Discover the first 10 episodes of the Newson Health Menopause Society Podcast

Lauren Redfern is based at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine where she is currently completing her PhD in Medical Anthropology. She has been conducting research into women’s experiences of using HRT and in particular, the use of testosterone. Her research considers the ways in which the social and biomedical interact to inform participants perceptions and understandings of the body and its processes. Lauren has experience in conducting interdisciplinary research with a particular focus on the intersectional relationship between gender, sexuality, and medicine. Her prior research has included in depth content analysis of young people’s depiction of sexual intimacy and the implications of gendered identities during these encounters.

In the first episode of the Newson Health Menopause Society podcast we are introduced to the host, PhD researcher Lauren Redfern, who shares a little of her own background and how she became interested in the perimenopause and menopause. Lauren welcomes her first guest of the podcast, the founder of the society, Dr Louise Newson, to explain why she has launched the society and what she hopes it achieves for women’s health across the world.

Claire Macaulay’s interest in helping individuals with their sex lives arose from working as a breast cancer oncologist and seeing women coping with the effects of a medically induced (or worsened) menopause as a result of their breast cancer treatments. She then trained as a sexological body worker and somatic sex therapist to support women to have sexual expression that’s meaningful for them, as well as using hormonal treatments to improve the physical symptoms of pain or dryness that occur. Claire explains that her sessions reveal many people think they’re broken, that there’s something fundamentally wrong with them or that they’re going mad.

In comparing notes between patients, married practitioners Dr Sarah Glynne and Dr Paul Glynne became intrigued as they noticed cross over between reports of certain symptoms in their patients.

NHS GP and Menopause specialist Sarah was coming into contact with perimenopausal patients concerned that they may be suffering with Long Covid. In tandem, husband Paul – a general practitioner based at University College Hospital, was progressively seeing more patients suffering with Long Covid. Sarah and Paul discuss their observations and share insight into the work that they are both independently undertaking. This includes fascinating insights into Dr Paul Glynne’s current work that is exploring possible interventions and treatments for Long Covid sufferers. Paul highlights his observation that HRT is currently, one of the most effective interventions in alleviating symptoms in the right patients that he has observed.

In honour of International Women’s Day, author, documentary maker and journalist Kate Muir joins Lauren to discuss the 2022 IWD theme: ‘Break the Bias’. Discussing accessibility, class, race, and more, Lauren and Kate pick apart the nuanced and complex ways in which experiences of the perimenopause and menopause are underscored by certain biases. Drawing upon the personal stories of women from all walks of life, her own journey through the menopause, and conversations with leading medical experts in the field, Kate helps to identify the multiple barriers many are currently facing when it comes to accessing treatment.

With so many differing accounts of how best to ‘fuel’ our bodies, making decisions about how we should be eating, can prove confusing. In this episode of the NHMS podcast, nutritionist Harriet Holme helps to demystify healthy eating and sheds light on the simple nutritional adjustments that can make a big difference. Harriet explains that whilst the “foundations of a healthy diet are really similar” at different life stages we will all have different nutritional needs. Breaking this down as it relates to the perimenopause and menopause, Harriet provides straightforward advice to help make navigating our nutrition a piece of cake.

In this episode of the NHMS podcast, host Lauren Redfern is joined by Menopause Specialist Dr Sarah Ball to discuss the ways in which the perimenopause and menopause may be missed in patients with other long-standing health conditions. Drawing upon her own experience as a GP, Sarah outlines how a commitment to asking simple and straightforward questions can prove important in helping to distinguish between the re-emergence of an existing condition, and the onset of perimenopause and menopause. Using a number of interesting examples, this episode urges clinicians to keep menopause on their minds, even in instances where it seems an unlikely culprit.

The role of the allied health care professional in a person’s journey through perimenopausal and menopausal treatment can prove essential.

On this episode of the Newson Health Menopause Society podcast, host Lauren Redfern talks to in house Newson Health Pharmacist and Menopause Specialist Hayley Berry. Together, Lauren and Hayley pick apart the important position of the pharmacist and how it relates to a person’s menopausal journey. The episode explores the ways in which pharmacists and other allied health care professionals can upskill themselves in order to feel confident consulting on the perimenopause and menopause. It provides advice on how to access appropriate resources, tools, and education, including when to feel assured signposting to another service. Recognising the very important part played by the allied healthcare professional beyond the clinic, Hayley helps to demystify the process of learning, and provides valuable insight into how best to empower patients.

Colloquially referred to as ‘cousins’, the UK and USA are known to institutionally share certain similarities. When it comes to drawing comparisons however, our healthcare systems are often identified as anything but familial. Yet how do these differences really manifest in practice? Moreover, how do they effect the people seeking treatment for perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms? Featured in this week’s episode and joining host Lauren Redfern to discuss the ever-evolving global landscape of perimenopausal and menopausal care is Dr Heather Hirsch. Based in Boston Massachusetts, Heather is a menopausal clinical expert committed to helping her patients become symptom-free, educated and empowered in order to thrive in their mid and later life.

Between them, Heather and Lauren explore both the similarities and differences in approach to treating the perimenopause and menopause in the USA and beyond.

20 years on from the infamous Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study, misinformation regarding the safety and efficacy of HRT continues to circulate.

Though current evidence-based research suggests using HRT can in fact lead to positive long term health outcomes, fear and mistrust remains prevalent in certain clinical contexts. To set the record straight and discuss what we really know about use of HRT in the treatment of the perimenopause and menopause, host Lauren Redfern is joined by esteemed clinical researcher and scientist Professor Robert Langer. Professor Langer is Professor Emeritus in Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of California in San Diego and was the Principal Investigator for the entire primary study period from 1993 through 2005 of the WHI. Drawing upon his expert knowledge obtained during both the WHI study period and beyond, Professor Langer helps to explain how and why speculation and mistrust regarding HRT has grown and explains what evidence-based findings tell us today about the use of HRT.

Joining host Lauren Redfern on the podcast to discuss the role of the physiotherapist in the treatment of perimenopause and menopause is Deborah Thomas. Deborah is a qualified physiotherapist with a special interest in pelvic health. In this episode, Deborah discusses the role of the physiotherapist in empowering patients to adopt a healthy lifestyle and the importance of encouraging patients to exercise whatever their limitations may be. She breaks down the importance of good education and explores the variety of physiological symptoms that can surface during the perimenopause and menopause, paying particular attention to pelvic, bone and heart health. As well as being a certified pilates instructor and mindfulness practitioner, Deborah has extensive experience working

across a variety of different physiotherapy departments including musculoskeletal, obstetrics and gynaecology, orthopaedic, neurology and respiratory specialities.