Debunking the myths of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) with Dr Ginni Mansberg
This one's just for the ladies (and the men who want to learn about what women go through). And don't forget our 'end of financial year checklist' at the bottom too.
This week it’s a show specially for women, (and men who want to learn about what women are going through in midlife and beyond). Today we’re talking about menopause, HRT and the modern and evolving science on how both affect our bodies in midlife and beyond with the author of The M Word, Dr Ginni Mansberg, a GP who specialises in menopause and women’s health.
Whether you hit menopause before it became trendy in 2021 or after, there’s a lot to know about your hormones, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and your health in the second half of life.
Dr Mansburg walks us through the science of menopause, explaining the important studies that have changed practical recommendations on HRT over the last 30 years. And then she dives into all the things we need to know about the 53 symptoms caused by the changing levels of oestrogen in our bodies as menopause unfolds. We talk about peri-menopause, actual menopause and post menopause and the way treatments work in each phase. And then we go deeper again – into menopausal weight gain, and what we can do about it; and when we should slow down or even stop our HRT, or if we should stop it at all.
Whether you’re in peri-menopause or on the other side, there’s lots of great information about how our bodies work and how to manage our health and hormones.
LISTEN HERE:
Some highlights:
The science of menopause: how it’s changed over the last 15 or 20 years.
The rise of meno-flogging and meno-mania since 2021.
What we know about menopause science and physiology today, in the early, middle and later stages. Perimenopause symptoms, leading into meopause, then, the post-menopause process.
The 53 symptoms of menopause - brain fog, mood symptoms, hot flushes, insomnia, itchy skin, leaky bladders, dry vaginas, anxiety and so many more.
Women going through menopause dream of getting to the other side of the rainbow – but do they ever actually get there?
Menopause comes at the wrong time in a woman’s life.
Hormone therapy and body-identical hormones – how they work, and how effective they are.
What the studies really say about the risk of breast cancer,
How to manage menopause if you can’t take HRT.
The truth about weight gain and menopause – facing it head on.
Why would women stay on HRT later in life? There’s a lot of interesting reasons.
How do you find doctors with a better understanding of menopausal health. Visit the website of the Australasian Menopause Society at menopause.org.au.
Dr Ginny Mansberg’s best selling book, The M Word, is available on Amazon here.
Shaping the Prime Time newsletter
Hey Primetimers!
This is my only midweek newsletter now. So I’m putting it to good use.
Three things to talk about today.
My weekend column that went viral. My article from The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald on the weekend is still going a little crazy. Have a read here: “There are four types of modern retirees. Which one are you?” .
Quite a fun piece, packed with insights into how people REALLY retire according to the latest retirement intentions data. It’s certainly worth a read - hundreds of thousands of Aussies apparently read it already 😳.
Are you ready for the end of financial year? The end of the 2023/24 financial year is fast approaching. So it’s time to prioritise your thinking about tax and consider maximising your super contributions to take advantage of any concessions. Many advisors recommend acting by the second last week of June to allow your super fund sufficient processing time - and that’s the week ahead.
So, I want to remind you about this wonderful podcast I did with Financial Planner Paul Benson a few weeks ago, “The End of Financial Year Checklist”. If you haven’t listened yet, I’ve linked it in below. It’s important. (More on this below).
There’s nothing like taking advantage of legitemate opportunities.
Ask me your questions - by email! The single weekly, (and huge) Epic Retirement Newsletter comes out on Sunday via epicretirement.net. But Primetime is a little bit different. It’s for ALL the people interested in living well in the second half of life - not just those who are approaching or in retirement. So we’re building out the Prime Time emailer too and I really want your help to give it a unique conversation.
So, to up our game I want your help with two things today!
We want to feature your letters on this email, every week - letters about midlife, and second half of life issues (as well as modern retirement). So, send them in to bec@primetimers.net and we’ll get to replying with useful answers and interesting information to help you navigate your prime time years. Our Prime time is anywhere from about 48 - to the point where we hit passive retirement. The best years of our lives.
Tip us off on a great topic or story to tell. We want to mix up the types of stories we tell, some as lessons, some as conversations and some as case studies. So, if you know of a wonderful case study, lesson or story we should be telling - tip us off. Again, email me on bec@primetimers.net.
I can’t wait to hear from you. Enjoy the podcast and until next week - make your prime time count.
Cheers, Bec Wilson
Author, columnist, retirement educator, podcast host and guest speaker
