Is It Hot In Here? Midlife Podcast

Can you go through menopause in your 30s?

🤝 Get your own personalised menopause support from Dr Naomi Potter and her team: [https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/what-to-expect-ihih](https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/what-to-expect-ihih)

This week, Dr Naomi Potter is joined by actress and national treasure Dani Harmer (best known as Tracy Beaker) for a very honest conversation about early menopause, HRT, exhaustion, brain fog and trying to parent young children while completely running on empty.

Dani opens up about the symptoms that made her realise something was wrong, how her partner first spotted the signs of perimenopause, and why finally starting HRT made her “feel like herself again”. Naomi also explains why women who go through menopause young may need extra support for their bones, heart and long-term health.

💬 Topics include:
• Early menopause and premature ovarian insufficiency (POI)
• Perimenopause symptoms in your 30s
• HRT for younger women
• Why DEXA bone scans matter in early menopause
• Brain fog, exhaustion and menopause fatigue
• Hair loss during menopause
• The role of nutrition and protein in menopause symptoms
• Menopause rage, anxiety and low mood
• Parenting young children during perimenopause
• How partners can better support menopause

llow Dani Harmer below:
Dani’s Instagram: @missdanijharmer
Dani’s TikTok: @daniharmer

Follow Dr Naomi Potter below:
Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

00:00 – Dani Harmer on early menopause at 34
03:18 – The early menopause symptoms nobody warned her about
06:17 – Diagnosed with perimenopause in her 30s
09:23 – What is premature ovarian insufficiency (POI)?
12:05 – Why younger women may need higher HRT doses
15:50 – Why Dani still feels exhausted despite HRT
18:16 – Hair loss in menopause: hormones or nutrition?
21:14 – The menopause fatigue cycle explained
24:00 – Simple menopause nutrition changes that could help
27:06 – Can menopause cause hair thinning and hair loss?
29:14 – How Dani's partner supported her through menopause
32:30 – The right way to talk about menopause with your partner
34:21 – Dani's advice if your GP won't listen
37:03 – Feeling isolated with early menopause? What helps
38:32 – Parenting young children during perimenopause
41:04 – Why more women need to talk about early menopause

#menopause #earlymenopause #hrt

Today we're revisiting our episode with personal trainer, author, and wellness coach Lavina Mehta.

Lavina very candidly opened up about her experience as a South Asian woman bringing 'taboo' topics like perimenopause, periods, and women's health to the table – and why this is so crucially important to do.

If you enjoyed this snippet, you can listen to the full episode with Lavina here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2UNeIYs6QhMFTjTqnSU1pk?si=mcTPkZqvQ2y90kFMSbaOjg

#menopause #perimenopause #southasianculture

Healthy shouldn't be this hard.

🤝 Get your own personalised menopause support from Dr Naomi Potter and her team: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/what-to-expect-ihih

In this week’s episode, Dr Naomi Potter is joined by nutritionist, author and podcast host Sarah Ann Macklin for a fascinating conversation about diet culture, self-worth, stress and why your mindset may be affecting your metabolism more than you realise.

Sarah explains why so many women feel like they’re “failing” at health during midlife – despite trying so hard to eat well, exercise and keep up with endless wellness advice. Together, they unpack the science behind self-compassion, stress, digestion, emotional eating and why being kinder to yourself may actually improve your health outcomes.

💬 Topics include:
• Why stress affects digestion and metabolism
• The link between self-worth and food choices
• Why women feel exhausted by wellness culture
• Diet culture and “optimisation” explained
• The science behind self-compassion
• Why shame does NOT motivate healthy habits
• Emotional eating and binge eating
• Why “healthy eating” feels harder in midlife
• The surprising psychology behind cravings
• How mindset affects hormones and health
• Why mums are more active than they think
• How to build healthier habits without punishment

📘 Get Sarah's new book Healthy Shouldn't Be This Hard: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Healthy-Shouldnt-Be-This-Hard/dp/0857509977/ref=asc_df_0857509977?mcid=ebba7bd752a23e949a6647f3f30010ab&th=1&psc=1&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=795502497071&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6551743774984784278&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9262905&hvtargid=pla-2472515035398&psc=1&hvocijid=6551743774984784278-0857509977-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

Follow Sarah Ann Macklin below:
Sarah’s Instagram: @sarahannmacklin
Sarah’s podcast: Live Well Be Well
Sarah’s book: Healthy Shouldn’t Be This Hard

Follow Dr Naomi Potter below:
Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

#menopause #nutrition #selfcompassion

What can you do if HRT isn’t right for you?

🤝 Get your own personalised menopause support from Dr Naomi Potter and her team: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/what-to-expect-ihih

In this week’s solo episode, Dr Naomi Potter explains the non-hormonal options that may help with perimenopause and menopause symptoms — from CBT, hypnotherapy and acupuncture to herbal remedies, antidepressants, beta blockers, Veozah and lifestyle changes.

HRT can be brilliant, but it is not suitable for everyone. Whether you can’t take HRT, don’t want to take it, or have tried it and struggled with side effects, this episode breaks down what else is available — without the fear, fads or confusion.

💬 Topics include:
• CBT for menopause
• Hypnotherapy, reflexology and acupuncture
• Herbal remedies (e.g black cohosh and ashwagandha)
• Plant oestrogens
• When antidepressants may be helpful
• Beta blockers
• Veozah / fezolinetant
• Bladder medications
• Lifestyle changes still matter
• How to avoid wasting money on menopause fads

Follow Dr Naomi Potter below:
Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

00:00 – 14 alternatives to HRT for menopause symptoms
01:20 – CBT for menopause anxiety, hot flushes & mood swings
03:28 – Hypnotherapy for menopause anxiety & sleep
04:43 – Reflexology for menopause symptoms
05:34 – Acupuncture for hot flushes & night sweats
07:41 – Herbal remedies for menopause explained
08:29 – Black cohosh for hot flushes & night sweats
09:21 – Ashwagandha for menopause brain fog & anxiety
09:54 – Plant oestrogens, soya & red clover for menopause
11:56 – Antidepressants (SSRIs) for menopause mood & anxiety
14:12 – Oxybutynin for hot flushes & night sweats
14:56 – Propranolol & beta blockers for menopause anxiety
16:03 – Veozah (fezolinetant): new non-hormonal menopause treatment
17:33 – Gabapentin for severe menopause symptoms
18:23 – Mirabegron & solifenacin for bladder symptoms
20:40 – Lifestyle changes that improve menopause symptoms
22:07 – How to choose the right menopause treatment for you

#menopause #hrt #drnaomipotter

Win a year's worth of Menopause Care appointments by entering our giveaway here: https://bit.ly/4t3ELhb

Can you take HRT if you have endometriosis, adenomyosis or fibroids?

In this week’s episode, Dr Naomi Potter is joined by Menopause Care doctor Dr Eloise Elphinstone to talk through the conditions that can make menopause treatment feel more complicated – including endometriosis, adenomyosis and fibroids.

Together, they explain why these conditions can affect HRT choices, why progesterone matters, when a Mirena coil may be helpful, and why having endometriosis or fibroids does not automatically mean HRT is off the table.

Expect clear, practical advice for women who have spent years feeling dismissed, confused, or worried that their history of pain, heavy bleeding or surgery means they have fewer menopause treatment options.

💬 Topics include:
• What endometriosis actually is
• Why endometriosis can take years to diagnose
• Can HRT flare endometriosis symptoms?
• Why progesterone is important with endometriosis
• HRT after hysterectomy
• Surgical menopause and medical menopause
• What adenomyosis is and how it differs from endometriosis
• Fibroids, heavy bleeding and menopause
• Can you take HRT if you have fibroids?
• The role of the Mirena coil
• How to tell if pain is menopause or endometriosis
• Why specialist menopause care matters

Follow Dr Eloise Elphinstone below:
Eloise's Instagram: @the_womenshealth_gp

Follow Dr Naomi Potter below:
Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

More info and menopause support at: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

00:00 – Introduction: menopause, endometriosis & why diagnosis takes years
00:50 – What endometriosis actually is and why it causes pain
03:05 – Why menopause and HRT can complicate endometriosis
05:03 – How HRT is prescribed differently in endometriosis
08:00 – Hysterectomy, endometriosis & why progesterone still matters
09:59 – What the Mirena coil does and why it helps endometriosis
11:30 – Key takeaways: can women with endometriosis still use HRT?
13:28 – What is adenomyosis and how is it different from endometriosis?
16:26 – The “estrogen threshold” theory explained
17:01 – Medical menopause, GnRH treatments & surgical options
19:36 – Why endometriosis care and menopause care are often difficult
20:29 – Why endometriosis is called a chronic inflammatory condition
21:52 – Fibroids explained: symptoms, growth & menopause implications
24:48 – Can women with fibroids safely use HRT?
26:08 – The emotional impact of years of dismissed symptoms
28:26 – Mirena coils, fibroids & reducing heavy bleeding
29:50 – Why hysterectomies are less common than they used to be
31:07 – Listener question: bladder pain, hip pain & menopause vs endometriosis
35:08 – Listener question: can progesterone affect endometriosis?
36:01 – Final thoughts & outro

#hrt #endometriosis #perimenopause