Ep 26: From Perimenopause to Hormone Therapy: What You Need to Know

In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, we dive into the often-overlooked topic of menopause and its impact on women's health, especially for those balancing demanding careers like dentistry. I share my personal experience navigating menopause and offer insights into recognizing perimenopause symptoms, managing hormonal changes, and understanding treatment options like hormone replacement therapy. We also cover topics like genitourinary health, pelvic floor health, and breaking the stigma around women's health. Tune in to empower yourself with knowledge and proactive steps to thrive during this transition! About Shirley:Shirley Weir introduces herself as a "menopause chick" and is here to remind all of us: we deserve to feel amazing! This is a significant pivot from how most of the world thinks about menopause, and Shirley is leading this important paradigm shift. She is 57 years old, reached menopause at 49, and for the last 12 years has been educating, advocating, and answering questions via MenopauseChicks.com and its popular private online community. Shirley is a three-time author, a TedX speaker, a media spokesperson, and advocates for more midlife health education in workplaces, such as Vichy Laboratoires, Canadian Tire, and The London Stock Exchange. She believes that if we truly want to change the future of women's health, we must change how we talk about it. Shirley's vision is for everyone to have access to evidence-based health information in order to navigate perimenopause-to-postmenopause with confidence and ease! And her goal today is for you to walk away thinking, "Hmm... I never thought about menopause that way before!”Connect with Shirley:Menopause CommunityInstagram: @MenopauseChicksTo watch on YouTube, click hereTimestamps00:00 - My Personal Experience With Menopause7:33 - Menopause Defined14:20 - Signs You're In Perimenopause17:19 - What To Do Once Symptoms Start20:56 - A Note On Hormone Therapy24:47 - Bloodwork on Iron & Thyroid26:33 - What Is Hormone Replacement Therapy?29:40 - Our Genitourinary Health33:28 - Improve Pelvic Floor Health35:51 - Shame Around Women's Health40:08 - The Role Of Estrogen In Our Bodies43:10 - Alcohol Recommendations45:19 - Testosterone Therapy For Women48:51 - What Can We Do Proactively?52:46 - Where To Learn MoreSend me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Click here for Christmas In July Sale!(code: POLISH150 FOR $150 off cordless polishers)  To connect with me: 🦷Polished Posture Club➡️Instagram💻My Website📨Email: [email protected] 💌Newsletter signup