Thriving In Menopause

Women's health physiotherapist Caitlin Dunsford explains why your bladder can become less reliable in your 40s and 50s; from suffering embarrassing little leaks when you laugh to waking up for the fourth time in the night with an overwhelming urge to pass urine. Caitlin discusses the reasons your bladder is letting you down, why it may be a symptom of other issues and what you can do about it.  Se...

Jo Caminiti had no idea that what was happening to her had a name: perimenopause. And now she's determined to make sure other women know that menopause can come in many guises - and it's not always having hot flushes. Here she shares her story, and the signs and signals she didn't understand until much, much later. If you are in your 40s and your health is gets rocky, it's worth you and your docto...

Many doctors have little training in menopause. In fact they can fail to recognise the signs, and aren't equipped to help women through menopause. So in this episode Dr Sarah White, who is CEO of the Jean Hailes women's health clinics, talks about how to discuss menopause with your GP and get the help and support you need. You can find the Jean Hailes symptom tracker here . Using it can be an effe...

When nutritionist Faye James hit her mid 40s she found herself piling on kilos around her belly. As someone who had always eaten healthily she was bewildered, and decided to investigate. The result is a cookbook, The Menopause Diet ,  which Faye and her photographer husband Darrin James have created, packed with very simple nutritious recipes that lean into the foods we need more of during menopau...

Journalist Melissa Doyle and her best friend Naima Brown discuss how women can find confidence and pride in approaching our 50s. Their book How to Age Against The Machine  explores many facets of life after 40, with a view to empowering others. In this episode Melissa and Naima candidly share how during the writing of this book they've reframed their own outlook on ageing and how they've come to f...

It's surprisingly common for women to feel restless, disappointed or just less happy in our 40s and 50s.  In fact, researchers have found that we tend to hit the bottom of the happiness curve in midlife. So how do we find our way back to feeling joyful and inspired by life again? In this episode clinical psychologist Dr Emmanuella Murray shares how to set yourself on the path back to happiness and...

Among the many roles oestrogen plays in our bodies, it turns out that it is important in cushioning our joints. In this episode Rebecca Sabine , senior physiotherapist at Adelaide's Vital Core Physiotherapy, explains what happens to our joints as our oestrogen fluctuates during perimenopause. She also offers valuable advice for what you can do to keep your joints strong and healthy at midlife. See...

Female alcohol and binge drinking coach Kathryn Elliott shares her own journey to sobriety and discusses tips and tricks to help women drink less.  You can find Melbourne-based Kathryn Elliott at www.thealcoholmindsetcoach.com   Or, if you are looking for support from elsewhere in Australia, find coaches near you at www.alcoholcoachesaustralia.com.au   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

It’s a fact that two thirds of women experience ‘brain fog’, during perimenopause, the years leading up to menopause. And it’s natural to wonder, is this the start of a slippery slope to dementia? GP Dr Ginni Mansberg, author of Save Your Brain , discusses what causes women to start to feel fuzzy-brained during perimenopause, and if there's a link to dementia. She also reveals the important lifest...

What are the first signs of perimenopause?  Unlike the much easier signal, years earlier, that you were having your first period, there's no specific sign or marker of this transition. And because the process starts many years before actual 'menopause' (which is, officially, 1 year after your last period) it usually happens in our early to mid 40s.  For TV presenter Shelly Horton it was an enormou...

Whether it’s about your clothes getting tight, or anxiety about your partner seeing you naked, you are not alone. In fact, this kind of body self-criticism causes many of us to have a troubled relationship with eating, says dietitian Lyndi Cohen, author of ‘ Your Weight is not the Problem’.  In this episode Lindy details tips and strategies to cut the negative self-talk and develop a healthy relat...

In this episode Dr Fatima Khan , a highly skilled menopause and perimenopause doctor, discusses the fundamental pillars every woman needs to be aware of in order to thrive during menopause. Over decades of treating menopausal women, she has found that there is no point taking a pill without addressing these underlying issues. Here, Dr Khan supplies daily management strategies for your physical, em...

Why is it that some people manage to lose weight then see it slip straight back on, while others keep it off for good? Dr Gina Cleo has the answers. Gina is one of the world's leading habit change experts. In this episode she shares the surprisingly simple tweaks that will make it easy for you to stick with healthy habits, and recognise the unseen triggers that may be sabotaging them. Learn how to...

Confidence coach Mel Schilling is a former psychologist and currently the relationship coach on Married At First Sight in Australia and the UK. In this episode she shares powerful tips to build your confidence and navigate a positive outlook through the ups and downs of midlife.  + Find the questionnaire Mel discusses to define your personal strengths here + Grab a copy of Mel's book The C Word (C...

Dietitian Susie Burrell joins us to chat about belly fat and how our nutrition needs change during midlife, and what you should be eating more of. She also shares which of the popular diets really work - is it keto, 5:2, low carb or intermittent fasting that's best for long-term weight loss. You can hear more nutrition advice from Susie on her podcast The Nutrition Couch  See omnystudio.com/listen...

Taking us through gentle moves that can ease menopause symptoms is yoga teacher Justine Thompson, who runs workshops for perimenopausal women. Rest assured, there's no headstands or mantra chanting involved. Studies have proven that simple yoga moves and yoga-style slow, deep breathing can help us with the physical and emotional upheavals around midlife. You'll want to try these simple moves at ho...

This episode is essential listening for every couple. Get your partner to hear this one episode - it could be a game-changer for your relationship! GP and menopause expert Dr Ginni Mansberg discusses the healthiest way to navigate mood swings, night sweats and, most importantly, what you should both know about sex and intimacy during menopause. Straight-talking Dr Ginni shares important no-holds-b...

Dry, sore eyes...blurry vision... these are common problems in our 40s and 50s - and the good news is there are simple fixes. In this final episode of series 4, optometrist Greeshma Patel from Specsavers makes sense of the changes you might be experiencing in your peepers, and shares surprising insights into how you can protect your sight and keep scratchy, dry, red eyes at bay. See omnystudio.com...

Think of this as a bedtime story with a happy ending. If you wake up in a tangle of sweaty sheets, or find yourself staring endlessly at the ceiling, psychologist Dr Moira Junge, head of the Sleep Health Foundation, shares some practical advice to help you get a good night's sleep. Here's more practical tips from our website : How to Get Better Sleep After 40 12 Natural Remedies for Better Sleep 1...

Accidentally weeing when you laugh... a urinary tract infection...a vagina that's painfully tight...these and other problems 'down there' happen to a surprising number of us! In this episode pelvic health physiotherapist Heba Shaheed comes to our aid. She explains the changes that happen to our pelvic floor as a normal part of going through our 40s and 50s, and the wide range of niggles and embara...

Our hair is a defining part of who we are, so if we notice it start thinning or if we find strands of shed hair all over the place, it can be really distressing. But it's very common. In fact, it happens to many of us after menopause, or after a course of medication. Doctors may prescribe sticky lotions that you need to use every day which is, quite frankly, a pain. But there are other, better way...

Good news! Neuropsychiatrist Dr Louann Brizendine is revolutionising the way we think about menopause, which she refers to instead as The Upgrade . She has been studying the changes that take place in our brains during and after menopause and says, “we are not defined by our declining hormones.” In this episode she explains how our brains really do change during and after menopause, and shares the...

Alison Brahe Daddo, who once graced the covers of Dolly and Cleo, drops into the studio for an unfiltered chat about her shifting hormones and changing body. As she muses…“Even the Kardashians will go through menopause!” She can laugh about it now, but some of her experiences will resonate with every woman. As a bonus we have an extract from her book Queen Menopause on the link...

Throughout history menopause has been shrouded in myth and superstition. Niki Bezzant , author of This Changes Everything , discusses some of the strange treatments and 'cures' that male doctors and healers have inflicted on women when they reached the end of their reproductive lives. From ancient Rome to as recently as the 1960s, these 'remedies' range from the odd to the tragic and, with our mod...

That voice inside our head always seems to judge what we didn't do well, never what we did. So how do we reframe this? Melbourne author Madeleine Dore's book “I Didn’t Do the Thing Today”   looks at the kind of productivity guilt we all suffer and she points up some of the simple traps that might be unwittingly making you less happy than you deserve to be.   See omnystu...