The Dr Louise Newson Podcast 19 - Your Peri Godmother: Shelly Horton on surviving and thriving through perimenopause
Aug 5, 2025
Shelly Horton, an Australian journalist and menopause advocate, shares her inspiring journey through perimenopause. She candidly discusses her struggles with misdiagnosis, anxiety, and exhaustion, all while in the public eye. Shelly emphasizes the need for education and open dialogue around hormonal health to break stigmas. She also highlights the joy of community support and personal advocacy, encouraging women to embrace midlife as a transformative phase. Her insights aim to empower others navigating similar experiences.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Public Persona Masked Severe Symptoms
- Shelly Horton pretended she was fine while suffering hot flushes, heavy bleeding, anxiety and exhaustion during live TV.
- She says writing her book became possible only after she processed and recovered from those experiences.
First Recognitions Were Misattributed
- Shelly had never heard of perimenopause and misattributed palpitations, weight gain and heat to stress.
- She entered perimenopause during the pandemic and initially blamed herself for symptoms.
Mixed Medical Responses Delayed Help
- Shelly's first GP missed perimenopause, warned about cancer, and suggested a hobby instead of treatment.
- A later GP with menopause training prescribed HRT and antidepressants and Shelly needed multiple HRT trials before improving.
