About
A practical look at mental health during menopause and what you can do to thrive in your mental wellbeing!
Please follow the social media pages for our host Sue Mbaya and for Menopause Solutions Africa
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DAY 14 – Menopause Knowledge Bootcamp: Menopause Impacts on Workplace and Career
Dont miss the bootcamp finale! And… drop a note with your feedback on the Bootcamp. Please follow the social media pages for our host Sue Mbaya and for Menopause Solutions Africa
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DAY 13 – Menopause Knowledge Bootcamp: Self-Care and Menopause
In this session, Sue takes you through self-care 101!! Please follow the social media pages for our host Sue Mbaya and for Menopause Solutions Africa
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DAY 12 – Menopause Knowledge Bootcamp: Menopause, Sex Drive and Sexual Function
Please follow the social media pages for our host Sue Mbaya and for Menopause Solutions Africa
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DAY 11 – Menopause Knowledge Bootcamp: Menopause and Mental Health
A practical look at mental health during menopause and what you can do to thrive in your mental wellbeing! Please follow the social media pages for our host Sue Mbaya and for Menopause Solutions Africa
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DAY 10 – Menopause Knowledge Bootcamp: Menopause and Breast Cancer
Identify the modifiable risk factors for breast cancer and minimize your risk for breast cancer. Please follow the social media pages for our host Sue Mbaya and for Menopause Solutions Africa
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DAY 9 – Menopause Knowledge Bootcamp: Menopause and Heart Disease
There is a lot you can do to protect your heart from the effects of oestrogen depletion. Lets do it! Please follow the social media pages for our host Sue Mbaya and for Menopause Solutions Africa
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DAY 8 – Menopause Knowledge Bootcamp: Menopause and Bone Health
A great topic for the Bootcamp… Get on top of this symptom which usually creeps up on women! Please follow the social media pages for our host Sue Mbaya and for Menopause Solutions Africa
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DAY 7- Menopause Knowledge Bootcamp: Menopause and Cognitive Function
A topic not well understood is now available to you in a simple – to – understand and summarized format! Listen now and clear up the fog!! Please follow the social media pages for our host Sue Mbaya and for Menopause Solutions Africa
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DAY 6 – Menopause Knowledge Bootcamp: Menopause and Bladder Control
This Bootcamp sessions includes a fantastic bladder control self-survey challenge. Listen and take the challenge! Please follow the social media pages for our host Sue Mbaya and for Menopause Solutions Africa
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Day 5 – Menopause Knowledge Bootcamp: Deep Dive into Menopause and Sleep Disturbances
The what and the why of sleep disturbances during menopause and what you can do to improve the quantity and quality of sleep. Please follow the social media pages for our host Sue Mbaya and for Menopause Solutions Africa
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Day 4 – Menopause Knowledge Bootcamp: Deep Dive into Menopause and Weight Gain
Seize the power to maintain healthy weight during menopause! Please follow the social media pages for our host Sue Mbaya and for Menopause Solutions Africa
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Day 3 – Menopause Knowledge Bootcamp: Deep dive into hot flashes
Hot flashes at your fingertips – plus – your daily Bootcamp challenge! Please follow the social media pages for our host Sue Mbaya and for Menopause Solutions Africa
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Day 2 – Menopause Knowledge Bootcamp: Debunking Common Menopause Myths
Take a moment to separate truth from fiction… and contribute to challenging misconceptions surrounding menopause. Please follow the social media pages for our host Sue Mbaya and for Menopause Solutions Africa
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Day 1 – Menopause 101: Biology, Symptoms and Management of Menopause
A high pace overview of menopause basics – and – for the first time – a Bootcamp Challenge! Please follow the social media pages for our host Sue Mbaya and for Menopause Solutions Africa
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Menopause Knowledge Bootcamp '23 Trailer
Welcome to Sue’s Menopause Knowledge Bootcamp 2023! The Bootcamp is designed to bring together a comprehensive set of menopause-related topics in a simple, truncated, yet factually accurate manner. The Bootcamp builds on a basic knowledge of menopause to empower women in various stages of their journey with menopause – including those who are yet to […]
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In conversation with a modern-day Queen Mother
Daring to believe we can make menopause an issue of national policy! A view from the parliamentary chamber. Introducing the new voice of menopause in Ghana! Sue unveils the inimitable Honourable Abla Dzifa Gomashie. A fascinating conversation! Please follow the social media pages for our host Sue Mbaya and for Menopause Solutions Africa
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Beauty, worth, belonging and the menopause years
Social constructs which value women based on the aesthetic appeal of their bodies and their childbearing function is basis of the stigma surrounding ageing and the menopause transition. Sue welcomes Rukudzo Wazara, a woman of many competencies, to Pause for Menopause Podcast. Together they discuss some ways in which women can develop a healthier mindset […]
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Don't just struggle – make it count!
Find out how a woman in Zimbabwe has embraced the menopause challenge and is now the answer to over 3,000 women across Africa who are also going through menopause. Sue's courageous guest, is Primrose Hove – better known as 'Coach Prim', a seasoned Human Resources practitioner. So the episode also explores how your human resources […]
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'Menopause friendly workplace’ doesn’t have to be an oxymoron
The workplace is often the nexus of manifestations of gender, age, and race discrimination – the very factors which play an important role in the stigma and discrimination associated with menopause. Sue welcomes Deborah Garlick to Pause for Menopause Podcast to discuss efforts being made to make the idea of a ‘menopause-friendly workplace’ a reality. […]
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Menopause really does start in your brain, not your mind!
Sue and Dr Nicole Jaff, North American certified menopause practitioner and researcher from South Africa bring you to the cutting edge of menopause research. The conversation includes the latest evidence on the dreaded 'brain fog' phenomenon and other cognitive disturbances in menopause. Also a fascinating discussion about accurately identifying the stages of menopause! This packed […]
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Spotlight on menopause research in Africa – what, how much and by whom?
A medical practitioner’s cry for more for menopause … more research, more intersectional studies, more resourcing…more! Join Sue and Dr Trudy Smith, physician, researcher and gynaecological oncologist from South Africa to explore the status of research on menopause with a focus on Africa. Also learn about menopause and morbidity, female whales, the special needs of […]
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Miles and Miles for Menopause Advocacy through Media
Helen and Emma spice things up as guests on the Pause for Menopause Podcast! As producer and host of multi-award-winning podcast on menopause, ‘Effin Hormones’ they share the secrets of their success. Together with Sue, discuss the role of media in the construction and deconstruction of the stigma around menopause. Look out for the youngest […]
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Borrowing a leaf out of the HIV/AIDS book
Sue and her highly decorated guest, Professor Sheila Tlou borrow lessons from past efforts to destigmatize HIV/AIDS. Their conversation explores the importance of sources and types of knowledge, representation and highlighting equivalencies in dismantling stigma. Important perspectives shared on the role of young people and intergenerational advocacy. Please follow the social media pages for our […]
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Re-Engineering the Woman, Society and Menopause Triangle
A deep dive into the woman, society and menopause triangle to understand dominant views about women and how these views have created fertile ground for the emergence of the menopause stigma in certain societies. Our guest is Memory Kachambwa, pan African feminist and activist. Please follow the social media pages for our host Sue Mbaya […]
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World, Meet Woman
Menopause should not be allowed to define women. This episode explores the power of woman through the various stages of life, especially in the workplace. Podcast host Sue’s guest for this episode is the epitome of a powerful, relentless woman. Sherree Shereni is a highly accomplished and respected business leader with a solid footprint across […]
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My Gynae, My Lifeline
For many people, a general practitioner is a woman’s first line of defense. This is particularly true for a woman going through the menopause stages. Dr. Helen, an audacious yet compassionate doctor from Ethiopia has a fascinating conversation with Sue, as they together explore menopause from the perspective of a general practitioner from a developing […]
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The ‘Men’ in Menopause
Every man will, at some point in his life come into contact with menopause. Men are fathers, husbands, workmates, employers, and health care providers. In this episode Podcast host, Sue speaks to a man who occupies all these roles to understand men’s experience and contribution to easing the impact of menopause. Sue’s guest is Dr. […]
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Step into My World – A Policy Worker’s Perspective
Investment in issues affecting women and their communities doesn’t just happen – women must demand change they want to see. This episode interrogates decision-making from the perspective of the women’s movement. Podcast host Sue has a rich discussion with Letty Chiwara, a woman and the helm of global policymaking organisations. Together they explore how women […]
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A Visit to the Gynae's Rooms
A significant number of the symptoms and concerns associated with the menopause transition are gynecological. This episode adopts an evidence-based, medical approach to understand these gynecological symptoms; their causes, and approaches to prevention and treatment. Podcast host Sue speaks with Dr. Nelly Bosire, a phenomenal health care professional who uses her experience in Kenya to […]
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The Future is Here
The emerging dialogue on the menopause transition has not successfully engaged young women. This episode aims to trigger a discussion with and among young people who are future candidates for menopause. Podcast host Sue has a wonderful time with 2 amazing guests, Dr. Chido Siame from South Africa and Dr. Tash Fothergill-Misbah from the UK. […]
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Menopause and Your Mental Health
The interface between menopause and psychiatry is a fascinating place. Here we encounter two areas that are not openly discussed. In this episode Podcast host, Sue takes on the double ‘hush hush’ of menopause and mental health to walk through the main conditions, symptoms, and some ideas on how women can thrive in their mental […]
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A Visit to South Asia
Podcast host Sue Mbaya welcomes a guest with a fascinating mix of experiences and perspectives as a women’s rights activist and medical doctor who is, herself, a survivor of early onset menopause. This conversation with Dr. Farhana Ahmad from Bangladesh also unveils how the contemporary South Asian woman experiences and rationalises her experience with menopause […]
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Ready or Not, the Train Is Coming – Part 1
A refreshingly frank exchange of experiences between Podcast Host, Sue Mbaya with women from three different continents who share one thing in common – an experience with menopause: Mavis Musindo, a globe-trotting expatriate; Lynette Searle – a wonder-woman in the flesh; and… a mystery guest, ‘Anonymous’ – who is a highly qualified executive in the […]
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Ready or Not, the Train Is Coming – Part 2
The refreshingly frank exchange of experiences between Podcast Host, Sue Mbaya with her guests continues. Three women from different continents who share one thing in common – an experience with menopause: Mavis Musindo, a globe-trotting expatriate; Lynette Searle – a wonder-woman in the flesh; and… a mystery guest, ‘Anonymous’ – who is a highly qualified […]
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Season 2 Intro
In this season's intro, Pause for Menopause Podcast host, Sue Mbaya, kicks off the season by answering the questions – Why Pause for Menopause Podcast? What inspired it? How has the journey been so far? Sue then goes on to unveil the aspiration of the new season, providing a tantalizing overview of the kind of […]
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Season 1 Wrap Up
Sue takes you through a high pace tour of the high points of Season 1 of the Pause for Menopause podcast. Thank you for pausing for menopause and we will see you in Season 2. Please follow the social media pages for our host Sue Mbaya and for Menopause Solutions Africa
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For Men Only
Every man will, at some point, be in close proximity to a woman going through menopause stages. Sue shares deep personal insights with men to help them gain more understanding, find comfort and inspiration that there is life and vibrancy during and after menopause! Please follow the social media pages for our host Sue Mbaya […]
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Challenging the "hush hush" around Menopause
Menopause affects half the population directly and the other half indirectly – and yet it remains a largely neglected issue. Find out how societal taboos have contributed to women suffering silently without the support they deserve. This episode will challenge you to think about who needs to do what to change the status quo. […]
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Hormones
A bumper episode on the Who, the What, and the Why of hormones and menopause. It turns out estrogen is not the only culprit! This episode uncovers the sophisticated interplay between an impressive list of hormones. Just when you think you have understood one interplay – you realize that it is reinforced by a different […]
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Menopause and Sexual Health
A no-holds-barred discussion with Auntie Sue as she debunks different types of sexual dysfunction which are usually lumped together. This episode reminds listeners that women don’t have a ‘sale by’ date and confirms that satisfying intimate relationship after menopause can be achieved. Beyond intimacy, this episode also discusses the issues and responses to broader sexual […]
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Sleep Disturbances
Who would have ever thought that sleep was such a complex endeavor? This episode breaks it all down and then unpacks the centrality of sleep disturbances to a surprising number of complications associated with menopause. Essential listening towards improved wellbeing during menopause stages through improved quantity and quality of sleep. Please follow the social […]
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The Menopause Pounds
Weight gain is painfully common during menopause. Where does the weight come from? Why is it so hard to avoid and to lose? What effects does it have? Listen to this intriguing episode for an expose on the little-understood drivers of weight gain and the mix of problems that accompany menopause pounds. Please follow […]
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The Infamous Hot Flush
The hot flush is the symptom most commonly associated with menopause. It is also the symptom that makes an otherwise private condition very public. Put aside what you thought you knew about host flushes and prepare for a deep dive into the complex world of the so-called- hot flushes and how to address them. Please […]
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Why is this happening to me?
Why does menopause happen? How does it happen? To whom does it happen? This episode addresses these ‘big picture’ questions to help you understand what is happening to you, your loved one, or your workmate. Please follow the social media pages for our host Sue Mbaya and for Menopause Solutions Africa
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Welcome to Pause for Menopause
Welcome to the Pause for Menopause Podcast. This podcast here to inform, empower and encourage you by giving you the information you need to get through menopause. In this introductory episode, Sue Mbaya describes the unique approach to the podcast. The audience she is targeting will surprise you! Please follow the social media pages for […]
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Is alcohol doing more damage in midlife than you realise? – with Prof David Nutt
Most of us know alcohol isn’t ideal for our health. But the specific ways it affects the brain, gut, hormones and our sleep, and why those effects become more pronounced as we age, are less well understood. Leading psychiatrist and neuropsychopharmacologist Prof David Nutt joins Liz to explain exactly what happens in the body from the […]
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How to Find the Meaning of Your Life (From Harvard's #1 Happiness Expert)
Arthur C. Brooks is a happiness expert, Harvard University professor, and best-selling author. You live a good life, but you still feel unhappy. You put yourself out there, but every relationship seems to fail. You have your dream job, but something feels off. What is going on? In today’s episode of The Tamsen Show, Arthur […]
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Eps 400: Why Your Midlife Symptoms Aren’t Just Hormones with Crystal Andrus Morisette
No one tells you that the real shift in midlife isn’t just physical… It’s personal. In this conversation, we’re unpacking something that doesn’t get talked about enough, how so many of us have been taught to override our needs, push through, and take care of everyone else… until our body finally says “I can’t keep […]
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Bonus: When hormones are missed in mental health
In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by mental health nurses Jayne and Diane to discuss the often overlooked role of hormones in women’s mental health. Drawing on their experience working in mental health services, they share how hormonal changes are rarely considered when women present with symptoms such as anxiety, depression or mood […]
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This Simple Mindset Shift Will Change the Way You See Your Life
Life doesn’t always go according to plan. And even the changes you choose can bring uncertainty, questions, and moments where you wonder what’s next. Today’s episode will show you how to move forward and find something better on the other side. In it, Mel sits down with Dr. Maya Shankar, a cognitive scientist, expert on […]
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If Nothing Seems to Be Going Your Way, Listen to This
Life doesn’t always go according to plan. And even the changes you choose can bring uncertainty, questions, and moments where you wonder what’s next. Today’s episode will show you how to move forward and find something better on the other side. In it, Mel sits down with Dr. Maya Shankar, a cognitive scientist, expert on […]
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“I wish I was chic-er!” Fearne on personal style and learning new skills
What’s been going on for you this week? What are you happy about, and what’s making you not so happy? Fearne’s here with more chat about what’s putting her and the Happy Place team in a good mood, and what’s feeling a bit rubbish …and Fearne has really really been feeling rubbish this week… This […]
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S4 Ep198: Preventing Dementia: Estrogen? Testosterone? Prevogen?
Preventing Dementia: Estrogen? Testosterone? Prevogen™?On November 10, 2025, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr. Marty Markary, along with the head of the FDA, RFK Jr, announced that hormone therapy would “reduce Alzheimer’s by 35%.” Where does that statistic come from? And should all women take hormone therapy to stave off dementia later in life? In […]
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JoBeth Williams Returns to Talk Hollywood and Becoming a Grandmother
JoBeth Williams returns to HFCT! We are thrilled to continue our conversation with actress and producer JoBeth Williams. JoBeth is busier than ever with the movie, Not Without Hope, and producing the recent Actor Awards. She also shares more great stories from her past movies including Kramer vs. Kramer. Her most exciting new position is […]
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Brain Fog, Memory Loss, and Alzheimer’s Risk During Menopause with Dr. Lisa Mosconi
In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver continues her conversation with Dr. Lisa Mosconi, neuroscientist and associate professor of neuroscience in neurology and radiology at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Mosconi directs the Alzheimer’s Prevention Program, including the NIH-funded Women’s Brain Initiative and the Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic, and was recently […]
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EP. 211 – Menopausal Skin Concerns and Rescue with Debbi Barber
In this eagerly anticipated return to the podcast, Dr. Fiona Lovely welcomes back skincare innovator, Debbi Barber, to share her experience treating our menopausal skin and give us her best tips to looking great, no matter your age. Their last conversation became one of the top three most downloaded episodes of last year, and this […]
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Step Three to a Regulated Nervous System: Building your Capacity
In this episode, I’m taking you into the third step of regulating your nervous system — and this is where things really begin to shift. We’ve already explored awareness and regulation, but if you’ve ever felt like you’re still getting pulled into stress again and again… this is the missing piece. Today, I’m talking about […]
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Step Three to a Regulated Nervious System: Building your Capacity
In this episode, I’m taking you into the third step of regulating your nervous system — and this is where things really begin to shift. We’ve already explored awareness and regulation, but if you’ve ever felt like you’re still getting pulled into stress again and again… this is the missing piece. Today, I’m talking about […]
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52 – Why psychiatrists must start thinking about hormones
In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by consultant psychiatrist Dr Gareth Jarvis to explore the important, and often overlooked, connection between hormones and mental health. Louise and Gareth discuss how hormonal changes can often contribute to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance and severe mental illnesses. They also explore why psychiatrists are rarely trained to consider hormones […]
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If You’re Going Through a Friendship Breakup You Need To Hear This
If you have ever lost a friend and felt like you weren’t allowed to grieve it, this episode is for you. In this deeply personal solo episode, Tamsen opens up about one of the most painful experiences women carry quietly: the friendship breakup. Whether it ended with a blowup, a slow fade, or a silence […]
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Eps 399: You’re Doing All the Sleep Tips — So Why Are You Still Awake?
If sleep hygiene and all the “sleep tips” aren’t working for you… this is why. This is the final episode in our sleep miniseries, and I really wanted to bring everything together in a way that actually makes sense for your body. Because so many women are stuck thinking they just need more discipline, a […]
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The Ultimate Guide to Women’s Sexual Health, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) & Menopause
This episode is a MUST listen. Mel calls it one of the most important conversations she has ever had on The Mel Robbins Podcast. Most women don’t know this, and this information could save the life of a woman you love. If you are thinking you’re “fine,” while quietly suffering through symptoms that are treatable, […]
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Ruth Langsford: “We all go through sh*t!” My life with divorce and dementia
How do you cope when you’re going through a really rough time? Broadcaster Ruth Langsford has needed a balance of big cries, therapy, and just choosing to dust herself off and get to work. In this chat with Fearne, Ruth talks through the ways counselling and female friendships are moving her through the grief of […]
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The beauty advice I got completely wrong
After nearly 40 years researching health, beauty and wellness, Liz has learned that looking well and looking young are two very different things – and that the most powerful beauty advice she ever received had nothing to do with what you put on your skin. Plus: why period pains can get worse in midlife, […]
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The Truth About Weight Loss Injections In Menopause (GLP-1)
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 […]
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Vaginal Biofilm: Stranger Than Fiction!
Karen answers a listener’s question about vaginal biofilms. What are they and why do they make recurrent BV and yeast infections so hard to treat? She explains how these bacterial or fungal communities form protective layers that resist standard treatment, reviews options that may help break the cycle and looks at at-home microbiome testing. Visit […]
Pause for Menopause
Welcome to the Pause for Menopause Podcast. Menopause has far-reaching emotional, physiological, psychological, and sociological consequences for every woman of a certain age group and those close to her. In response, Pause for Menopause is here to inform, empower, and encourage women of all ages – and men – not just to prepare for, understand, […]