"Talk to your doctor" sounds simple. Actually getting useful menopause care can be anything but.

In this episode of our special podcast series with WellnessMD, Jacquie Court sits down with Dr. Daniela Steyn to talk about how women can navigate menopause care in Canada.

They discuss where to begin, why some primary healthcare providers may be able to prescribe hormone therapy but may not have additional menopause training, and what to do when your doctor cannot provide the support you need.

You will also learn how to prepare for a short appointment, describe the impact of your symptoms more clearly and identify the one issue you most want addressed first.

Because "I'm tired" is true. But "I'm barely sleeping, I cannot focus at work and it is affecting my ability to function" gives your healthcare provider somewhere to begin.

This series is presented in partnership with WellnessMD. She2.0 provides general information and conversation, not medical advice, and does not necessarily endorse every opinion or claim made by the experts we interview. Always speak with a qualified healthcare provider about your individual health and treatment options.

In this episode:

• Where to begin when looking for menopause care in Canada
• What your primary healthcare provider may be able to offer
• Why menopause training varies among providers
• How to prepare for your appointment
• How to explain the effect symptoms are having on your life
• The "magic wand" question that can help you identify your priority
• How to ask what happens next when your provider cannot help

You are still getting your period. You have had one hot flash, possibly. But you are not sleeping, your brain feels unreliable and everyone around you has suddenly become exceptionally irritating.

Could this be perimenopause?

In this episode of the She2.0 and WellnessMD podcast series, Jacquie talks with Dr. Daniela Steyn about what perimenopause actually is, how it differs from menopause and why symptoms can begin years before your final period.

They also unpack the misconception that one hormone test can confirm or rule out perimenopause. Hormone levels fluctuate throughout the cycle, which means a result may appear normal even when a woman is experiencing disruptive symptoms.

That does not mean blood work has no role. Testing can be helpful in certain circumstances and can also identify other health concerns that may cause or worsen similar symptoms. The important point is that menopause care requires more than a single number on a page.

In this episode:

• What perimenopause and menopause actually mean

• Why symptoms can begin while periods are still regular

• How early the menopause transition can begin

• Why one blood test may not provide a complete answer

• When hormone testing may still be helpful

• Other blood work worth discussing with your healthcare provider

• Sleep disruption, brain fog, anxiety and irritability

• Fertility and ovulation during perimenopause

• What happens when an IUD or hysterectomy makes periods an unreliable clue

• The connection between menopause symptoms and confidence at work

• Why previously manageable ADHD symptoms may become harder to manage

• Bone, heart and metabolic health during the transition

• Why early menopause deserves medical attention

• The importance of advocating for yourself

This series was created in partnership with WellnessMD. She2.0 provides general information and conversation, not medical advice. The opinions and claims expressed by guests are their own and are not necessarily endorsed by She2.0. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options.

Menopause gets blamed for everything, including the disappearance of our sex drive. But what if hormones are only part of the story?

In this episode of She2.0, I'm talking with Dr. Daniela Steyn of WellnessMD about sex in midlife: painful intercourse, vaginal dryness, changes in orgasm and the libido that has gone MIA.

We get into the physical stuff that deserves proper attention, including vaginal atrophy, vaginal estrogen, lubrication and testosterone. We also talk about the less tidy stuff: stress, resentment, body image and the mental load. Because it's hard to feel interested in sex when you're exhausted, disconnected from your partner or quietly keeping a running list of everything that still needs doing.

I share what happened when sex became painful for me, why fixing the pain didn't automatically bring intimacy back, and what finally helped me and my husband start talking honestly.

If your sex drive has changed during perimenopause or menopause, you're not broken, and you don't have to shrug and accept painful sex. There may be several things going on, and this conversation is a good place to start asking better questions.

This episode is part of She2.0's podcast series with WellnessMD. Our conversation is for information and discussion, not personal medical advice. If sex is painful, bleeding or otherwise uncomfortable, speak with a qualified healthcare professional about what's causing it and what options are right for you.