Menopause and perimenopause can be a hormonal rollercoaster. Most women will be directly affected at some stage, however it’s still taboo to talk about and a neglected area of women’s health. Insight speaks to women experiencing it and experts studying it, and explores ways to manage it.

This Insight episode, hosted by Janice Petersen, hears from Lorena, who went through early menopause in her twenties; Rowena, who felt shame when her menopause symptoms felt too tough to handle; ultra-marathon runner Jo, who says going into menopause forced her to make some life changes; and Nicola, who went into medical menopause after surgery.

We also hear advice from gynaecologist Dr Talat Uppal and GP Dr Ginni Mansberg, who discuss the stigma around menopause and how women can improve their experiences.

Chapters:
00:00 – 00:54 Intro: a group of blue swimmers discuss the symptoms of menopause
3:15 – 3:59 The importance of friendship during menopause
4:00 – 5:44 The early emotional symptoms of menopause
5:45 – 6:17 The early physical symptoms of menopause
6:18 – 8:19 What does a hot flush feel like and how long do they last?
8:20 – 9:59 An ultra-marathon runner's difficult experience of menopause
10:00 – 11:17 Why so many women are unprepared for menopause
11:18 – 13:06 Dr Ginni Mansberg discusses women's varying experience of menopause
13:07 – 15:44 How the health system fails women undergoing perimenopause
15:45 – 16:24 The average age of menopause
16:25 – 17:37 The importance of community for women in menopause
17:48 – 21:27 Rowena discusses the struggles and shame she felt during menopause
21:28 – 23:43 The impact of menopause on relationships
23:44 – 24:56 A neuroscientist talks about the impact of hormones on the brain
24:57 – 26:53 Nicola talks about how she went into medical menopause after surgery
26:54 – 33:18 Lorena shares her experience of going into menopause at 23
33:19 – 35:31 The cultural barriers for migrants seeking help with menopause
35:31 – 39:11 Emma went into early menopause that went undiagnosed
39:12 – 41:38 The impacts of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
41:39 – 44:40 Risks around HRT
44:41 – 46:02 Costs of HRT
46:03 – 47:09 The unexpected symptoms of menopause
47:10 – 51:15 Coming to terms with menopause

This episode originally aired in 2020.

Insight airs Tuesdays at 8:30pm on SBS: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/insight​

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Insight, hosted by Kumi Taguchi, is Australia's leading forum for powerful first-person stories offering a unique perspective on the way we live.

Insight first went to air in 1995 and has since been a mainstay of SBS current affairs programming. The team doesn't shy away from taboo topics: from polygamy, to brain implants, to the secrets revealed on the deathbed.

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