Menopause Unpacked: Symptoms, HRT and What Every Woman Should Know

Menopause is talked about like a punchline, a secret, or something to “just endure”, but the reality is far more complex and far more important for long term health. I’m joined by Dr Joyce Igwekwe BK, a medical doctor, lifestyle medicine practitioner, and certified menopause practitioner, to shine a clear light on what menopause actually is, how perimenopause can last two to ten years, and why so many women do not realise their symptoms are connected until they are already overwhelmed.

We get practical about the real world signs: broken sleep at 2am, fatigue, brain fog, mood swings, night sweats, palpitations, joint pain, abdominal weight gain, and the genitourinary symptoms that can quietly damage confidence and intimacy. Dr Joyce explains why diagnosis is often clinical rather than a single definitive test, especially if you are on contraception or a coil, and why women in Black and African communities can face longer and more severe symptoms alongside cultural pressure to stay silent.

We also go beyond symptom management into prevention. We talk heart health, hypertension risk, bone loss, osteoporosis, and why lifestyle medicine matters whether you choose hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or not. Dr Joyce breaks down the fear around HRT, what has changed with modern preparations, and why local vaginal oestrogen can be a game changer for vaginal dryness. We end with support that actually helps: bringing partners into the conversation, finding community, and treating self care as a daily practice, not a rare luxury.

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