Real Menopause Talk

Kim is a busy, successful woman in Perimenopause. She is a mum, a nan and a coach to many high performing women…who are often also going through Perimenopause. To HRT or not to HRT is a big question and has been for Kim herself. The request she get the most is, “Can I please have my smile back?” so Kim shares how she would suggest we might do this for ourselves and what is helping her with her own desire to come back to the joy in life. We discuss the changes in attitude towards hormone replacement therapy, including her own and all the ways to optimise your health with or without HRT. We also go into encouraging good energy and positive exercise plus the role that cortisol plays in the body and how it can exacerbate anxiety. She holds a wealth of knowledge and power and is ready to, “Bring The Fire” which, incidentally, is the title of her book coming out in September 2022 - so look out for it folks! “As Oestrogen drops, women give fewer monkeys about what other people think. They can be more honest.” You can find Kim @kimrainecoaching and at https://kimrainecoaching.com

Victoria is a mum of two, a wife and works for a large bank. She is a writer, content creator on IG and podcaster. She is also a fierce advocate for Women’s Health. At just 38, she is 4 years post hysterectomy and has had 19 operations due to severe endometriosis. Victoria tells a deeply moving story that sees her still finding her way through Menopause and all the challenges that brings, especially in terms of mental health. Despite her intense symptoms, she is a ray of light. Determined, vibrant and outgoing, she brings humour to even the darkest moments and is so open, humble and engaging, you can’t help but want to listen to what she has to say. She encourages women to ask questions - a lot of questions - and to know what you are entitled to and what an HRT check really looks like. “We need to see that Menopause has no gender, no age - it just needs understanding.” You can find Victoria on Instagram at @ginge_unhinged

Lee is a celebrated psychologist and wellbeing consultant, a radio host, award winning entrepreneur and proud dad. As a champion of Menopause awareness and education, Lee has been dubbed the Trojan Horse of Menopause - a moniker he is happy to adopt. In this episode, Lee opens up about how he has found triumph in the face of adversity and when his immune system failed him, how he found a deeper resilience becoming a father and learning to walk at the same time as his daughter learnt to walk. As a keen advocate for helping women stay in the workplace, he explains why a lack of Menopause understanding can be a barrier at board level and how men can approach Menopause with curiosity and sensitivity. “When you include men in the discourse, they start to recognise how important women are in their lives.” There is also a surprising silver lining for men as they discover more about women’s health… You can find Lee at https://essentialise.co.uk

Nicci is a married mum who was born here, grew up in South Africa and recently moved back to the UK. After her hysterectomy due to fibroids, she found herself barely capable of even the smallest daily tasks such as taking a shower and was totally unprepared for such a radical change to her character post op. In fact, she was unprepared full stop. She tells us of her deep struggle to regain control of herself, her life and work. This is essential listening for anyone who is about to have a hysterectomy of any sort or if you know someone who is. Her advice and her list of questions pre-surgery are absolutely essential and something everyone should know. Now a powerful Meno Warrior and advocate for women’s health, you can find Nicci @themwordandme

#MakeMenopauseMatter  Diane is the OG Menopause Warrior. After her own incapacitating experience of Menopause, she decided that nobody should ever have to go through what she and her loved ones had to endure. From this, MenopauseSupport and the MakeMenopauseMatter campaign were born. In this episode, she tells her story and all I shall say at this point is, thank goodness for her dogs and her husband Martin. Diane and her team at Menopause Support work tirelessly to make the changes she wants to see and, to date, the MakeMenopauseMatter campaign has close on 200,000 signatures. As well as educating and changing the world for the better, she reminds us to look at ourselves, “Have you spent your whole life prioritising other people? Maybe you should move yourself up the list a little more. This can be a wonderful time of transition and transformation and is full of Opportunity.” You can find Diane, and please take a moment to SIGN & SHARE the petition at https://menopausesupport.co.uk and on IG @dianedanzebrink

Carolyn Harris is Menopause Royalty. As an MP she has orchestrated dramatic and ongoing change for the way Menopause is treated in the UK. HRT is already free in Wales and Scotland and a reduction in HRT prescription costs will come in for England in the near future. Undergoing her own Perimenopause was not simple. She was going through deepest grieving after the sudden loss of her son, Martin, working full time and running a home. She had been advising other women about Menopause but had not connected the dots for herself and put all her symptoms down to grief. In her current work as a Member of Parliament she is chair of the APPG and The Menopause Task Force making the difference in the workplace and in all realms of life for women globally, “We will change this”. There is so much more to say but it is better to hear it from Carolyn herself so download her Episode to hear how to, “Keep Women Wonderful.” Keep up to date on @carolynharrismp and at https://carolynharris.org.uk

Lavinia Winch knows what she is talking about and you instinctively feel you are in safe hands with her. She is happily married, a mother of three adult children, a grandmother and going to celebrate her 70th birthday this year. When Viagra came on to the market, did anyone ever think how it might impact Menopausal women? Lavinia will tell you. She explains here, the difference between vaginal moisturiser and lubricant as well as how to use them effectively. In her current work as an Ambassador for Yes Organics (there are only 2, so she’s pretty rare!) she has attended more than 200 Menopause Conferences. She also has her personal experience of Menopause followed by a Radical Hysterectomy at the age of 62 when she was diagnosed with endometrial cancer. She is kind, empathetic and deeply knowledgable. If you are holding an event or workshop, especially for those post cancer, she is a wonderful speaker. You can find Yes Organics and Ah!Yes https://yesyesyes.org for the UK https://ahyes.org for the US and @yes_organics on IG for UK and @ahyesorganics on IG for US You can also reach Lavinia directly on lavinia@yesyesyes.org

Katrine has travelled and worked as an osteopath and manual therapist all over the world, starting life in Canada and finally settling in London in the UK. As we know, reducing our stress is key to living a healthier, happier life. One of Katrine’s super powers is teaching Intelligent Stress Management - simple, practical, scientifically proven techniques that can be done anywhere. I’ve tried it - it works! By reducing stress, you are reducing inflammation and can do this just by putting yourself in a more positive space. This calms anxiety, reduces brain fog and hot flashes. In finding this time of Menopause a time of joy and peace, Katrine is full of positivity and wants us all to be able to live life with joy. Join her FREE event every last Wednesday of the month to discover some of this practical magic (it is wonderful and in 35 minutes you can learn a lot!): https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/weaddheart-london-mayfairmarylebone-online-tickets-253262965347 You can find Katrine on her website: https://kcmt.co.uk and on Instagram as @katrinecakuls

Dominique is a mother to two boys and Founder of Periwink. She has has a longterm preoccupation with longevity and health and started biohacking before it became a “thing”.She started lifting in her forties and won state and national records. Clearly already living a healthy lifestyle, her “Peri-slam” was just that, a total slam and when a vulture set up shop in her backyard, she knew she had to take action. From her Peri-slam, Dominique created Periwink: a series of lifestyle, health and movement programmes designed to support the Peri to Post Menopausal transition. She brings women together to train, cook and support one another and, above all, be part of a solid community. You can find her short 5 days courses, 9 week programmes and so much more at: https://periwink.me and on Instagram as @periwink.me

Elizabeth Joseph has declared herself a Menopause Guinea Pig. I n an attempt to combat her debilitating Perimenopause symptoms, she was willing to give anything a go. And now… you name it, she’s tried it from taping and tapping to fart pants and hormone yoga. If she hasn’t discovered it yet, it may not even exist. She has been so open and brutally honest about her entire experience of Perimenopause that she has connected with thousands of women who feel just like she does. Emerging as ‘a great big chuffing butterfly’ from seismic wobbles, she is living proof that this is the time in our lives we get to have some fun and reinvent ourselves. She makes us laugh, inspires and keeps it real. Find her accounts and reports on @elizabethjosephnavigating