Menopause Uncovered: HRT, Testosterone, Sleep, Sex and Everything Women Need to Know with Dr Deirdre Forde

 

Menopause is something every woman will experience, yet so many of us are still confused, under-informed and struggling to get the right advice and support.In this episode of The Gavin Sisters Wellness Show, Lauretta and Sharon sit down with Dr Deirdre Forde, a menopause specialist with decades of medical experience, to have an honest, enlightening and refreshingly open conversation about all things menopause.

After spending 25 years working in public health and community medicine, Deirdre's own challenging experience of perimenopause inspired her to specialise in menopause care. Having experienced first-hand the impact hormonal changes can have on mental health, relationships and everyday life, she is passionate about helping women understand what is happening to their bodies and ensuring they receive the care they deserve.

This is a conversation that covers everything from the first signs of perimenopause to life after menopause, cutting through the confusion surrounding HRT and exploring some of the biggest misconceptions women still face.

We discuss:

• Perimenopause and menopause: What actually happens to our hormones, how to recognise the early signs and why symptoms can begin much earlier than we think.

• The impact on relationships: How hormonal changes can affect anxiety, mood, libido and relationships, and why partners need to understand what women are going through.

• HRT explained: The different types of HRT, oestrogen, progesterone, sequential and continuous prescriptions, and how to understand what might be right for you.

• Testosterone for women: What it does, how it can help with libido, energy and brain fog, and why it isn't routinely prescribed to women.

• HRT and breast cancer: Exploring the research, understanding the risks and benefits, and addressing the fear and confusion surrounding hormone replacement therapy.

• How long should you stay on HRT? Do we really need to come off it at a certain age, or can we continue taking it long term?

• Weight gain and menopause: The relationship between hormonal changes, obesity and metabolic health, and the role of GLP-1 medications.

• Sleep problems: Why so many women suddenly start waking at 3am, struggle to fall asleep and experience disrupted sleep during perimenopause.

• When HRT isn't an option: What alternatives are available for women experiencing difficult symptoms.

• Menopause and dementia: What emerging research is telling us about oestrogen, inflammation and brain health.

• Sex and libido after menopause: Is losing your sex drive a normal part of ageing, and should we be talking more openly about it?

• Exercise and lifestyle: Why strength training, movement and looking after our overall health are so important during and after menopause.

Deirdre also shares her own personal menopause story, including how her experience affected her relationships and ultimately changed the direction of her medical career.

This is an honest, funny and incredibly informative conversation that every woman should hear, whether you're just beginning to notice changes, right in the middle of perimenopause or navigating life post-menopause.

Our biggest takeaway? Women deserve better information, better support and the confidence to ask questions about their health.

A must-listen for every woman – and perhaps even more importantly, every man who wants to understand what the women in his life are going through!

To get in touch with Dr Deirdre Forde

https://www.menopausesocietyireland.ie/dr-deirdre-forde

Instagram @drdeirdreforde