WELL: Headaches, HRT and Haemorrhoids: How To Tell Fact From Fiction

Sep 28, 2025

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Hello MID friends, while you're awaiting our new season which launches on 7th October, we've got something great for you to listen to....

Claire and Dr Mariam are here with Mamamia's women's health podcast, Well. This special episode is about the myths and misinformation surrounding hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and the discussion around what we now know about HRT, and if it’s a safe way to manage peri and menopause symptoms.

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ON THE POD

What do we now know about HRT and is it a safe way to manage peri/menopause symptoms? We go to Med School to find out if an ear piercing could help to relieve migraines. And in our Quick Consult, we help listener Meg with her ‘bleedy bottom’ haemorrhoid problem.

In this episode, we talk to Professor Rodney Baber, to unpack the myths and misinformation around Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), now commonly referred to as MHT (Menopause Hormonal Therapy).

We discuss the infamous Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) 2002 study, which caused widespread fear around HRT/MHT and breast cancer, and explore what we know now about the safety of HRT/MHT.

Plus, why Gen X and Millennial women are approaching menopause differently from previous generations.

THE END BITS

Started HRT and felt worse? It's not in your head. Check out this Instagram reel.

All your health information is in the Well Hub.

For more information on perimenopause and menopause, Dr Mariam recommends the Australian Menopause Society website. You can download their symptom score sheet here.

You can also find information relating to the topics discussed in this episode at the Endocrine Society and the International Menopause Society.

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CREDITS

Hosts: Claire Murphy and Dr Mariam

Guest: Dr Sonia Davison

Senior Producers: Claire Murphy, Sasha Tannock and Sally Best

Audio Producer: Scott Stronach

Video Producer: Julian Rosario

Social Producer: Elly Moore

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Information discussed in Well. is for education purposes only and is not intended to provide professional medical advice. Listeners should seek their own medical advice, specific to their circumstances, from their treating doctor or health care professional.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.