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In this episode of the MenopauseWize Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple, an exercise scientist and researcher, to separate what the science actually tells us from the many claims and recommendations surrounding exercise during perimenopause and menopause.

Midlife women are increasingly being told that they MUST lift heavy weights, jump to protect their bones, wear weighted vests, avoid exercising on an empty stomach, and manage their cortisol levels. But how much of this advice is actually supported by scientific evidence?

For women already navigating the physical and emotional changes of perimenopause, finding the time and energy to exercise can be challenging enough. Do we really need to add another layer of complexity by suggesting that everything about the way we exercise needs to change?

Dr. Colenso-Semple helps us examine some of the most popular exercise claims, explains where the evidence is strong and where it remains limited, and discusses what really matters when it comes to maintaining muscle mass, supporting bone health, reducing fracture risk, and improving long-term health.

Key Topics Covered

• Do women need to change their exercise routines simply because they've entered perimenopause?
• Is there evidence to support synchronizing exercise with the menstrual cycle?
• Must women lift heavy weights to build muscle, or can lighter weights be just as effective?
• Is training to failure necessary for building muscle?
• Do women need to jump to maintain or improve bone density?
• Can walking with a weighted vest improve muscle mass and bone health?
• Are Pilates and yoga sufficient for maintaining muscle and bone health?
• Does declining estrogen mean women need a different approach to exercise?
• Is high-intensity exercise harmful because it raises cortisol?
• Is HIIT superior to moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise?
• Is exercising on an empty stomach harmful for midlife women?
• How important is protein timing after exercise?
• In an ideal world, what would a weekly exercise routine look like for maintaining muscle, protecting bones, and reducing fracture risk?

Join us for an evidence-based conversation that challenges popular exercise narratives and helps women make informed decisions about their physical activity.

Because exercise during midlife and menopause doesn't need to be any more complicated than it already is!

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The information provided in all episodes of the MenopauseWize podcast, including content shared by Sukhpreet Patel or any guest or representative, is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice or a substitute for professional healthcare consultation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition or treatment decisions.

SheRise Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., MenopauseWize, Sukhpreet Patel, or any representative will not be held responsible or liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from the use or reliance on the information provided in this podcast. Listeners are encouraged to use the information at their own discretion and always seek advice from a licensed medical professional before making any healthcare decisions.

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Testosterone therapy for women is attracting increasing attention, particularly during perimenopause and menopause. But who actually benefits from testosterone therapy? Should women be measuring their testosterone levels? And what does the research tell us about its effects on sexual health, mood, cognition, muscle mass and long-term safety?

In this episode of the MenopauseWize Podcast, we speak with Professor Susan Davis, a leading clinician researcher and endocrinologist whose work has been pivotal in advancing our understanding of testosterone in women. Her research has involved more than 20,000 women, and her clinical trials provided the foundation for the first approval of testosterone therapy for women.

Professor Davis is Head of the Monash University Women’s Health Research Program and a past President of both the Australasian Menopause Society and the International Menopause Society. With more than 500 peer-reviewed publications, she has made significant contributions to women's health research and clinical practice.

Key Topics Covered

• How testosterone levels change with ageing and menopause.
• The challenges of testosterone testing, including laboratory accuracy and clinical interpretation.
• Who should be considered for testosterone therapy.
• What testosterone therapy can realistically achieve for sexual desire and function.
• The evidence for testosterone in mood, cognition, energy, muscle mass and strength.
• Choosing formulations and understanding the concerns surrounding compounded testosterone and pellets.
• Monitoring testosterone therapy and identifying signs of androgen excess.
• Testosterone therapy, breast density and breast cancer risk, including considerations for women with a personal history of breast cancer.
• What we know about long-term safety and where evidence is still lacking.
• The evidence for systemic DHEA, widely available as an over-the-counter supplement.
• Whether newer research might change the recommendations of the 2019 Global Consensus Position Statement on Testosterone Therapy for Women.

Whether you are a woman considering testosterone therapy or a healthcare professional prescribing it, this episode offers an opportunity to hear directly from one of the researchers who has helped shape our understanding of its role in women's health.

Join us for an evidence-based conversation about what testosterone therapy can do, what it cannot do, and what we still need to learn.

Support the show

The information provided in all episodes of the MenopauseWize podcast, including content shared by Sukhpreet Patel or any guest or representative, is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice or a substitute for professional healthcare consultation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition or treatment decisions.

SheRise Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., MenopauseWize, Sukhpreet Patel, or any representative will not be held responsible or liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from the use or reliance on the information provided in this podcast. Listeners are encouraged to use the information at their own discretion and always seek advice from a licensed medical professional before making any healthcare decisions.

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In this episode of the MenopauseWize podcast, we sit down with Dr. Lori Brotto, a psychologist, researcher, and internationally recognized expert in women’s sexual health, to explore an important but often overlooked part of sexual healthcare: the mind.

When women experience changes in desire, arousal, pleasure, or sexual satisfaction, the conversation often focuses on hormones, medications, and physical causes. While these are important pieces of the puzzle, psychological factors can also have a significant impact on sexual health. And importantly, there are evidence-based psychological treatments available.

Dr. Brotto takes us through the role of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based therapy (MBT) in treating sexual concerns, what the research tells us about these approaches, and why they remain surprisingly underutilized. We also discuss the barriers that can make psychological sexual healthcare difficult to access, from a shortage of trained professionals and gaps in healthcare delivery to the stigma and shame that still surround conversations about sexual health.

Importantly, this is not about choosing between medical and psychological treatment. We discuss why good sexual healthcare needs to be multidisciplinary, with hormones, medications, psychological therapies, pelvic floor therapy, and other interventions working together rather than competing with one another.

Dr. Brotto also introduces eSense, an online platform developed to make evidence-based CBT and mindfulness-based interventions for sexual concerns more accessible. She explains who it is designed for, how the programs work, and what the research has shown so far.

Key Topics Covered:

• The role of the mind in women’s sexual health, desire, arousal, and pleasure
• Evidence for CBT and mindfulness-based therapy in sexual health
• Why psychological treatments for sexual concerns remain underutilized
• Stigma, shame, access, and other barriers to seeking care
• How CBT and mindfulness-based approaches differ
• Why hormones, medications, and psychological treatments should work together
• What multidisciplinary sexual healthcare can look like
• What eSense is, who it is for, and how it works
• The research behind eSense and online psychological interventions
• How women can begin seeking help for sexual health concerns

Join us for an important conversation that takes sexual health beyond hormones and reminds us that the mind is not separate from sexual health. It can be an important part of both understanding the problem and finding the right treatment.

Support the show

The information provided in all episodes of the MenopauseWize podcast, including content shared by Sukhpreet Patel or any guest or representative, is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice or a substitute for professional healthcare consultation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition or treatment decisions.

SheRise Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., MenopauseWize, Sukhpreet Patel, or any representative will not be held responsible or liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from the use or reliance on the information provided in this podcast. Listeners are encouraged to use the information at their own discretion and always seek advice from a licensed medical professional before making any healthcare decisions.