Women's Health: menopause: unmuted – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, Darlene and Ben share their unconventional love story, which was challenged and strengthened by Darlene’s menopause experience. Although Ben is 20 years younger than Darlene, he has proven to be an exemplary partner and source of support for Darlene as she struggled with menopause symptoms. In addition to the broader impact of menopause symptoms on her daily life, Darlene also shares how her symptoms affected her work and how she felt unsupported in her workplace. This experience eventually led her to take time off work, however, it also inspired her to become an advocate to help educate, bring awareness, and support others going through menopause in the workplace. Ben has extended his committed support for Darlene by joining her in these advocacy efforts. The couple also talks about their shared passion for fitness and powerlifting, which has brought joy and confidence to Darlene in her midlife years. 

Content warning: this episode mentions the topic of suicidal ideation.  

Useful Links: 

• If you are in need of immediate support, you can call, text, or chat the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 (available free of charge in the United States 24/7)
• Learn more about strength training and menopause in one of our previous episodes A Strong Menopause with Susan Niebergall.
• Are you interested in sharing your menopause story on the podcast? You can pass your contact details to the production team for further consideration by filling out this form. 

This episode shares the stories of Stephanie and Karen, two friends based in the north of England. In addition to both experiencing menopause, Stephanie and Karen both battled with breast cancer. The two have supported each other through “the really big stuff” and underscore the importance of strong friendships in midlife. This episode demonstrates that it is never too late to form deep friendships and how valuable it can be to connect with others who are going through similar experiences.

Useful Links: Listen to more episodes featuring the experience of fibroids (Kathie’s Story and Sateria’s Story), hysterectomy (Deborah’s Story), and cancer (Rebecca’s Story), during midlife.

Are you interested in sharing your menopause story on the podcast? You can pass your contact details to the production team for further consideration by filling out this form.

Disclaimer: menopause: unmuted is designed to raise awareness, encourage communication, and share information. It is not designed to provide medical advice or promote or recommend any treatment option.

It’s time to talk about menopause in the workplace. In this final episode of the season, Dr. Mary Jane Minkin welcomes guests Barbara Brooks (founder of SecondActWomen) and Dr. Nikki Shaffer (Head of Colleague Wellness at Pfizer) for an in-depth discussion on the topic of menopause in the workplace. The ladies bring their expertise and life experience to reflect on common challenges and opportunities that women may face in their careers. The conversation touches on: navigating age stigma and burnout, managing menopause symptoms during the workday, shifting priorities, changing careers, and more.

Disclaimer: menopause: unmuted is designed to raise awareness, encourage communication, and share information. It is not designed to provide medical advice or promote or recommend any treatment option.

Useful Links:

Listen now! All episodes of this season available:

1. Deanna on going through a divorce, becoming a health coach, and reclaiming her sex life after menopause
2. Sateria on living with uterine fibroids, managing anxiety during menopause, navigating the healthcare system as a Black woman, and her role as a notable patient advocate
3. Gina on receiving a cancer diagnosis, managing menopause in the workplace, and adopting a “say yes” attitude in midlife
4. Deborah on determined hope, despite her struggles with endometriosis, surgically induced menopause, infertility, and migraines

Deborah’s story is one of determined hope and her commitment to carving her own path through life is inspiring. Deborah discusses her complex medical history, and her battles with endometriosis, surgically induced menopause, and migraine. She captures the emotional pain of struggling to conceive and accepting life without having kids. Despite these challenges, Deborah chose to listen to her body, find self-acceptance, and overcome adversity. With unexpected optimism and a charming Scottish accent, Deborah brings a unique voice to the podcast in this episode. 

Content warning: this episode touches on issues around fertility and suicidal ideation.  

Disclaimer: menopause: unmuted is designed to raise awareness, encourage communication, and share information. It is not designed to provide medical advice or promote or recommend any treatment option.

Useful Links:

If you are in need of immediate support, you can call, text, or chat the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 (available free of charge in the United States 24/7)

Listen to menopause: unmuted episode on sex & intimacy: An Intimate Menopause w/ Dr. Laurie Mintz

Additional information on topics discussed during this episode:

• Understanding and Evaluating Infertility and Mental Health and Infertility (Source: Society of Women’s Health Research)
• Endometriosis (Source: Mayo Clinic)
• Menopause and Mental Health (Source: Let’s Talk Menopause)
• Mental Health America

In this episode, Gina shares the challenges and opportunities that she faced in midlife. While going through her menopause transition, Gina was met with a cancer diagnosis, and a move across the country. Gina also goes into detail about working in a competitive environment, and how she navigated menopause symptoms and feeling “not cool” in her workplace amongst younger colleagues. She describes her new perspective on life: “And my husband and I adopted this ‘say yes’ attitude to things, we say yes to as many things as we possibly can. If we have the time, we'll find the money, if we have the money, we find the time.” 

menopause: unmuted is designed to raise awareness, encourage communication, and share information. It is not designed to provide medical advice or promote or recommend any treatment option.

In this episode, Sateria paints a vivid picture of what it’s like to live with uterine fibroids. She brings a unique perspective to the conversation around menopause, getting real and vulnerable about her decades-long struggle with fibroids, navigating the healthcare system as a Black woman, and becoming an advocate for women across the globe. Sateria shares aspects of her journey that many women may relate to including managing anxiety, experiencing weight gain, and moving back home to care for an elderly loved one. As the founder of the Fibroid Foundation, a global community of fibroid patients, Sateria discusses the power of patient advocates, in addition to how she maintains a healthy work-life balance. Sateria’s story helps empower women to be their own advocate in their health journeys, “there is a lot that a patient can contribute to understanding of a health concern because they've lived it.” 

About Sateria and the Fibroid Foundation

Sateria is a patient advocate who was diagnosed with fibroids at the age of 26. After receiving the recommendation of a hysterectomy in her 20s, she was prompted to explore other options to manage her fibroid diagnosis. She began a quest for information, which led her to found The Fibroid Foundation. As The Fibroid Foundation, Founder and CEO, Sateria has supported over 26M women globally across 71 countries, providing better care and education around women’s health. The organization’s mission is to amplify the voice of women living with fibroids, through innovative programs, strategic initiatives, and powerful partnerships.

Disclaimer: menopause: unmuted is designed to raise awareness, encourage communication, and share information. It is not designed to provide medical advice or promote or recommend any treatment option. 

Useful Links:

Listen to our bonus episode on brain health and stress: A Calm Menopause w/Dr. Pauline Maki

More information on uterine fibroids at the Fibroid Foundation

In this episode, Deanna talks candidly about relationships, sex and becoming a health coach in midlife. She discusses the realities of going through a divorce while experiencing menopause symptoms, with sleep issues particularly adding stress to this transitional period of her life. Deanna also describes the impact that lowered libido can have on marriage, and shares ways that she has helped to improve intimacy with her partner over the years. Health and fitness also play a key role in Deanna’s menopause journey, eventually leading to a career in health coaching and blogging. This episode touches on several topics that many women may relate to, and Deanna’s honesty and energetic attitude is contagious. 

About Deanna Pizitz

Deanna is a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and life coach, and creator of the Well and Worthy Life blog, which focuses on helping readers build self-inspiration, self-care, and self-love. She is particularly passionate about supporting women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond to regain their energy, improve their fitness, and find purpose. Deanna is a firm believer that “everyone can live a well and worthy life based on the notion that what someone does today and the choices they make today affect their tomorrows.” 

Disclaimer: menopause: unmuted is designed to raise awareness, encourage communication, and share information. It is not designed to provide medical advice or promote or recommend any treatment option.

Useful Links:

Listen to our bonus episode on sex & intimacy: An Intimate Menopause w/ Dr. Laurie Mintz

Check out Deanna’s Instagram

Visit Deanna’s blog Well & Worthy Life

Another season of menopause: unmuted is coming to you soon. And it’s no coincidence we’re sharing this announcement today, which is World Menopause Day.

Get caught up now on past seasons of the podcast, and make sure to subscribe or follow the show to keep updated when new episodes drop.

Thank you to our menopause: unmuted community for tuning in to the last three seasons of the podcast. Until next time, keep talking.

Bonus Episode: A Calm Menopause with Dr. Pauline Maki

Dr. Pauline Maki, Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology and Obstetrics & Gynecology, joins this season’s final bonus episode with host Dr. Mary Jane Minkin to talk about managing the emotional symptoms related to menopause, how to reduce stress and help have a “calm” menopause. The experts unpack how estrogen can affect brain function and mood. The conversation covers how common menopausal symptoms and experiences, including brain fog, stress, hot flashes and disturbed sleep, are related to overall mental health. Dr. Maki and Dr. Minkin also discuss disparities in women’s health and how socioeconomic status and race can affect women’s brain health in midlife. Methods to help reduce stress are detailed to give listeners actionable ways to improve their mental health.

About Dr. Pauline Maki:

Dr. Pauline Maki is Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology and Obstetrics & Gynecology and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Dr. Maki received her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and postdoctoral training at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the National Institute on Aging. For the past 25 years, she has led a program of NIH-funded research on women, cognition, mood and dementia, with a particular focus on the menopause. Dr. Maki is Past President of the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), Current Trustee of the International Menopause Society, Chair of the Society for Women's Health Research Interdisciplinary Network on Alzheimer's Disease, and Immediate Past Head of the Neurocognitive Working Group of the Women's Interagency HIV Study. She won the 2018 Woman in Science Award from the American Medical Women's Association and the Thomas B. Clarkson Outstanding Clinical and Basic Science Research Award from the NAMS (Healthywomen.org).

menopause: unmuted is designed to raise awareness, encourage communication, and share information. It is not designed to provide medical advice or promote or recommend any treatment option.

Sex psychologist Dr. Laurie Mintz joins the series host Dr. Mary Jane Minkin to discuss the joys and challenges of maintaining a healthy sex life during menopause. Dr. Mintz helps address some common questions and misconceptions around sex and menopause, talking about desire, comfort, and communication. This episode explores how women can work to reframe what sex and intimacy mean to them in midlife. Dr. Mintz believes sexual health and wellness are integral components of self-care and overall health and she provides practical information  that may help women enjoy sex during midlife. 

About Dr. Laurie Mintz:

Dr. Laurie Mintz is an author, therapist, professor, and speaker whose life’s work has been committed to helping people live more authentic, meaningful, joyful—and sexually satisfying—lives through the art and science of psychology. Dr. Mintz has published over 50 research articles in academic journals and six chapters in academic books. She has received numerous professional and teaching awards. She is the author of two popular press books—both written with the aim of empowering women sexually: Becoming Cliterate: Why Orgasm Equality Matters and How to Get It (HarperOne, 2017) and A Tired Woman’s Guide to Passionate Sex: Reclaim Your Desire and Reignite Your Relationship (Adams Media, 2009). For over 30 years, Dr. Mintz has also maintained a small private practice, working with both individuals and couples on general and sexual issues.

menopause: unmuted is designed to raise awareness, encourage communication, and share information. It is not designed to provide medical advice or promote or recommend any treatment option.

Useful Links:

Dr. Mintz’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauriemintz/

Dr. Mintz’s Website: https://www.drlauriemintz.com/