hormoneshelp.com/ 🎙️ More from the Podcast:  Subscribe to #MenopauseMastery → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwONPdSvb2-YYY74VhD-XBw    Apple Podcasts→ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/menopause-mastery/id1607369247   Spotify →  https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNsjm32CZNXSgSFEwS3uH  🔹Please note that this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about symptoms, treatment options, and what is appropriate for your health history.   Thank you for listening to Menopause Mastery. Empowering your health journey, one episode at a time. 🌱  #menopausemastery #menopausepodcast #womenshealthpodcast #sexualhealth #midlifehealth #relationships #healingtrauma #menopause #perimenopause #mentalhealth

Menopause Mastery | Reclaiming Sexual Pleasure in Midlife | Episode 303 with Dr. Maria Sophocles Welcome to Menopause Mastery! 🌿 Sexual health is human health—and women deserve access to pleasure, comfort, and informed care at every stage of life.  In this episode,  Dr. Betty Murray welcomes Dr. Maria Sophocles to explore women's sexual health, pleasure, libido, and the changes that can happen during perimenopause and menopause. Dr. Sophocles shares perspectives from her book, The Bedroom Gap, and encourages women to make room for pleasure without shame or guilt.  Their discussion challenges the idea that sexual pleasure is optional or belongs only to men—and highlights why understanding your body and communicating with a partner matter. You'll discover: - Why sexual health is part of overall health - The difference between libido, desire, and pleasure - How shame, stress, and misinformation can affect intimacy - The orgasm gap and the role of sexual education - How menopause can affect vaginal and vulvar tissue - What GSM is and why it is often underrecognized - Treatment options and the importance of discussing symptoms with a qualified clinician - How self-knowledge and communication can support intimacy The episode also explores genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), changes in vaginal and vulvar tissue, and ways women can seek support for comfort and long-term health.  Whether it's understanding what's happening to your body during menopause, exploring what brings you pleasure, or having an honest conversation with your partner or healthcare provider, remember that your pleasure matters, and you deserve to feel comfortable and confident in your body. Share this episode with someone who needs the confidence to talk about their sexual health. 🌱✨ 🔹Please note that this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about symptoms, treatment options, and what is appropriate for your health history.  👉 To connect with Dr. Maria Sophocles:  https://mariasophoclesmd.com/  🔗 Find her book, The Bedroom Gap: https://mariasophoclesmd.com/book/  00:00 Welcome to Menopause Mastery and introduction to Dr. Maria Sophocles 01:06 Why women's sexual health deserves open conversation  03:18 Who is entitled to sexual pleasure? 04:33 Cultural influences and the history of sexual shame 07:20 The orgasm gap and common misconceptions 08:09 Porn, sexual education, consent, and mutual pleasure 13:06 Libido versus pleasure: what's the difference? 15:16 Pleasure thieves: shame, self-consciousness, and pressure 17:24 Desire, timing, novelty, and long-term relationships 22:55 Making pleasure a priority 27:10 Menopause and changes to vaginal and vulvar tissue 29:12 GSM: what it is and why it matters 29:29 Discussing treatment options with a healthcare professional 31:04 Vaginal health, urinary concerns, and long-term wellbeing 34:30 Benefits of pleasure and Dr. Sophocles' book, The Bedroom Gap 36:12 Closing thoughts 📌 Connect with Dr. Betty Murray:  Website: https://www.drbettymurray.com/    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbettymurray/  🔔 Let us know what you think! Like, comment, and subscribe on YouTube: @drbettymurray   🔗 Links: Menrva Telemedicine: https://gethormonesnow.com/   https://getmenrva.com/  Living Well Dallas: https://www.livingwelldallas.com/ The Fierce Female Method for Longevity (Dr. Betty's book): https://fierce.hormoneshelp.com/ 🎙️ More from the Podcast:  Subscribe to #MenopauseMastery → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwONPdSvb2-YYY74VhD-XBw    Apple Podcasts→ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/menopause-mastery/id1607369247   Spotify →  https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNsjm32CZNXSgSFEwS3uH    Thank you for listening to Menopause Mastery. Empowering your health journey, one episode at a time. 🌱 #menopausemastery #menopausepodcast #womenshealthpodcast #sexualhealth #midlifehealth #relationships

Menopause Mastery | Thyroid Health, Menopause & the Symptoms That Get Missed | Episode 302 with Dr. Saadia Mian  Welcome to Menopause Mastery! 🌿 Could your persistent fatigue, weight changes, or other symptoms be connected to more than menopause alone?  In this episode, Dr. Betty Murray is joined by Dr. Saadia Mian, a functional medicine-trained endocrinologist and author of *Hormones in Sync: An Endocrinologist's Guide to Reclaiming Your Energy, Joy, and Health*. Together, they discuss the often-overlooked relationship between thyroid function, stress, metabolism, and midlife hormonal changes. Dr. Mian shares what led her to functional medicine, why thyroid symptoms can be complex, and how a broader view of health can help women ask better questions and explore their options with a qualified clinician. In this episode, you'll discover: - Dr. Mian's journey from conventional endocrinology to functional medicine - The role of thyroid hormones in metabolism and overall health - TSH, free T3, and the limitations of looking at a single lab result in isolation - How nutrition, stress, and other health factors may influence thyroid function - What thyroid ultrasound can reveal about nodules and thyroid structure - Hashimoto's thyroiditis and the challenges of evaluating thyroid health - The connection between thyroid care, menopause, and hormone replacement therapy - Why symptoms deserve thoughtful evaluation rather than dismissal - The importance of individualized care and shared decision-making If Dr. Betty's discussion with Dr. Mian helped you see your thyroid, hormones, or menopause journey in a new light, please share this episode with a woman who needs to hear it. You deserve answers, you deserve to feel heard, and you deserve care that looks at the whole picture—not just a single lab result or symptom. 🩺 ✨ And remember, you have options. Keep asking questions, seek out a qualified healthcare professional, and take an active role in your health journey. You are your own best advocate!   👉 Disclaimer: This podcast episode is for educational purposes. You deserve to have your symptoms heard and evaluated in context. Bring your questions to a qualified healthcare professional and discuss which tests and treatment options are appropriate for your individual situation. For more conversations that empower you with knowledge and practical insights about perimenopause, menopause, and your hormones, be sure to subscribe to Menopause Mastery and leave us a five-star review. Your support helps more women find the information and resources they need to advocate for their health. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Saadia Mian and find her book: https://saadiamianmd.com/ 00:00 — Meet Dr. Saadia Mian   01:30 — Why she turned to functional medicine   03:30 — Understanding the thyroid's role in health   05:30 — Thyroid labs, free T3, and overlooked factors   07:30 — Stress, nutrients, and thyroid hormone conversion   09:30 — What thyroid ultrasound can reveal   11:30 — Thyroid nodules, Hashimoto's, and women's health   13:30 — Why TSH and T4 may not tell the whole story   15:30 — T3 treatment and individualized thyroid care   17:30 — What doctors are taught about menopause hormones   19:30 — BHRT, safety, and the foundations of health   21:30 — Menopause symptoms, weight changes, and patient advocacy   22:45 — Dr. Mian's book and where to find her   23:20 — Final thoughts and subscribe to Menopause Mastery 📌 Connect with Dr. Betty Murray:  Website: https://www.drbettymurray.com/    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbettymurray/  🔔 Let us know what you think! Like, comment, and subscribe on YouTube:  @drbettymurray    🔗 Links: Menrva Telemedicine: https://gethormonesnow.com/   https://getmenrva.com/  Living Well Dallas: https://www.livingwelldallas.com/ The Fierce Female Method for Longevity (Dr. Betty's book): https://fierce.hormoneshelp.com/ 🎙️ More from the Podcast:  Subscribe to #MenopauseMastery → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwONPdSvb2-YYY74VhD-XBw    Apple Podcasts→ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/menopause-mastery/id1607369247   Spotify →  https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNsjm32CZNXSgSFEwS3uH    Thank you for listening to Menopause Mastery. Empowering your health journey, one episode at a time. 🌱   #menopausemastery #menopausepodcast #womenshealth #womenshealthpodcast #menopausesymptoms #perimenopause #hormonehealth #thyroid #functionalmedicine   

Menopause Mastery | What Women Need to Know About Burnout and Menopause | Episode 301 with Dr. Tanya Destang-Beaubrun Menopause Mastery | What Women Need to Know About Burnout and Menopause | Episode 301 with Dr. Tanya Destang-Braebrun  Welcome to Menopause Mastery! 🌿 What if you're doing everything right for your menopause health—but you still don't feel like yourself? In this episode, Dr. Betty Murray sits down with Dr. Tanya Destang-Braebrun, author of *Held and Healed*, to explore the connection between burnout, stress, midlife health, and the often-overlooked importance of rest and self-compassion. Dr. Tanya shares her personal journey through burnout, the frustration of having symptoms that weren't easily explained by routine testing, and how her experience transformed the way she approached healing and medicine. Together, they discuss why constantly pushing through exhaustion can come at a cost, why women need better representation in health research, and how small, realistic changes can help us reconnect with our bodies. In this discussion, you'll discover: - Dr. Tanya's experience with burnout and her path toward healing - Why normal test results don't always explain how you feel - The importance of rest, sleep, nutrition, and exercise in moderation - The relationship between chronic stress, burnout, and the menopause journey - Why Afro-Caribbean women need greater representation in health research - How to stop treating busyness as a badge of honor - Finding joy, setting boundaries, and giving yourself grace - Dr. Tanya's advice for women navigating perimenopause and menopause This conversation is also about something bigger than symptoms: joy. From giving yourself permission to rest to rediscovering the activities that make you feel alive, Dr. Tanya offers a compassionate reminder that you don't have to change everything at once. 🌱✨ If this message resonated with you, share it with someone who could use Dr. Tanya's wisdom! Don't forget to subscribe to Menopause Mastery for the latest insights on women's health and wellness. ✅ Connect with Dr. Tanya: 🌐 https://tanyabeaubrun.com/   📲 https://www.instagram.com/drtanyabeaubrun/ 00:00:00  Introduction and Welcome Dr. Tanya Destang-Beaubrun  00:01:06  Dr. Tanya's Personal Experience With Burnout                            00:04:34  Learning to Rest, Slow Down, and Let Go of Perfection                   00:07:15  Burnout, Stress, and the HPA Axis                                      00:09:30  The Problem With Constant Busyness and Not Saying No                    00:12:12  Women's Health Research and Afro-Caribbean Representation               00:14:51  Health Span, Joy Span, and Rediscovering Happiness                      00:17:30  Making Space for Joy and the Things You Love                            00:19:33  Dr. Tanya's Advice: Give Yourself Grace                                 00:21:20  Listening to Your Body Through Perimenopause and Menopause              00:22:17  Held and Healed: Where to Find Dr. Tanya                                00:23:00  Final Thoughts   📌 Connect with Dr. Betty Murray:  Website: https://www.drbettymurray.com/    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbettymurray/  🔔 Let us know what you think! Like, comment, and subscribe on YouTube:  @drbettymurray    🔗 Links: Menrva Telemedicine: https://gethormonesnow.com/   https://getmenrva.com/  Living Well Dallas: https://www.livingwelldallas.com/ The Fierce Female Method for Longevity (Dr. Betty's book): https://fierce.hormoneshelp.com/ 🎙️ More from the Podcast:  Subscribe to #MenopauseMastery → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwONPdSvb2-YYY74VhD-XBw    Apple Podcasts→ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/menopause-mastery/id1607369247   Spotify →  https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNsjm32CZNXSgSFEwS3uH    Thank you for listening to Menopause Mastery. Empowering your health journey, one episode at a time. 🌱   #menopausemastery #menopausepodcast #womenshealth #womenshealthpodcast #menopausesymptoms #perimenopause #burnout #hormonehealth #joy #healing

Menopause Mastery | Histamine, Mold, & Menopause: Why Your Symptoms Suddenly Change | Ep. 300 with Marieke Steen Welcome to Menopause Mastery! 🌿 💭 Are you experiencing new allergies, brain fog, insomnia, digestive issues, skin reactions, or heart palpitations during perimenopause or menopause? Hormones may be part of the picture, but they may not tell the whole story. In this episode, Dr. Betty Murray is joined by Marieke Steen, creator of the SENSE Framework, functional nutrition therapy practitioner, and author of the upcoming book *Stranger in Your Own Body*. Together, they explore the possible connections between histamine, mast cells, hormonal fluctuations, environmental mold exposure, and individual differences in how the body processes histamine and other compounds. Dr. Betty and Marieke also discuss practical ways to notice symptom patterns, why an overly aggressive approach to detoxification may not be appropriate for everyone, and why hormone therapy may require individualized guidance. If this episode resonated with you, subscribe to The Menopause Mastery Podcast, leave a review, and share your questions or suggestions for future episodes in the comments!  @drbettymurray   **Disclaimer:** This episode is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. New or persistent symptoms should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional. Do not change prescribed medication or hormone therapy without medical guidance. 👉 Connect with Marieke Steen: https://mariekesteen.com  📅 Get Marieke's Seven-Day Calm Energy Reset Guide: https://www.mariekesteen.com/7daycalmenergyreset    00:00 — Meet Marieke Steen and explore the histamine–menopause connection   03:00 — Marieke's experience with digestive symptoms, skin reactions, and allergies   06:00 — Mold exposure, environmental triggers, and unexpected symptoms   09:00 — Why symptoms can overlap with common menopause concerns   12:00 — The "histamine bucket": hormones, toxins, and other potential triggers   15:00 — Mold exposure, remediation, and the challenges of recovery   18:00 — Histamine, estrogen, progesterone, and mast cells   21:00 — DAO, HNMT, and individual differences in histamine processing   24:00 — Genetics, detoxification pathways, and taking a more gradual approach   27:00 — Food triggers, leftovers, and noticing personal patterns   30:00 — Blood work, functional testing, and individualized investigation   33:00 — Practical symptom tracking and the role of stress and the nervous system   36:00 — Mast cell support, Epsom salt foot soaks, and gentle daily practices   39:00 — Why hormone therapy isn't always a quick or complete solution   42:00 — Marieke's Seven-Day Calm Energy Reset Guide   44:00 — Final takeaways and how to connect with Menopause Mastery   📌 Connect with Dr. Betty Murray:  Website: https://www.drbettymurray.com/    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbettymurray/  ✅ Let us know what you think! Like, comment, and subscribe on YouTube:  @drbettymurray     🔗 Links: Menrva Telemedicine: https://gethormonesnow.com/    https://getmenrva.com/  Living Well Dallas: https://www.livingwelldallas.com/ The Fierce Female Method for Longevity (Dr. Betty's book): https://fierce.hormoneshelp.com/ 🎙️ More from the Podcast:  Subscribe to #MenopauseMastery → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwONPdSvb2-YYY74VhD-XBw    Apple Podcasts→ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/menopause-mastery/id1607369247   Spotify →  https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNsjm32CZNXSgSFEwS3uH    Thank you for listening to Menopause Mastery. Empowering your health journey, one episode at a time. 🌱   #menopausemastery #menopausepodcast #womenshealth #womenshealthpodcast #menopausesymptoms #perimenopause #earlymenopause #histamines #hormonehealth #moldexposure