Sadly, with the stigma and shame that often comes with talking about menopause, many women suffer in silence and put up with uncomfortable symptoms for years. That means learning how to navigate the change of perimenopause and yes, all the hot flushes, sleepless nights and mood swings it entails. Lara’s latest book, Hormone Repair Manual is a practical guide to healthy hormones for women after 40. Lara BridenĪs a naturopathic doctor with decades of experience in women’s health, and now the bestselling author of two books, Lara Briden has an incredibly in-depth understanding of menopause and all that comes with it. My colleague Jerilynn Pryor calls it the “grand finale of the ovaries” – all the fireworks of oestrogen and no progesterone to counteract it.An expert’s advice on navigating perimenopause. Not that every woman gets the crazy heavy periods, but one in three go through those final few years with a really intense flow. I like to think more women can hang on to their uterus because of strategies, such as hormonal IUDs, which didn’t exist in the ’90s as a period lightening strategy. All the organs are in there together, joined – you need it for the structure of the pelvis. Women need uteruses – they are not just for making babies. It’s less common now but then, eight out of 10 women had their uterus removed now it’s about one in five. I wanted to make a bumper sticker: “Keep Your Uterus”. Having a hysterectomy was for the crazy heavy periods of perimenopause. Yes, 20 years ago, most of my patients had had hysterectomies – it was so common to have your uterus out. It's hard to believe that not so long ago, hysterectomies were used to treat perimenopause. The British Medical Association surveyed 2000 female doctors and discovered that although many experienced symptoms of menopause, few were willing to discuss it for fear being laughed at or ridiculed. She was with a group of friendly colleagues but at that moment she learnt that, for them, her experience of a hot flush was off-putting. The men in the group said in unison, “Too much information”, laughed awkwardly and changed the subject, while the younger women stayed silent. She was having coffee with colleagues and mentioned how she was sweaty because she was having a hot flush. In my book I tell the story of a doctor I know, Sonia, in her late 40s and at the peak of her career. When I started treating menopausal women 20 years ago, menopause was stigmatised. It signals ageing female bodies, which is something we’re made to feel ashamed of, we are no longer competent and trustworthy. Our society doesn’t talk a lot about menopause.

Lara briden menopause book