Do you get more discharge than you used to? A fishy smell that won’t go away (if you know, you know!)? Recurrent itching, burning and discomfort? Bacterial vaginosis (BV) or thrush may be the culprit, but some of these are also classic symptoms of menopause, as the vaginal tissue becomes drier and more sensitive. It’s hard to know the difference, and many women end up treating the wrong thing for months or even years.

In this episode I’m joined by Dr Charlotte-Eve Short, a Consultant in Sexual Health who works with women struggling with these conditions. She’s also a Clinical Associate Professor at Imperial College conducting research into bacterial vaginosis.

We talk about:

• The difference between BV and thrush, and how their symptoms compare
• How falling oestrogen changes your risk of each, and why thrush becomes less likely but BV can still happen
• Why self-treating can backfire, and how to get onto the correct treatment pathway
• What happens at a sexual health clinic, and how to self-refer on the NHS
• The important role of the vaginal microbiome in these conditions
• Why pH tests and private microbiome tests can’t be relied on after the menopause
• Vaginal oestrogen and moisturisers: what they do and who can use them
• Diet, probiotics and lifestyle: how you can help yourself, and what the evidence says

You’ll need a notebook for this one, because there’s a LOT of helpful information, but it could be a gamechanger if you’re struggling with symptoms.

If you enjoy this episode, please leave a five-star rating and a quick review on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. It really helps more women find the show. After all, every woman deserves to have a happy menopause.

Check out the full Show Notes for this episode on my website www.well-well-well.co.uk/podcast, where you'll find all the relevant links and references for each guest.

Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish. And if you're tired of feeling tired and grappling with brain fog, check out my new book: The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy; Nutrition to Rejuvenate Your Brain & Body. It's available in all the usual places.

Pain doesn’t get nearly enough attention, so it’s great to see chronic pain in midlife as this year’s World Menopause Day theme. So many of us are dealing with aching joints, tight muscles, headaches and night-time cramps, and we often assume it’s just part of getting older.

Pain is complicated and there’s no single fix, so get all the help you can from your doctor or physio. But what you eat might also make a difference. Magnesium isn’t a magic cure, but I think it could be a useful part of the jigsaw, because it’s nature’s calmer.

I’m always asked about it at my workshops, so I’ve dipped back into the archive to share my chat with Andrew Thomas, founder of Better You, one of my favourite supplement companies. He’s an absolute expert on magnesium, and we talk about the role it plays in muscle relaxation, stress-related headaches, night-time cramps, calming the nervous system and sleep, which is so often the first casualty when we’re hurting. We also discuss why so many of us may be running low, and how to choose between the different forms.

If you enjoy this episode, please leave a five-star rating and a quick review on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. It really helps more women find the show. After all, every woman deserves to have a happy menopause.

Check out the full Show Notes for this episode on my website www.well-well-well.co.uk/podcast, where you'll find all the relevant links and references for each guest.

Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish. And if you're tired of feeling tired and grappling with brain fog, check out my new book: The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy; Nutrition to Rejuvenate Your Brain & Body. It's available in all the usual places.

Fibremaxxing is the latest food buzzword, but before we all jump on yet another bandwagon, let’s find out what fibre actually is, what it does for us, and why and how we should be getting it.

Food trends come and go, don’t they? It used to be all about low-fat. More recently, carbs became the enemy and lots of people went low-carb. Keto and paleo have been big too, with some people eating very high protein and very few carbs.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m delighted that fibre is finally getting its moment. It’s been overlooked for years and it’s incredibly important for our health. But we need to get the balance right to make the most of it and to avoid the risk of bloating and discomfort.

To help us, I’ve invited one of my favourite colleagues, Jenny Tschiesche. She’s a nutritionist and best-selling cookbook author, and her latest book, The Ultimate High-Fibre Handbook, could be just what we need.

We talk about everything to do with fibre:

• The different types: soluble fibre, insoluble fibre and resistant starch, their roles and their benefits
• What to consider if you’re thinking of fibremaxxing
• How fibre can support your health in perimenopause, menopause and beyond
• Practical advice on adding more fibre to your diet using everyday foods
• How to beat the bloat if eating more fibre doesn’t agree with you

This is a real masterclass in the many benefits of fibre, so tune in and find out how to get yourself on track.

If you enjoy this episode, please leave a five-star rating and a quick review on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. It really helps more women find the show. After all, every woman deserves to have a happy menopause.

Check out the full Show Notes for this episode on my website www.well-well-well.co.uk/podcast, where you'll find all the relevant links and references for each guest.

Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish. And if you're tired of feeling tired and grappling with brain fog, check out my new book: The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy; Nutrition to Rejuvenate Your Brain & Body. It's available in all the usual places.