More Than Periods: The Lifestyle Medicine Approach to Menstrual Health | Sally Leech | EP 102

The Henpicked Podcast

July 13, 2026 ∙ 33 mins
Episode 11

About

What is lifestyle medicine — and how can it support your menstrual health?

In this Lunch & Learn session, Handpicked's Deborah Garlick sits down with Handpicked director Sally Leach to open up a wide-ranging conversation about lifestyle medicine and its role in menstrual health — from everyday cycle symptoms through to serious conditions like PMDD, endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids and PCOS.

Our hormones interact with nearly every system in the body — metabolism, inflammation, brain chemistry, sleep, gut health and emotional wellbeing — yet menstrual health is still routinely dismissed as "just periods." Sally is clear that lifestyle medicine is never a replacement for medical care, but that the two working together, alongside self-awareness and symptom tracking, can meaningfully improve quality of life.

Together, we explore:

  • (00:01:09) What lifestyle medicine actually means — and its link to menstrual health
  • (00:05:44) Why lifestyle medicine isn't a replacement for medical care
  • (00:08:49) PMDD: symptoms, the luteal-phase pattern, and reframing "what's my body telling me?"
  • (00:10:55) Endometriosis: chronic inflammation and how nutrition, movement and pacing can help
  • (00:12:40) Adenomyosis and fibroids: heavy bleeding, anaemia, and iron
  • (00:13:58) Why PCOS has been renamed PMOS — and what that means for treatment
  • (00:17:22) Tracking symptoms and quality-of-life impact to be taken seriously by a GP
  • (00:19:31) Small, sustainable changes over the "from Monday" overhaul
  • (00:23:48) Supporting a daughter with heavy, disruptive periods
  • (00:30:59) Health inequalities in menstrual healthcare and diagnosis

Menstrual health doesn't just affect people during "that time of the month" — it can shape energy, mood, sleep and concentration all month long, and it shows up at work, at school and at home. This session is for anyone who wants to understand it better, whether you're living with a menstrual health condition, supporting someone who is, or leading a team.

This session was recorded live as part of Handpicked's free Lunch and Learn series, run by specialists in menopause and women's health. For more sessions, visit handpicked.net.

Information

Podcast

The Henpicked Podcast

Episode

11

Date

July 13, 2026

Length

33 mins
You may also like

⚡️MENOPUNKS PODCAST ⚡️

I’m filmmaker and musician Alicia J. Rose, and I want to empower women with the motherf$#@!% energy to start a hormonal revolution. By 2030, one billion women will be in menopause. One. Billion. Imagine if every man’s testosterone flatlined by 50 — you think the world would stay quiet about that? Welcome to menopause: complete hormonal upheaval. And perimenopause? She’s the […]

Health & Fitness

Begin Again with Davina McCall

Begin Again with Davina McCall is your reminder to live a life that you love! We’re all guilty of staying inside our comfort zone. We’ve convinced ourselves to settle, to accept our lot in life, that it’s too late, too scary, too much. But what if you could approach change in your life differently? What […]

Education Health & Fitness

ZOE Science & Nutrition

The world’s top scientists explain the latest health, nutrition, and gut health research and translate it into practical advice to improve your health & weight. Join ZOE Science & Nutrition, on a journey of scientific discovery. Hosted by Jonathan Wolf.

Education Health & Fitness

Itchy & Bitchy Podcast

Itchy & Bitchy is the podcast for anyone who has ever felt dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit by a broken medical system.  From gut health and hormone health to autoimmune disease and chronic pain, we investigate what science actually says. We examine functional medicine, holistic health, and alternative medicine with the same skeptical If it’s pseudoscience, […]

Health & Fitness Medicine

Hello, Hot Flash: Christian Menopause, Weight Loss, Hormones & Midlife Health

If you’re a Christian woman navigating perimenopause or menopause — and you’re exhausted, gaining weight, not sleeping, and not getting real answers from your doctor — you found the right place. Hello, Hot Flash is a faith-informed, science-based menopause podcast hosted by Stephanie Shaw — a menopause advocate who saw 18 doctors, visited two world-renowned […]

Alternative Health Christianity

Golden Tails & Trails | Canicross,Trail Running With Dogs & Weight Loss for Women

Welcome to Golden Tails & Trails — the dog podcast for women who want to feel healthier, happier and more connected through life on the trails with their dogs. I’m SJ, a women’s fitness and Canicross coach, joined by my two golden retrievers, Skye and Daisy — your four-legged co-hosts bringing muddy paws, real life […]

Christianity Health & Fitness
placeholder

We Talk Menopause

We Talk Menopause is a podcast about all things perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause. Whether you are at the start of your journey, part way through or finally at the end, this is the place to be to get answers to the menopause questions you didn’t even know you had! The podcast is hosted by Eileen […]

Education Health & Fitness

Menopause Makeover⎮Belly Fat, Strength Train, Lose Weight, Hormone Imbalance, Mindset

Lose Weight Through Hormone Driven Health Strategies. Are you tired of making the best choices, doing all the right things to lose weight, and finding nothing is working anymore? Tired of struggling to get your jeans buttoned? Rocking the Trim Healthy eating plan only to see the digits on the scale go up instead of […]

Fitness Health & Fitness

The Henpicked Podcast

Menopause, it’s always been around, as long as they’re been women on this earth and they’ve lived long enough, there’s been the menopause. Yet we still have outdated mindset and too little awareness, education and support. Today, we’re in a different time – we’re living for longer, working for longer, and too many of us […]

Health & Fitness Medicine

Itchy and Bitchy Podcast

Meet Doc Itchy (Dr. Keith A Hnilica, DVM, MS, DACVD), a veterinary allergist allergic to Nonsense, and Dr. Stephen Miller, DNP, ACNP-BC a data-driven acute-care cardiology Brainiac with a low tolerance for medical BS.Together, they poke the swollen ego of healthcare, question sacred cows, mock wellness garbage, and translate confusing medicine before the system bills […]

Health & Fitness Medicine

  • More Than Periods: The Lifestyle Medicine Approach to Menstrual Health | Sally Leech | EP 102

    What is lifestyle medicine — and how can it support your menstrual health? In this Lunch & Learn session, Handpicked’s Deborah Garlick sits down with Handpicked director Sally Leach to open up a wide-ranging conversation about lifestyle medicine and its role in menstrual health — from everyday cycle symptoms through to serious conditions like PMDD, […]

  • PMDD: The Condition That Can Be Mistaken for Everything Else | Pheobe Williams | EP 101

    What is PMDD — and why does it matter at work? In this Lunch & Learn session, Henpicked’s Sally Leech sits down with Phoebe Williams, CEO and founder of The PMDD Project, to open up an important and often misunderstood conversation about premenstrual dysphoric disorder. PMDD affects roughly 1 in 20 people and can be […]

  • What Your GP Actually Needs to Know About Your Period (And How to Tell Them) | Dr Clare Spencer | EP 100

    How to Talk to Your GP About Menstrual Health | with Dr Clare Spencer Do you ever walk into a GP appointment and forget half of what you wanted to say? Or wonder whether your symptoms are “bad enough” to mention? You are not alone — and this episode is here to change that. In […]

  • What They Never Taught You at School: Harnessing the Power of Your Menstrual Cycle | Emily Smith from MOONCUP | EP 99

    What They Never Taught You at School: Harnessing the Power of Your Menstrual Cycle Did you know your hormones shift through four distinct phases every month — and that understanding those shifts can genuinely change how you work, rest, move, and feel? In this Lunch & Learn session, Deborah Garlick is joined by Emily Smith, […]

  • What Men Get Wrong About Menopause — And How to Get It Right | Rob Kemp & Joe Warner | EP 98

    Menopause affects all of us. Half the population experiences it firsthand — and the other half through the people they love. Yet most men feel completely lost when their partner goes through it. In this Henpicked Lunch and Learn session, we’re joined by authors Rob Kemp and Joe Warner, who share what drove them to […]

  • Endometriosis in the Workplace: Symptoms, Support & What Employers Must Know | Ep 97

    Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women worldwide. Yet for many, it takes years to be diagnosed—and even longer to be understood. In this Henpicked Lunch and Learn session, we’re joined by Dr Vickie Williams, who shares both her personal experience and research-led insights into endometriosis and its impact—particularly in the workplace. Dr Vickie Williams recently […]

  • Autism, ADHD & Menopause: Why Symptoms Can Suddenly Intensify | Dr Clare Spencer | Ep 96

    Autism, ADHD and menopause are being talked about more than ever — but this is still a developing and often misunderstood area of women’s health. In this expert-led Henpicked Lunch & Learn, Deborah Garlick is joined by menopause specialist Dr Clare Spencer to explore how neurodiversity and menopause intersect — and why symptoms can feel […]

  • Why Periods Are Still a Workplace Taboo | Menstrual Health with Talycia Nayee | Ep 95

    In this episode of the Henpicked Lunch & Learn podcast, host Sally Leech is joined by menstrual health educator and speaker Talycia Nayee to explore why periods are still surrounded by silence in many workplaces. Despite periods being a normal and natural part of life for millions of people, conversations about menstrual health often remain […]

  • Understanding HRT: A Practical Guide for Women 40+ | Ep 94

    Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) remains one of the most talked-about — and often misunderstood — aspects of menopause. In this expert-led Henpicked Lunch & Learn, Deborah Garlick is joined by menopause specialist Dr Clare Spencer to answer the most frequently asked questions about HRT — clearly, calmly and based on current medical evidence. From understanding […]

  • How Ethnicity Impacts Menopause and Menstrual Health – Dr Radhika Vohra | Ep 93

    In this Henpicked Lunch & Learn session, we explore how ethnicity shapes experiences of menstruation, menopause and access to healthcare — and why understanding these differences is essential for equity, wellbeing and support at work and in life. Sally Leach from Henpicked is joined by Dr Radhika Vohra, NHS and private GP, menopause specialist, and […]

  • Living With Adenomyosis: Understanding Symptoms, Diagnosis & Support | Ep 92

    Living With Adenomyosis is a Henpicked Lunch & Learn session focused on understanding a common but often misunderstood menstrual health condition that affects millions of women — yet frequently goes undiagnosed for years. In this episode, Deborah Garlick, Founder of Henpicked, is joined by Henpicked’s menstrual health expert Sally Leach to explore what adenomyosis is, […]

  • 224: DOCs Itchy&Bitchy Answer YOUR Questions – Global Edition!

    (00:00:00) 224: DOCs Itchy&Bitchy Answer YOUR Questions – Global Edition! (00:00:11) Welcome to Itchy and Bitchy (00:00:42) Doc Itchy Medical Pets Supplements (00:02:32) Hormone Replacement and GLP-1: Navigating Medical Decisions (00:08:06) Brain Fog and Alzheimer’s: When to Worry (00:11:11) Menopause in Dogs: A Misunderstanding (00:16:48) The Truth About Alcohol Consumption (00:22:10) GLP-1 and Addiction: A […]

  • The Tamsen Show podcast image

    Estrogen 101: What I Learned From the World’s Top Menopause Doctors

    If you’ve ever wondered what estrogen actually does, or whether hormone therapy (HRT) is right for you, this episode is for you. During perimenopause and menopause, falling estrogen levels can contribute to brain fog, hot flashes, night sweats, joint pain, sleep problems, mood changes, and even long-term bone health. Yet most women are never told […]

  • Find Your Purpose & Live a Meaningful Life Today with the #1 Happiness Expert

    In today’s episode, you’ll learn how to feel happier and more connected to your purpose in under 5 minutes.  Today, you’re learning from Dr. Dacher Keltner, one of the world’s leading experts on meaning, purpose, happiness, and awe. Dr. Keltner is a distinguished professor of psychology at UC Berkeley, and the founding director of the […]

  • My work makes me a better parent! Coping with mum guilt and taking the pressure off

    We’re heading into the summer holidays. Hands up if you’re already a bit anxious about any mum guilt creeping in…? Fearne definitely is, so she’s reflecting on the Happy Place episodes that explore how different women are choosing to navigate working and parenting. No judgement here gang – we all need to take the pressure […]

  • 4 ways to calm midlife allergies

    Are you suffering with sudden allergies in your 40s or 50s? Liz explains why hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause can make you more sensitive to pollen, skincare products and even foods you’ve tolerated for years. She explores the connection between oestrogen and histamine and shares ways to address it. Plus: tips for dealing with […]

  • More Than Periods: The Lifestyle Medicine Approach to Menstrual Health | Sally Leech | EP 102

    What is lifestyle medicine — and how can it support your menstrual health? In this Lunch & Learn session, Handpicked’s Deborah Garlick sits down with Handpicked director Sally Leach to open up a wide-ranging conversation about lifestyle medicine and its role in menstrual health — from everyday cycle symptoms through to serious conditions like PMDD, […]

  • How to Build a Better Future: 2 Simple Questions That Uplevel Your Life Immediately

    Two simple questions can change the way you make decisions, spend your time, and build your future.  In today’s episode, Mel sits down with Seth Godin, one of the most influential thinkers of our time and one of Mel’s most trusted mentors.  Seth has written more than 20 bestselling books, taught millions of people how […]

  • 216 Stacy London + The Hot Truth About Hormone Therapy

    🌿 Get The Hot Truth About Hormone Therapy — my complete guide to the confusing world of HRT. 5 videos, 5 PDFs, get through it in under 3 hours. It’s currently $47 — price goes up July 15. Use code STACY10 to get $10 off. Today I’m sharing an interview done with me — about […]

  • 214 | Lost Your Weight Loss Motivation? Listen to This First

    You’re not failing… you’re just tired of trying. If you’ve been doing all the “right” things—eating healthy, walking, focusing on your belly fat, trying to lose weight—yet your body seems to be fighting you every step of the way, this episode is for you. Today is a little different. Instead of teaching another strategy, I’m […]

  • What I Would Do to Boost Fat Burning Over 40, 50 or 60 (I’m 62)

    This episode is sponsored by Flipping 50 Menopause Fitness Specialist. Flipping 50 Menopause Fitness Specialist.- Become a health & fitness coach who finally speaks midlife women’s language. Learn how to design workouts that balance hormones that actually get results for women in menopause. Connect with Flipping 50: Facebook Group – Flipping50 Insiders Instagram – @Flipping50TV […]

  • image of woman with dark hair named Mary Claire Haver

    Vanishing Vulvas & Menopause: What's Really Happening with Dr. Karen Tang

    Guest links Karen Tang, MD (Instagram) Karen Tang, MD (Facebook) Karen Tang, MD (YouTube) Karen Tang, MD (LinkedIn) Karen Tang, MD (TikTok) GynoMight with Karen Tang, MD (Substack) Thrive Gynecology Books “It’s Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health (but Were Never Told),” by Dr. Karen Tang “The New Perimenopause: An […]

  • How daylight affects your weight and metabolism – with Dr Sara Pugh

    Struggling to lose weight despite eating well and exercising? Biochemist Dr Sara Pugh joins Liz to explain why the answer may not just lie in what’s on your plate – but in how much natural daylight you’re getting. They discuss how leptin, the appetite-regulating hormone, follows our circadian rhythm and the link between light exposure, […]

  • The Best Menopause Education Class with Dr. LaKeischa Webb McMillan | 290

    If you have ever sat in a doctor’s office and been told your labs are normal, your stress is the problem, and maybe you should try an antidepressant — this episode is the class you never got. Dr. LaKeischa Webb McMillan is a hormone specialist, Amazon bestselling author, and the kind of practitioner who will […]

  • The Tamsen Show podcast image

    The Fertility Expert: Egg Freezing, Perimenopause & GLP-1s Explained

    If you’re thinking about egg freezing, IVF, fertility decline, perimenopause, or reproductive health, this is the conversation you need to hear before meeting with your doctor. In this episode of The Tamsen Show, Tamsen Fadal sits down with Dr. Jamie Grifo, Director of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at NYU Langone. Dr. Grifo helped modernize IVF […]

  • 82 – The hidden link between epilepsy and hormones

    For women living with epilepsy, times of hormonal changes can all bring unexpected changes in seizure patterns. Yet many are never told that fluctuating hormones could be playing a role. In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by women’s hormone specialist nurse Sian Rees to explore the complex relationship between epilepsy and hormones. Together […]

  • 8 Simple Reminders You Need to Hear Right Now

    Today, you’re getting exactly what you need to take back your power and make life feel a little easier.  In this solo episode, Mel shares 8 simple reminders that will help you feel stronger, calmer, and more confident.  These are the words to come back to when you need courage, perspective, and a reminder of […]

  • #248 From Prediabetes to Full-Blown Diabetes Danielle's Story

    What happens when you’re told you’re prediabetic… and then sent home with no guidance? In this powerful episode, I sit down with Danielle Baptiste to talk about her real-life journey from Prediabetes to Type 2 Diabetes — and the moment that finally made her take her health seriously. Danielle shares how she was first told she was prediabetic but was given […]

  • Overwhelmed and exhausted? Decompress with this breathwork session from Self Space

    Is your nervous system exhausted today? Perhaps you’ve been holding everything together, holding everything inside for a little bit too long? Find somewhere quiet and comfortable, and join Jodie Cariss for a little decompression session. Jodie’s a psychotherapist and the founder of Self Space, a mental health service offering straightforward access to flexible therapy. She’ll […]

  • Thursday Thoughts – Finding The Joy In Life

    On today’s Thursday's Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about how important it is to find the joy in life, rather than being constantly weighed down by all of the ‘shoulds’. The truth is that life is short, and we sometimes forget to enjoy the ride. Instead of taking it all so seriously, let’s remember that […]

  • PMOS Explained: How to Read the Patterns (and What You Have Missed)

    The Menopause Mastery Show | PMOS Explained: How to Read the Patterns (and What You Have Missed) | Episode 286 Solocast with Dr. Betty Murray 🌿Welcome to The Menopause Mastery Show!  Could you have been living with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) for decades without knowing it?  In this episode of Menopause Mastery, Dr. Betty […]

  • 213 | Think all belly fat is the same? Think again.

    If you’ve been frustrated by the changes happening around your middle after 40, this episode may completely change the way you think about your health. The truth is, not all belly fat is created equal. While the fat you can pinch under your skin may bother you, there’s another type—visceral belly fat—that surrounds your organs […]

  • Welcome to Season 6 of EnRitched Menopause

    Wondering what's next for EnRitched Menopause? Whether you've been listening from the beginning or are joining us for the first time, we're so glad you're here. In this special season opener, Dr. Jessica Ritch celebrates four years of the podcast, shares the exciting news behind the launch of EnRitched Gynecology, and offers a preview of […]

  • Frozen Shoulder, Cranky Tendons, and the Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause with Tara Findlay, RMT (Episode 281)

    Registered massage therapist and athlete Tara Findlay nearly lost her life to fibroids, was thrown into chemical menopause, developed a “cranky” shoulder that threatened her career, and watched a long-quiet autoimmune condition roar back to life. This week, she shares how hormones, inflammation, and tissue capacity collide in midlife—and how massage, eccentric loading, “movement snacks,” […]

  • Margaret Cho on Menopause, Comedy & Finding Yourself (Replay)

    Comedy legend Margaret Cho joins us for a refreshingly honest and often hilarious conversation about her standup tour, Choligarchy and she shares why she believes laughter is one of the most powerful tools for speaking truth to power. We also dive into one of the most surprising topics of the episode: menopause. Margaret opens up […]

  • Is It ADHD or Perimenopause? | Coach Debbie White on why symptoms surface at midlife

    Is it perimenopause, or ADHD that’s been there all along? Executive function coach Debbie White — diagnosed with ADHD at midlife herself — joins Stacy London to explain why the two look so similar and how to tell them apart. Debbie’s core insight: perimenopause doesn’t cause ADHD, it reveals it. ADHD is a lifelong neurobiological […]

  • Episode 225 – Supplements And Cancer: Are We Missing Out?

    Whether it’s joint pain, fatigue, brain fog, poor sleep, hot flushes or anxiety, it can feel frustrating when symptoms linger long after treatment ends. For many people, supplements seem like a logical place to look for menopause support, but with endless products, conflicting advice and cupboards full of half-used bottles, how do you know what’s […]

  • Why The Fitness Industry Has Failed Women In Midlife — And What Actually Works

    This episode is sponsored by Fatty15 and AirDoctor. Fatty15 – Fatty15 is on a mission to optimize your C15 levels to help support your long-term health and wellness – especially as you age. You can get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to https://fatty15.com/FLIPPING50 and using code FLIPPING50 at checkout. […]

  • image of woman with dark hair named Mary Claire Haver

    Endometriosis and Fibroids Don't Stop at Menopause with Dr. Karen Tang

    In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Karen Tang, a board certified gynecologist and minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon, and author of It’s Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health But Were Never Told. This is part one of a two part conversation. Together they take […]

  • Ep. 226: Mental Health and Iron, what's the connection with Dr. Fiona Lovely

    In this rerelease of a need-to-know solo episode, Dr. Fiona Lovely pulls back the curtain on one of the most overlooked yet critical pieces of the women’s health puzzle: the connection between low iron and mental health. Many women navigating perimenopause and menopause are walking around with iron deficiency or other forms of anemia, completely […]

  • Ep 535: Dr. Deb Butler on Health Solutions With Shawn & Janet Needham

    If you’ve spent years trying to lose weight in menopause but still find yourself eating when you’re not physically hungry, this episode is for you. I’ve learned that lasting weight loss isn’t about finding the perfect diet. It’s about rebuilding the connection between your brain and your body. In this conversation with Shawn and Janet […]

  • Becoming More Yourself at Midlife, Not Someone New with Jen O'Brien

    Have you ever stopped and wondered, Who am I now? Midlife has a way of prompting those questions. As our lives, priorities and responsibilities change, many of us begin to realise that the identities we've carried for years no longer feel like the right fit. In this week's episode of Take a Breath, I'm joined […]

  • 81 – The hormone confusion that’s affecting millions of women

    What’s the difference between natural and synthetic hormone treatments, and why does it matter? In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by pharmacist and hormone expert Sara Hover, who has spent more than 30 years helping women understand hormone health. Together, they explore one of the most misunderstood topics in medicine: why natural, bioidentical […]

The Henpicked Podcast

Menopause, it’s always been around, as long as they’re been women on this earth and they’ve lived long enough, there’s been the menopause. Yet we still have outdated mindset and too little awareness, education and support. Today, we’re in a different time – we’re living for longer, working for longer, and too many of us […]

00:00
/
00:00