Fixing menopause

Explicit content warning

02/15/23 • 60 min

1 Listener

This episode focussed on debunking the narrative that claims menopause is a deficiency that requires fixing with oestrogen, instead of a normal, healthy life event that ushers us into a vibrant, engaged maturity. I feel that if menopause is asking us to love ourselves better, to deepen our relationship to ourselves, then HRT can really help with that, allowing us to put ourselves first. But though HRT can be a lifesaver, when it’s used for a long time to continue to push through when our resources are already depleted, without making any lifestyle changes, it is just saving up problems for later.
Rachel Lankester, midlife disruptor, author of Magnificent Midlife, founder of The Mutton Club and host of Magnificent Midlife podcast explores:

The faulty menopause research that’s endlessly repeated
What symptoms HRT is helpful for
The latest research into HRT and dementia
Menopause and mental health
Why language matters
Rachel’s new project MenoClarity that’s offers free-to-access clear information and evidence-based research

Rachel’s website is https://magnificentmidlife.com/ and you can find her book Magnificent Midlife: Transform Your Middle Years, Menopause and Beyond at all good bookshops.
Her podcast, also called Magnificent Midlife is also available on all your favourite platforms.
You can find her on Instagram as @magnificentmidlife
MenoClarity website is: https://menoclarity.com/
Here are some links we refer to:
Low-down on the BUPA workplace research: https://themuttonclub.com/900000-women-have-left-work-menopause/
NICE guidelines for HRT: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG23
Study on dementia in nuns: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9127971/
Kate's Second Cycle role models Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/KateCodrington/second-spring-summer-inspiration/
Low-down on suicide stats: https://themuttonclub.com/menopause-and-suicide-do-the-stats-add-up/
Tania Elfersy's website The Wiser Woman is https://www.thewiserwoman.com/
Twyla Tharp on aging https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfNd8a6eDDo

You can buy me a cuppa hereBuy The Perimenopause Journal
Kate's free resource library
Instagram @kate_codrington
Buy Second Spring
Perimenopause Unwrapped online course
Perimenopause Starter Kit
Music
Trust Me by RYYZN
Artwork
Kate's portrait by Lori Fitzdoodles

The faulty menopause research that’s endlessly repeated
What symptoms HRT is helpful for
The latest research into HRT and dementia
Menopause and mental health
Why language matters
Rachel’s new project MenoClarity that’s offers free-to-access clear information and evidence-based research

Previous Episode

Inside climate activism

This episode is all about how the understanding of ourselves as cyclical beings can help us navigate the climate emergency. Giulietta Durante of Hormones in Harmony, Natasha Richardson from Forage Botanicals and period educator Tara Ghosh all kindly volunteered to share their wisdom and experience, we talk about:

· How to manage climate anxiety

· How to manage your nervous system and make a difference

· How living cyclically helps you and the planet

· How to have difficult conversations about the climate emergency

· Being your own kind of activist

· Plus many great tips to make a difference to climate change in your everyday life
Here is the info and links for my guests:
Giulietta Durante: Hormones in Harmony
Giulietta is a menstrual cycle nutritionist on a mission to show you how your menstrual cycle can be the key to accessing the most complete version of yourself. Through hormone-healing nutrition she will inspire you to align with the powers of your menstrual cycle and deepen your connection to self so that you can explore and redefine what it means to live in harmony with your hormones. Giulietta’s unconventional blend of hard science and a love for spirituality have earned her the title of ‘Hormone Whisperer’; and she loves nothing more than weaving together her extensive biochemical knowledge of hormones with more intuitive ways of healing to help you live your best hormonal life.
Website https://www.hormonesinharmony.co.uk/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hormones_in_harmony/
Natasha Richardson: Forage Botanicals
Natasha Richardson has a Bsc (Hons) in herbal medicine and is trained as a doula and antenatal teacher. She ran a successful clinic for over 10 years helping with menstrual complaints from menarche to menopause before writing her book ‘Your Period Handbook’. Now she has a team that takes patients while she focuses on product development and community relationships whilst raising her son and researching at Oxford University on her Masters in design history where she has investigated women's medicine from 1850-2010.
Website https://foragebotanicals.co.uk/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/foragebotanicals/
Tara Ghosh
Tara Ghosh is a period educator and abdominal therapist passionate about sharing the simple ways to great health. Tara works with people 1:1 all over the world, as well as running Period Ready workshops for 8-12 years olds, how not to hate your period for teenagers and a 6-week course Embrace Your Cyclical Power for those in their 30s and 40s.
Webs

Next Episode

Inside the gateway to freedom

Suzanne Yates is an acclaimed international therapist, teacher, author, researcher, and innovator, author of 3 books and now working on the 4th, she works with people at all stages of their lives: from babies and pregnant mothers to the elderly.

Her specialty is women’s health. A published author and expert in the field of pre and postnatal shiatsu and bodywork, she has been teaching parents, doctors, midwives, shiatsu therapists, and massage practitioners worldwide for the past 30 + years. She taught me pregnancy shiatsu back in the naughties.

Suzanne shares:

Chinese Medicine view of menopause
Totally different and positive narrative
What the extraordinary vessels are and how they support us
The most important thing you need to do in menopause
Why our wounds get triggered at this time
Why it’s actually easier to change in menopause
Finding better names for our reproductive organs
How Chinese Medicine theory sees no decrease in libido in menopause
We ponder on what happens to the 1,000’s of eggs that are not released in a female body and the dead sperm
The relationship between conception, birth, puberty menopause and death

The episode closes with a beautiful practice Suzanne created for us.
Suzanne's work can be found at:
Website: https://www.wellmother.uk/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Wellmother
Substack: https://suzanneyates.substack.com/rewritingyourlife
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzanneyateswellmother/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellmother/