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# The Merry Menopause

## Sitemaps

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## Posts

- [Random Acts of Kindness](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/random-acts-of-kindness) - It was a cold, dark January Saturday night, I was alone at home and feeling a bit sorry for myself and no amount of Emily in Paris could get me out of my funk.I had gotten into the habit of muting my neighbours’ WhatsApp group because most of the time it’s filled with chats about
- [Be your own oracle](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/be-your-own-oracle) - Sex and the City aired in the UK in 1999. Then I was a single girl working for a Corporate, living a life of emotional ups and downs not too dissimilar – albeit less glamorous – to the SATC girls, but still very relatable. Forward 22 years and I’m re-watching, as a single woman in
- [A September to remember](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/a-september-to-remember) - Can you believe it’s September??!My word for this month is ‘calm.’ It’s only the 1st and already I am starting to feel overwhelmed with the influx of emails and WhatsApp as everybody starts to get busy again.So how do I BE a person that is calm? It’s OK saying that’s my word, but who do
- [Brain Fog](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/brain-fog) - I put my application for my Irish passport in the post and my reason for sharing this is because it has been on my to-do list for months, but the prospect of actually doing it has been too much. Like so many tasks at the moment, it felt utterly overwhelming, because, like 60% of perimenopausal
- [Our Menopause is a moment in time](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/our-menopause-is-a-moment-in-time) - We had no choice when it came to puberty, and we have no choice when it comes to our Menopause. It’s another perfectly natural change in our bodies, the end of the hormonal journey that we started as teenage girls. Our Menopause is a natural transition that we have to adjust to and live with, work
- [HRT 101](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/hrt-101) - “Now let’s get informed, get empowered to make our own choices about our symptoms, our treatments, our minds and our bodies. And then, let’s keep talking, to our friends, to our families, to the men in our lives, to our children. Let’s spread the word so that no woman feels alone or ashamed at this
- [Blood Sugar](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/blood-sugar) - Every time your blood sugar drops, your body releases the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. Most Menopausal women don’t need any extra stress, so eating a diet that maintains blood sugar balance is the single most important thing to do during Perimenopause and Menopause to support adrenal function. Call it “nutrition 101” because, as well as
- [What is a Merry Menopause?](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/what-is-a-merry-menopause) - The Merry Menopause stands for Education, Empowerment and Action. If we want to have a Merry Menopause we need to Educate ourselves on how our bodies work. We need to read and listen and talk. Why do we have periods? What do they tell us? What part do our hormones play and how do we
- [Bye Bye Daddy...](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/bye-bye-daddy) - I am experiencing something that I know many of you are experiencing too, the loss of a beloved parent.My beautiful Papa peacefully passed away at home at the grand old age of 88. My sister and I were with him, a wonderful last day all together. At 9:40pm on Tuesday, May 4th, my 51st birthday,
- [The bridge of Menopause](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-bridge-of-menopause) - We spend our childhood growing, building our mind and our body, we then move into the second phase of our life when we start and finish our periods, our menses, adulthood.We spend these years outwardly doing, a need to achieve and accomplish, engaging with the outside world, for many of us feeding a need to
- [Perimenopause and me](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/pregnancy-and-the-perimenopause-2) - By my calculations, I started my Perimenopause around the age of 42, nine years ago. At that time I was in love with someone who wasn’t in love with me and unbeknownst to me I had just started the delayed grieving process of losing my mum a couple of years earlier. I was equally ignorant
- [Pregnancy and the Perimenopause](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/pregnancy-and-the-perimenopause) - I have recently had two messages about the photo of my on the home page of this site. Both messages said that they initially thought that I was pregnant in the photo and that it wasn’t until closer inspection they realised I was hugging my knees not a baby bump but had been initially confused
- [Another Lockdown Birthday](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/another-lockdown-birthday) - I am a proud mother, The Merry Menopause was two this week on March 8th, she shares her birthday with International Women’s Day (IWD) and that is no coincidence. I am embarrassed to say that she had the most unromantic conception during a cold wet January in 2019. I had been for a dog walk with
- [From Challenge Comes Change](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/challenges-and-birthdays) - The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is #ChooseToChallenge, in their words:-“A challenged world is an alert world. Individually we’re all responsible for our thoughts and actions, all day every day. We can choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate’s women’s achievements.
- [Sex Education 80s Style](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/sex-education-80s-style) - I started to write a piece about my experience of my mum’s menopause and how as a teenager in the 80s I had zero knowledge of the menopause. It then dawned on me that I had a pretty limited knowledge of what was happening to me at that time, puberty. I then started thinking about
- [Why I started the Merry Menopause](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/hello-world-2) - Choose To Have A Merry, Not A Miserable Menopause
- [Fleabag Sums It Up....](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/fleabag-sums-it-up) - Phoebe Waller-Bridge is a genius. The words above are from her hit BBC series Fleabag , and they embody my thoughts on the menopause and the message that I want to spread.The snippet above is taken from a conversation between a 58-year-old woman played by Kristen Scott Thomas and 35-year-old Fleabag played by Waller Bridge. Over a
- [Mothers Day](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/mothers-day) - My Mama passed away eight years ago, and we scattered her ashes in the sea off the coast of Oliva, in Spain where she lived for 25 years and where she died.The process of starting The Merry Menopause has brought up a lot of ‘stuff’ around my relationship with my mum. It’s been an emotional
- [Let's Learn From Our Periods](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/lets-learn-from-our-periods) - A few years ago I read a book called Wild Power and more recently Period Power. Two amazing books that have given me an understanding of my mental and physical health, and a new found respect for my menstrual cycle.I was a late starter. My periods started on a hot, Saturday afternoon in July 1985, I was 15.
- [Facing Fears](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/facing-fears) - Mindset is the word I picked for myself at the beginning of the year. I soon realised that in some areas I have a fixed mindset and if I want to grow and develop I need to a) change my mindset and b) challenge myself.On my travels many years ago, I saw a man drown
- [Inspiring Words](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/inspiring-words) - Earlier this week I lost my public speaking virginity. I stood up in front of 50 menopausal women and introduced them to The Merry Menopause. I’ve realised that If I want to help women I have to step out of my comfort zone and talk about my vision for this online community and what it
- [Perimenopause, Menopause, Postmenopause](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/perimenopause-menopause-postmenopause) - What's the difference
- [Oestrogen and the Perimenopause](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/oestrogen-and-the-perimenopause) - Known as the ‘female hormone’ oestrogen is actually made from male hormones, and men produce it too in small amounts. There is not one single hormone called oestrogen, our bodies produce three different types – oestradiol, oestrone and oestriol.Oestradiol is the strongest oestrogen and is produced by the ovaries, it is dominant from puberty through to
- [Progesterone and the Perimenopause](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/progesterone-and-the-perimenopause) - Progesterone is only produced when we ovulate. It is the hormone that keeps oestrogen in check, either supporting if there isn’t enough or calming it down it if there’s too much. We can have low levels of oestrogen, but if it’s high in relation to our progesterone we can still have signs of excess oestrogen.
- [Testosterone and the Perimenopause](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/testosterone-and-the-perimenopause) - Testosterone is NOT a male hormone, us girls produce it as well, just in smaller amounts. From puberty, androgens or male hormones are produced in equal amounts in both our adrenals and our ovaries and a lesser amount by hormones in our bloodstream. Testosterone helps to build and maintain muscle and bone density. It is
- [Menopause Blues](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/menopause-blues) - During the Perimenopause, we are tested both physically and mentally. Our bodies start to change which can lead to self-esteem issues around body image, our libido can wane and we can experience anxiety and sleep deprivation. All of this and more on top of the general stresses of everyday life at home and in the
- [Sixty Seven Days](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/sixty-seven-days) - This week I started to bleed, it had been 67 days since my last period. I’d hoped I was well on my way to a clear year of periods that would put me postmenopause, but at 49 that was wishful thinking.I’ve had two and a half months of ‘phantom’ symptoms. I’ve ovulated and had PMS
- [MENOVIST](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/menovist) - I am a Menovist.⠀It has become apparent to me that women’s health is greatly under-researched and understood. As women, we are being let down, especially when it comes to the diagnosis and/or misdiagnosis of the symptoms of the perimenopause and the menopause. ⠀ I believe that women should be provided with clear, evidence-based, unbiased information on
- [The Three Most Common Symptoms Of The Perimenopause are EMOTIONAL](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-three-most-common-symptoms-of-the-perimenopause-are-emotional) - Anxiety, brain fog and low mood are the three most common EMOTIONAL symptoms of the perimenopause. ⠀They are less obvious than the more common and widely discussed physical symptoms, hot flushes and night sweats, but the EMOTIONAL symptoms are the ones we can start to experience from our early 40s and they are very often
- [Your Adrenals and Your Menopause](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/your-adrenals-and-your-menopause) - Our body is designed to deal with a certain level of stress, and it does that with the support of our adrenal glands. Our adrenals produce and secrete cortisol, the ‘fight or flight’ hormone, which helps us respond to both internal and external stresses and then calm down again. ⠀But the other major job of
- [Adrenal Fatigue - The Signs](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/adrenal-fatigue-the-signs) - Adrenal fatigue can be the root cause of many of the common symptoms of the menopause. So How do you know if you are suffering from adrenal fatigue? The following are some of the very common signs;trouble getting up in the morningtired for no reasonmore energy as the day goes onirritabilitydifficulty concentratinglightheaded when standing upstruggling
- [The First Phase of Your Menstrual Cycle](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-first-phase-of-your-menstrual-cycle) - Your menstrual cycle can be broken down into the four seasons, winter, spring, summer and autumn and over the next few days, I am going to talk about each season and the insights you can gain from understanding where in your cycle you are and where you are moving too next. For ease of purpose,
- [Phase Two of Your Cycle](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/phase-two-of-your-cycle) - Once you stop bleeding, around day 6 of your cycle – and again I am going to use a 28-day cycle as my example – you may start to feel your mood lift, this is because you are leaving winter and entering into the next phase of your cycle, spring. Your oestrogen levels are starting
- [The Highlight of Your Cycle](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-highlight-of-your-cycle) - The summer phase of your cycle is when oestrogen levels peak and with it your energy, it’s the final hormonal push before ovulation.You are likely to feel level headed, grounded, articulate, exactly the opposite to how you felt two weeks ago in winter. Mother nature wants you to find a mate, your most fertile time of
- [The Fourth and Last Phase of Your Cycle](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-fourth-and-last-phase-of-your-cycle) - After ovulation which occurred during the summer phase of your cycle, your oestrogen levels will naturally start to decline and with them your energy and your mood as you transition into the next phase, Autumn. This is the part of your cycle where your inner critic shows up, that voice in your head that has nothing good
- [Day Seven](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/day-seven) - So, I’m not quite sure what is going on. Last week, after sixty-seven days I started to bleed. My mood lifted instantly and after two days of very light bleeding, the bleeding stopped. I still had a dull ache in my lower abdomen, I was still exhausted and my boobs, especially my nipples, were ridiculously
- [Day Fourteen](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/day-fourteen) - It’s day fourteen and I’m still bleeding, it’s light, but it still counts. That’s a fourteen-day period, and still going.⠀Days seven, eight and nine were SO heavy, I felt depleted and bloated. On day ten, thankfully my bleeding started to calm down, I’d like to say back to normal, but not sure what that is
- [Day Twenty-One](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/day-twenty-one) - It’s day twenty-one and time for the next instalment of my perimenopausal cycle.⠀ On day fifteen my bleeding finally stopped and I de-bloated. I instantly lost 2kg and felt full of energy. ⠀⠀On day seventeen, I felt a bit horny – haven’t felt that in a while, it didn’t last!⠀ Day eighteen I started to get a
- [Day Twenty-Eight](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/day-twenty-eight) - It’s day twenty-eight of my latest cycle and no sign of a bleed. I think I can safely say that my clockwork twenty-eight day cycle is a thing of the past. Here’s a summary of how I’ve been feeling over the past seven days.Day Twenty-Two, Anti Social. Just wanted to be on my own today. Exhausted after
- [World Menopause Day](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/world-menopause-day) - Today is World Menopause Day. Millions of women around the globe will be POSITIVELY celebrating their menopause because the menopause doesn’t have to be a negative experience, suffering is not inevitable. This powerful transition is a wake-up call, it is your body talking to you, I urge you to take the time, to listen and
- [Ladies, This Is Getting Serious](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/ladies-this-is-getting-serious) - Currently, in the UK, menopause does not appear on the curriculum for GP training. However, at least 3 months is given over to obstetrics and gynaecology. Not every woman is going to have a baby, but every woman, if she lives long enough, is going to have a menopause.As we live longer, the likelihood is
- [Menopause and the Workplace](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/menopause-and-the-workplace) - Research has shown that menopausal symptoms can have a significant impact on workplace attendance and performance. Menopausal symptoms can also lead to some women leaving their jobs early, or not putting themselves up for promotion.⠀Every employer has a responsibility to look after the health and wellbeing of their employees and that includes supporting women and
- [Oestrogen Dominance](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/oestrogen-dominance) - Oestrogen levels decrease during menopause but they don’t fall substantially until after our last period. Many of the symptoms of the perimenopause are due to the effects of Oestrogen dominance. This doesn’t mean we have too much oestrogen, it means that we have more oestrogen relative to our progesterone.When we ovulate we produce progesterone but
- [Anovulatory Periods](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/anovulatory-periods) - It’s common to assume that our period is a sign that we’re ovulating normally but as we come into perimenopause that’s not always the case. Sudden changes to hormone levels can trigger anovulatory cycles.⠀An anovulatory period is when we don’t ovulate, when the ovaries don’t release an egg. If we don’t ovulate we don’t produce
- [Twelve Days of Spotting](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/twelve-days-of-spotting) - I’ve been spotting for the past 12 days. I am on day 21 of my cycle but it is as if my period hasn’t stopped. Full flow lasted for 4 days, followed by some darker blood for a couple of days which is nothing unusual for me. The bleeding stopped for 2 days and then on
- [A Healthy Liver Balances Hormones](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/a-healthy-liver-balances-hormones) - There is a reason why health professionals and menopause experts keep telling us we need to give up or dramatically reduce our intake of alcohol to support our menopause, it’s because alcohol is toxic to our bodies. It may make us feel good in the short term, but the long term effects at this time
- [The Liver and the Symptoms of the Perimenopause](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-liver-and-the-symptoms-of-the-perimenopause) - When we expose our bodies to high levels of alcohol, smoking, processed foods, or environmental toxins such as pesticides and household chemicals, our liver becomes overloaded and the detoxification process slows down. As a result, we end up with toxins in our system that our body doesn’t want and with nowhere to go, they cause
- [The Liver and Self Care](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-liver-and-self-care) - A toxic system causes inflammation and inflammation causes disease.As we get older, our ability to fight disease lessens and as a demographic, us women between 50 and 70 are at a higher risk of hormone-related cancers. One theory is that if we don’t support our liver’s job of detoxification with our lifestyle, the non-removal of
- [How Do Our Hormones Effect Our Gut?](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/how-do-our-hormones-effect-our-gut) - Our gut is where all digestion, absorption, and elimination take place. All of these processes require a healthy gut. So why does the menopuse and our decreasing hormone levels have such an impact on our digestion and our gut?⠀Oestrogen helps to regulate the production of the stress hormone cortisol, and both cortisol and oestrogen help
- [What And How We Eat Impacts Our Gut Health](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/what-and-how-we-eat-impacts-our-gut-health) - Poor gut health leads to chronic inflammation and hormonal imbalances. Bloating, poor digestion and belly fat are all signs that something is up with your gut. ⠀The main causes of these symptoms are a diet consisting of too much refined and processed foods, sugar, alcohol, bad fats/fried food, hormone and antibiotic laden meats/poultry/dairy artificial additives,
- [Don't Underestimate Water](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/dont-underestimate-water) - We all need to drink water to be healthy, energised and to get rid of excess bloat. It’s counterintuitive, but we actually have to drink water to get rid of water. If we don’t drink enough water, our bodies will think we are in danger of dehydration and hold on to fluid, causing water retention
- [Food And Your Mood](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/food-and-your-mood) - Our daily eating patterns impact our mood. Are you familiar with being ‘hangry’ when you skip a meal?⠀Eating when we are stressed, on the run, standing up, harms our digestive enzymes and disrupts digestion and absorption of nutrients. It also raises our stress hormones and causes us to store more belly fat and the reason
- [Adrenal Fatigue - Cause and Effect](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/adrenal-fatigue-cause-and-effect) - When our adrenals are healthy, they release cortisol in appropriate amounts. In addition to energy, a balanced amount of cortisol helps us; burn body fat; maintain emotional stability and gut health; modulate blood sugar, inflammation and allergies; regulate electrolyte balance which affects blood pressure and water retention, ⠀Adrenal fatigue is caused by too much stress,
- [Adrenal Fatigue - Prevention Is Better Than Cure](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/adrenal-fatigue-prevention-is-better-than-cure) - Adrenal fatigue is very misunderstood in relation to our menopause. So what can we do? Here are the factors that lead to adrenal fatigue which then contributes to a host of wellness issue and hormonal imbalances⠀POOR DIET: Too many carbs, too much sugar, not enough good quality protein and healthy fats, too much caffeine, and
- [Did You Know That You Are Always Detoxing?](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/did-you-know-that-you-are-always-detoxing) - Toxins are everywhere in our environment, so detoxification is an ongoing process. To support our bodies we need to make the effort to reduce our toxic load on a daily basis. Detoxification is the cleansing of the internal organs of the body from excess hormones, environmental pollutants, harmful bacteria, toxic substances which include alcohol and nicotine
- [Exercise, Detoxification and Belly Fat](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/exercise-detoxification-and-belly-fat) - During this time in our midlife, it is important that we break down and eliminate excess oestrogen from our body. If we allow excess oestrogen to build up it causes oestrogen dominance, which results in weight gain, cellulite, fluid retention and bloating. A dominance of oestrogen makes our liver sluggish and it then stores fat.
- [It's Never Too Late To Start Loving Yourself](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/its-never-too-late-to-start-loving-yourself) - We should be a priority, our health and wellbeing should be our priority. More often than not we don’t pay enough attention to how we are treating ourselves and we put the wellbeing of others well before our own. ⠀But there is a price to pay for what we consider to be caring for others.
- [Be Prepared, Not Scared](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/be-prepared-not-scared) - The menopause is not an illness. It cannot be cured. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH US.⠀Every woman, if she lives long enough, will go through the menopause, that’s 51% of the population (and the other 49% experiencing it by proxy).⠀ There is no need to see the menopause as the end of life as we know
- [The Menopause and Exercise](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-menopause-and-exercise) - We all know that exercise is important for staying healthy and fit, but during this time of transition regular exercise becomes crucial for our immediate long term wellbeing and here are some of the reasons why:-⠀As we get older we tend to lose muscle mass and gain abdominal fat, exercise can help manage that extra
- [The 3am Wee](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-3am-wee) - Kay “My son has taken to staying out till 3 am, even during the week.”Me “That means he’s getting in just as I’m getting up to have my first wee of the night!” Oh how we laughed, and we didn’t wee ourselves! But getting up in the night is a right pain and as we know
- [Wake Up Call](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/wake-up-call) - Menopause is forced change. We are being forced to re-assess our stressors, our behaviours and our lifestyle choices. We are being urged to face the things which don’t serve us and remove them from our lives. ⠀No one said the menopause was going to be an easy transition, but when it comes calling, don’t drop
- [The Merry Menopause is One Year Old](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-merry-menopause-is-one-year-old) - On International Women’s day 2019, I stopped overthinking my idea for an online community and support network and I bought and registered The Merry Menopause domain. I set myself up on Instagram and Facebook and announced to anyone that would listen, that what had been going round and round in my head for months, was
- [The Start of the Covid-19 Gobal Pandemic](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-start-of-the-covid-19-gobal-pandemic) - I have to be honest and say I haven’t taken much notice of the coronavirus, I’ve been hoping it was just media hysteria and would just go away without becoming the pandemic they predicted, but in the last 24 hours as the impact has started to sink in, I’ve started to engage and possibly too
- [The Reality Starts to Hit ... Covid-19](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-reality-starts-to-hit-covid-19) - It’s been a week since the reality of what is happening around the globe started to impact my life. This time last week my clients, I’m a hairdresser, started cancelling thick and fast. I thought I could wear a mask and gloves and still be able to carry on, then last Friday the government issued
- [Covid-19 Day 27](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/covid-19-day-27) - Yesterday I felt productive for the first time since the UK lockdown 27 days ago. I am defiantly adjusting to my new circumstances, but I can also credit my oestrogen levels for putting me in a better space. ⠀Since the first day of my last period, 14 days ago my oestrogen has been slowly rising
- [Menstrual Cycle Tracking During the Perimenopause](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/menstrual-cycle-tracking-during-the-perimenopause) - We generally start to experience symptoms of the perimenopause, in our early to mid-40s, which is why for many women during the perimenopause menstrual cycle tracking – even if their periods are erratic – can be of great benefit.⠀You will have around 400 periods in your fertile lifetime. and they are an amazing resource containing
- [Taking Control](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/taking-control) - Menstrual cycle tracking is keeping a note each day of how you are feeling. You can use an app for this, but I would recommend recording the information in a dedicated notebook or your daily journal. As you progress you will start to access amazing information about yourself and how you function mentally and physically.⠀Day
- [Why It's Impossible to be Happy All The Time](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/why-its-impossible-to-be-happy-all-the-time) - If you read last weeks posts on the benefits of tracking your menstrual cycle, and how to break it down into the 4 seasons, I hope you have you got a better understanding of the impact your mind and body working together has on how you feel on a daily basis.By putting that information together
- [Could This be the Reason You Are So Tired?](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/could-this-be-the-reason-you-are-so-tired) - “I’m through obsessing about how I look or what other people think about me. I am finished living for everyone else. I want to break free from these chains”I took the passage above from Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by the awesome Dr Joe Dispenza, he’s taking about midlife which he describes as “the time for
- [A Landmark Birthday](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/a-landmark-birthday) - I made it. I’m bloody lucky to have to got this far, I know many who didn’t.It’s good to feel good. Eating well, exercising and thinking good thoughts (work in progress) make me feel good. The happier my head is, the better my body works. Alcohol turns me into a twat. More than two drinks and
- [The Period Fairy](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-period-fairy) - Research shows that if a young girl gets a positive response to her first period it will impact her lifelong relationship with her body image, for the better. Like many of you, I’m sure, I’ve struggled all my life with my perception of my body, and I’m sure that if my family had known how important
- [What Happens to our Sleep?](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/what-happens-to-our-sleep) - I went from being almost narcoleptic and able to sleep soundly anywhere to developing a torturous sleep pattern which lasted for a couple of years. ⠀Some nights I would have trouble going to sleep, tossing and turning for what seemed like hours before eventually dropping off. Some nights I’d drop off ok, but I’d get
- [A Worthwhile Sacrifice](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/a-worthwhile-sacrifice) - In my previous post I talked about how my sleep pattern changed dramatically during perimenopause. This common and often agonising symptom is caused by our bodies adjusting to the gradual decline in progesterone levels.⠀I also said that I had made one simple change to my daily routine and instantly got my sleep back, well that change was
- [Find Your Groove](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/find-your-groove) - Our circadian rhythm is a 24-hour internal clock that runs in the background of our brain, it is also known as the sleep/wake cycle. It functions best when we have a regular sleep pattern – going to bed and getting up at the same time every day including weekends.⠀ It is the hypothalamus part of our
- [Sleep Hygiene](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/sleep-hygiene) - Sleep hygiene isn’t brushing your teeth before bedtime – although you must do that! – It is implementing simple practices and habits during the day and into your evening so you can better prepare yourself for good quality sleep. Our bodies like routines and establishing a regular one will help your body to recognise that it’s
- [Mindset](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/mindset) - Before lockdown I was an active person and being restricted to one hour of exercise a day was not ideal. ⠀During perimenopause, our ovaries start producing less oestrogen. Our body takes as much oestrogen as it needs and then gets rid of the rest through natural detoxification, and we need exercise to boost that process.
- [Three things](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/three-things) - If you tuned into my Live on Instagram this week with Herbalist, Jessie Martlehof, you will have heard us talking about the gut, liver and adrenals and the integral part they all play in regulating our hormones and managing our menopause symptoms.If your hormones and your symptoms are wreaking havoc, it’s a sign that these three areas need care
- [Pelvic Floor](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/pelvic-floor) - Our pelvic floor is a huge muscle mass that stretches like a hammock from our tailbone at the back, to our pubic bone at the front. It holds and supports our uterus, bladder and bowel, as well as playing a big part in controlling our bladder and our bowel movements and aiding and improving sexual
- [Oestrogen and Insulin](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/oestrogen-and-insulin) - There are over 40 hormones involved in the perimenopause, but the top dog is Oestrogen. We have oestrogen receptors in almost every cell of our body, it helps to regulate our heartbeat, bone turnover, immunity, muscle tone, lubrication, endorphins and neurotransmitters. But oestrogen also has a huge effect on our metabolism and regulation of our
- [Try This...](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/try-this) - To avoid pain during intercourse at any age we need adequate lubrication. Lack of natural lubrication doesn’t mean a lack of sexual interest or response, some women produce a lot of fluid when aroused and others not so much.Oestrogen is a lubricant and as our natural oestrogen levels start to decline during our perimenopause, we
- [Want to Reclaim Your Sex Life?](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/want-to-reclaim-your-sex-life) - Sex shouldn’t be a chore, something that needs to go on our to-do list along with shopping, cleaning, ironing, it shouldn’t be a ‘to-do’ packaged into the daily grind of things we feel pressured to get done. If you want to ignite your sex life or sexual urges which may be depleting you need to make
- [Why Do We Ignore The Signs....?](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/why-do-we-ignore-the-signs) - As women with busy lives and responsibilities, we have a tendency to ignore our body when it is talking to us. We can be inclined to neglect painful, obvious symptoms because we don’t put enough value on our health and wellbeing, or we are embarrassed to admit to ourselves and others that things are going wrong
- [Fat Around the Middle](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/fat-around-the-middle) - Every year during perimenopause 75% of women will gain 1.5 kg.Oestrogen gives us our feminine shape and as our oestrogen declines, we start to lay down fat in a similar way to men, around our internal organs, around our middle and this puts at high risk of heart disease. Lack of oestrogen also causes us to
- [Energy vs The Voice of Doom](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/energy-vs-the-voice-of-doom) - During our menopause transition, one of the most common and debilitating, universal symptoms is a drop in our energy levels. And when we are feeling depleted one of the worst things we can do is to listen to the negative voice in our head and start comparing ourselves to others.Listening to our inner critic raises
- [Emotional Amnesty](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/emotional-amnesty) - I am deep into my perimenopause and my cycle is becoming more and more erratic as is my mood. I’m not ovulating regularly, so I’m not producing oestrogen, the mother of all hormones and the hormone responsible for a mood boost in the middle of our cycle that pumps us with positivity and motivation. Without my
- [Educate before you Medicate](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/educate-before-you-medicate) - Brain fog, anxiety, low mood and depression are the three most common symptoms of the perimenopause, followed by aching joints and disturbed sleep. It is the onset of these symptoms that make many women seek the help and advice of their GP, and the majority will leave their appointment with a prescription for anti-depressants, anti-anxiety
- [Menopause Support NOT Menopause Denial](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/menopause-support-not-menopause-denial) - Every woman will have a menopause, you can not cure it and you can not make it go way. The worst thing you can do is deny that it is happening to you. The best thing you can do is acknowledge it and support it. I started The Merry Menopause on International Women’s Day 2019
- [Stop Apologising](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/stop-apologising) - Do you talk openly to your friends and family about your periods and your perimenopause? Or do you find yourself constantly apologising and making yourself wrong because of how you look, feel, or react at certain times in your cycle?For generations, we have been miseducated when it comes to our periods and our menopause. Shame
- [The Pill](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-pill) - Were you put on the pill as a teenager or young woman because your periods were heavy? You had cramps? Bad skin? Mood swings? Before writing the prescription did your Dr go through the list of side effects of the pill? 💊Did he/she explain that taking the pill isn’t going to correct your hormonal imbalance, it’s
- [Perimenopause Phase Two](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/perimenopause-phase-two) - In phase two our hormone levels start to change dramatically and over time we stop having a regular menstrual cycle. Our egg supply has shrunk, making pregnancy less likely but not impossible, beware!⠀Progesterone, oestrogen and testosterone levels decline which lead to irregular cycles. You may skip two or more cycles, going more than sixty days
- [Perimenopause Phase One](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/perimenopause-phase-one) - In your mid-30s, you are still producing enough hormones to give you good energy, skin, muscle tone and a sex drive, but there are subtle changes happening in your ovaries as your egg supply starts to dwindle. During the early stages of this phase, your cycle may still be arriving like clockwork, but in the later

## Pages

- [Home](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/) - The Merry Menopause Let's be real, Menopause can be challenging but let me make this clear, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU.Menopause is not an illness, it is a natural, hormonal transition that anyone who menstruates will experience.Menopause cannot be cured, but it can be supported. So Be prepared, not scared. If you work with, not against
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/privacy-policy) - Privacy Policy The Merry Menopause respects your privacy and takes the protection of your personal information seriously. This privacy policy explains what information I collect, why I collect it, how I use it and the rights you have in relation to it. 1. Who is responsible for your information? The data controller is Jo
- [1:1 Menopause and Life Coaching](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/11-menopause-and-life-coaching) - How can working with a Menopause Coach help you to have a Merry Menopause? As a Menopause Coach I support those who menstruate to integrate their Menopause into all aspects of their life for more balance, better wellbeing and ultimately a Merry, not a miserable Menopause. Together we unpick your hormones and your symptoms, your
- [The Age of Opportunity Retreat](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-age-of-opportunity-retreat) - The age of opportunity - A Midlife Reset Retreat Mallorca | 11th – 16th September 2025A transformational 5-day retreat for women at a midlife crossroads A guided and supportive space to reflect, reset and reconnect with who you are and where you want to go next. What Awaits YouDaily group coaching and clarity sessionsRestorative practices
- [Your Period Is Your Superpower](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/your-period-is-your-superpower) - Did you know Your Menopause starts before your periods stop? By tracking and working with, not against your cycle you can gain fascinating insights and personal knowledge about how you operate both mentally and physically.Are you suffering with Perimenopause symptoms and/or problems with your periods? Would you like to go from feeling anxious, overwhelmed and
- [Work With Me](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/work-with-me) - As a Coach, I am an advocate of, and accredited in, Positive Psychology and NeuroScience and I help my clients to look at their Menopause and their Menstrual Cycle differently.I am committed to raising awareness of the integral role the two big hormonal changes, Menarche and Menopause, play in a woman’s life, and I support women
- [Menopause in the Workplace](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/menopause-in-the-workplace) - educationawarenesssupport Do you want to improve the retention and progression of those who menstruate within your organisation?Do you want to reduce the high loss rate of talent?Do you want to see more parity at management levels? Let me help you support your employees to thrive in their roles and their career progression as their hormones
- [Menopause Lunch and Learn](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/menopause-lunch-and-learn) - Supporting the wellbeing of your workforce Lunch & Learn The Menopause is not a choice, EVERY WOMAN will experience it. I want to help women understand this natural transition and how to the work with it, accept it and embrace it, it’s a powerful part of who they are and it won’t go away. During this
- [Contact Me](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/i-would-love-to-hear-from-you) - I would love to hear from you... Please use the form below to book a free coaching calland to enquire about coaching packages, corporate wellbeing and education, press, media and speaking requests Name Email Address Subject Your message Δ Random Acts of Kindness It was a cold, dark January Saturday night, I was alone at
- [Period Repair Manual Lara Briden](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/period-repair-manual-lara-briden) - Period Repair Manualby Dr Lara Briden Buy now on Amazon.co.uk Synopsis Period Repair Manual is your guide to better periods using natural treatments such as diet, nutritional supplements, herbal medicine, and natural hormones. It contains advice and tips for women of every age and situation. If you have a period (or want a period), then
- [Hormone Repair Manual by Dr Lara Briden](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/hormone-repair-manual-by-dr-lara-briden) - The Hormone Repair Manualby Lara Briden Buy now on Amazon.co.uk Synopsis Hormone Repair Manual is a practical guide to feeling better in your 40s, 50s, and beyond. It explains how to navigate the change of perimenopause and relieve symptoms with natural treatments such as diet, nutritional supplements, and bioidentical hormone therapy. Topics include:Why everything is different
- [The Complete Guide to the Menopause by Dr Annice Mukherjee](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-complete-guide-to-the-menopause-by-dr-annice-mukherjee) - The Complete Guide to the Menopause by Dr Annice Mukherjee Buy on Amazon.co.uk Buy on Bookshop.org Download on Audible.com Synopsis Dr Annice Mukherjee went through the menopause at just 41 following a breast cancer diagnosis, and she is also a top UK hormone specialist with nearly 30 years of experience. In this book she combines
- [The Merry Menopause Bookclub Podcast Season 7](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/podcast/the-merry-menopause-bookclub-podcast-season-7) - Season 7 Wednesday 22nd March 2023 Anya BergmanThe Witches of VardøThey Will Not Burn To kick off the NEW season of The Merry Menopause Bookclub Podcast, I am delighted to have as my guest Anya Bergman author of best selling novel The Witches of Vardø. In this episode, Anya shares her fascinating research on the real-life accounts of
- [Book Shop](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-merry-menopause-bookshop) - Welcome to the Merry Menopause Book Shop Come and browse my handpicked selection of fiction and non fiction reads.Many of the books listed have featured on The Merry menopause Book Club Podcast where I have had the pleasure of interviewing the authors. .All the books on these virtual shelves I have thoroughly enjoyed reading , and
- [Next Level by Stacy Sims](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/next-level-by-stacy-sims) - Next Levelby Stacy Sims Buy on Amazon.co.uk Buy on Bookshop.org Download on Audible Synopsis A comprehensive, physiology-based guide to peak performance for active women approaching or experiencing menopause—from the author of Roar, renowned exercise and nutrition scientist Dr. Stacy Sims For active women, menopause hits hard. Overnight, your body doesn’t feel like the one you know and love
- [The Power Decade by Susan Saunders](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-power-decade-by-susan-saunders) - the Power Decade by susan Saunders Buy on Amazon.co.uk Buy on Bookshop.org Download on Audible Synopsis The menopause is a time of change, of unexpected health challenges, of rollercoaster emotions and unprecedented shifts in how we feel physically and emotionally. But we can emerge wiser than before, and stronger than we know. The decade after
- [Unwell Women by Elena Cleghorn](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/unwell-women-by-elinor-cleghorn) - Unwell Women by elinor Cleghorn Buy on Amazon.co.uk Buy on Bookshop.org Download on Audible Synopsis Medicine carries the burden of its own troubling history. Over centuries, women’s bodies have been demonised and demeaned until we feared them, felt ashamed of them, were humiliated by them. But as doctors, researchers, campaigners and most of all as
- [Great Sex Starts at 50 by Tracey Cox](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/great-sex-starts-at-50-by-tracey-cox) - Great Sex Starts at 50by Tracey Cox Buy on Amazon.co.uk Buy on Bookshop.org Synopsis Fifty-plus looks nothing like it used to. Fitter, healthier, many of us hit half a century with little sign of slowing down. And yet…there’s no denying that something happens to us sexually at 50. The menopause brings with it a whole
- [Meet Jo](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/jo-fuller-menopause-coach) - I'm Jo Fuller Founder of The Merry Menopause online community & Menopause and Menstruality Educator and accredited Coach. My mission is to change the negative narrative and social stigma surrounding the Menopause and the Menstrual Cycle. I am raising awareness of the issues surrounding the understanding and treatment of women’s mental and physical health, and
- [Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/come-as-you-are-by-emily-nagoski) - Come as you areby emily nagoski Buy on Amazon.co.uk Buy on Bookshop.org Synopsis A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER. An essential exploration of women’s sexuality that will radically transform your sex life into one filled with confidence and joy. After all the books that have been written about sex, all the blogs and TV shows and radio Q&As,
- [Breath by James Nestor](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/breath-by-james-nestor) - Breathby James Nestor Buy on Amazon.co.uk Buy on Bookshop.org Download on Audible Synopsis There is nothing more essential to our health and wellbeing than breathing: take air in, let it out, repeat 25,000 times a day. Yet, as a species, humans have lost the ability to breathe correctly, with grave consequences. In Breath, journalist James
- [Amazing Grace Adams by Fran Littlewood](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/amazing-grace-adams-by-fran-littlewood) - Amazing Grace Adamsby Fran Littlewood Buy on Amazon.co.uk Buy on Bookshop.org Download on Audible Synopsis Grace Adams is one bad day away from saving her life.One hot summer day, stuck in traffic on her way to pick up the cake for her daughter’s sixteenth birthday party, Grace Adams snaps.She doesn’t scream or break something or
- [The Universe has your back by Gabrielle Bernstein](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-universe-has-your-back-by-gabrielle-bernstein) - the Universe Has Your BackbyGabby Bernstein Buy on Amazon.co.uk Buy on Bookshop.org Download on Audible Synopsis A #1 New York Times Bestseller from Gabrielle Bernstein, called “A new role model” by The New York Times and featured on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday as a next-generation thought leader. In this motivational and super inspirational book, The
- [The Witches of Vardø by Anya Bergman](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-witches-of-vardo-by-anya-bergman) - the Witches of VardøbyAnya Bergman Buy on Amazon.co.uk Buy on Bookshop.org Download on Audible Synopsis They will have justice. They will show their power. They will not burn.Norway, 1662. A dangerous time to be a woman, when even dancing can lead to accusations of witchcraft. After recently widowed Zigri’s affair with the local merchant is
- [Podcast](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-merry-menopause-bookclub-podcast) - Welcome to The Merry Menopause Bookclub podcast, I’m your host, Jo Fuller.I created this podcast to explore the many facets of Menopause through literature and conversation.Each episode, I’ll be discussing a book that resonates with our midlife experience, delving into the physical, emotional and social aspects of this stage of life. I’ll be joined by a
- [The C Word by Mel Schilling](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-c-word-by-mel-schilling) - The C Word (Confidence)by Mel Schilling Buy on Amazon.co.uk Buy on Bookshop.org Download on Audible Synopsis If you think you weren’t born with confidence, it’s time for a reframe. Step beyond imposter syndrome, a crisis of self-belief or a deficit of bravery with this empowering and practical guide to making friends with your fear and
- [You, Me and the Space Between Us by Matt and Sarah Davies](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/you-me-and-the-space-between-us-by-matt-and-sarah-davies) - You, Me and the Space between usbyMatt and Sarah Davies Buy on Amazon.co.uk Download on Audible Synopsis When we meet someone and fall in love, everything seems easy at first. But Matt and Sarah Davies, relationship counsellors and husband and wife, know better than most that relationships take work.Whether you’ve been married for decades or
- [Your Pelvic Floor by Kim Vopni](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/your-pelvic-floor-by-kim-vopni) - Your pelvic floor by Kim Vopni Buy on Amazon.co.uk Buy on Bookshop.org Synopsis This is the first pelvic floor health book aimed at ALL women, including trans women, outlining the importance of understanding your pelvic floor and how it impacts on overall health, fitness and wellbeing for life – not just around pregnancy and childbirth.This
- [Me & My Menopausal Vagina by Jane Lewis](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/me-my-menopausal-vagina-by-jane-lewis) - Me & My Menopausal Vagina by Jane Lewis Buy on Amazon.co.uk Buy on Bookshop.org Synopsis One women’s journey of menopause and vaginal atrophy. Written in collaboration with her daughter in a `tongue in cheek’ way to help break taboos of vaginal atrophy. This book is informative, serious, tear-jerking and guaranteed to make you laugh. Through this book
- [Wise Power by Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo-Wurlitzer](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/wise-power-by-alexandra-pope-and-sjanie-hugo-wurlitzer) - Wise Powerby Alexandra Pope & Sjanie Hugo-Wurlitzer Buy on Amazon.co.uk Buy on Bookshop.org Download on Audible Synopsis A trailblazing guide to menopause, filled with nourishing wisdom and practical advice to help you harness the transformative power of the menopause and thrive in your life. It’s time to redefine menopause. This pivotal time of life is often
- [Hagitude by Sharon Blackie](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/hagitude-by-sharon-blackie) - Hagitude by Sharon Blackie Buy on Amazon.co.uk Buy on Bookshop.org Download on Audible Synopsis ‘In the oldest known cosmology of my native lands, it wasn’t a sky-bound old man with a beard who made and shaped this world. It was an old woman. A giant old woman, who has been with us down all the
- [The Change by Kirsten Miller](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-change-by-kirsten-miller) - the Changeby Kirsten Miller Buy on Amazon.co.uk Buy on Bookshop.org Download on Audible Synopsis Nessa: The Seeker Jo: The Protector Harriett: The Punisher With newfound powers the time has come to take matters into their own hands… After Nessa is widowed and her daughters leave for college, she’s left alone in her house near the ocean. In the quiet
- [Love Your Sober Year by  Kate Baily and Mandy Manners](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/love-your-sober-year-by-kate-baily-and-mandy-manners) - Love Your Sober Year byKate Baily and Mandy Manners Buy on Amazon.co.uk Synopsis This book is for any woman that is sober or sober curious. It is here to support you on your journey to alcohol-free living. The seasons are there for us all to use; the patterns and cycles offer a reference point that can
- [Big Friendship by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/big-friendship-byaminatou-sow-and-ann-friedman) - Big Friendship by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman Buy on Amazon.co.uk Buy on Bookshop.org Download on Audible Synopsis From the hosts of hit podcast Call Your Girlfriend comes the bible on how to keep each other close. Close friendships are the key to happiness – but we don’t talk enough about what it takes to nurture them for
- [The Merry Menopause Bookclub Podcast Season 6](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/podcast/the-merry-menopause-bookclub-podcast-season-6) - Season 6 Wednesday 4th October 2022 Lara BridenHormone Repair Manual Every Woman’s Guide to Healthy Hormones after 40 To kick off Season 6 of The Merry Menopause Bookclub Podcast my wonderful guest is Naturopathic Doctor Lara Briden. A graduate of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, Lara practices in Christchurch, New Zealand, treating women with symptoms of PCOS, PMS,
- [The Merry Menopause Bookclub Podcast Season 5](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/podcast/the-merry-menopause-bookclub-podcast-season-5) - Season 5 Wednesday 20th July 2022 Christie WatsonQuilt on FireThe Messy Magic of Midlife Christie Watson’s first novel, Tiny Sunbirds Far Away, won the Costa First Novel Award; her second, Where Women Are Kings, achieved international critical acclaim; and her nursing memoir, The Language of Kindness, was a number one bestseller. In 2020, during the first peak
- [The Merry Menopause Bookclub Podcast Season 4](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/podcast/the-merry-menopause-bookclub-podcast-season-4) - Season 4 Wednesday 23rd February 2022 Lorraine Candy“Mum, What’s Wrong With You?”101 Things Only Mothers of Teenage Girls Know I kick off Season 4 with journalist, editor, co-host of “Postcards from Midlife” podcast and mum of four Lorraine Candy. Formerly the editor in chief of the Sunday Times Style magazine, Elle and Cosmopolitan, Lorraine has been
- [The Merry Menopause Bookclub Podcast Season 3](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/podcast/the-merry-menopause-bookclub-podcast-season-3) - Season 3 Wednesday 15th December 2021 Dr Ginni MansbergThe M WordHow to Thrive in Menopause For the final episode of Season 4, I am joined by Dr Ginni Mansberg, a sought-after speaker and regular host and medical expert on Australian TV. A forerunner of the Menopause conversation in Australia, she is the author of today’s
- [The Merry Menopause Bookclub Podcast Season 2](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/podcast/the-merry-menopause-bookclub-podcast-season-2) - Season 2 Wednesday 23rd June 2021 Dr Philippa KayeThe M WordEverything You Need to Know About the Menopause In this episode, I am in conversation with Dr Philippa Kaye, GP and author. Philippa has a weekly column in Woman magazine and you may recognise her from her regular appearances on ITV’s, This Morning. The M Word is a
- [The Merry Menopause Bookclub Podcast Season 1](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/podcast/the-merry-menopause-bookclub-podcast-season-1) - Season 1 Wednesday 27th April 2021 Ruth DevlinMen… Let’s Talk Menopause In this episode, I talk to Ruth Devlin, Registered Nurse and founder of Let’s Talk Menopause, which she set up in response to the conflicting advice she received during her Perimenopause. Ruth has gone on to raise awareness and provide accurate and helpful information on Menopause,
- [Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/lessons-in-chemistry-by-bonnie-garmus) - Lessons in Chemistryby Bonnie Garmus Buy Now Synopsis Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute take a very unscientific view of equality. Except for
- [Wild Power by Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurtlizer](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/wild-power-by-alexandra-pope-and-sjanie-hugo-wurtlizer) - wild powerby Alexandra Pope & Sjanie Wurlitzer Buy Now Synopsis Your power lies in the rhythm of your menstrual cycle. Connect with your body on a deeper level to find healing, balance and wholeness. The menstrual cycle is a vital and vitalizing system in the female body, yet our understanding of and respect for this process
- [The Big Quit by Anniki Sommerville](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-big-quit-by-anniki-sommerville) - The Big Quitby Anniki Sommerville Buy Now Synopsis Are you fed up with your work/life balance? Do you feel burnt out and uninspired? Are you stuck in a job you hate and desperate for change but don’t know where to start? Then you need this refreshingly honest book that will change your relationship with work for
- [The Natural Menopause Solution by Karen Newby](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/big-friendship-by-the-natural-menopause-solution-by-karen-newby-sow-and-ann-friedman) - The Natural Menopause Methodby Karen Newby Buy Now Synopsis The Natural Menopause Method is a complete one-stop guide to the perimenopause and menopause, covering everything from recognising symptoms to managing relationships and understanding which treatments really work. Author Karen Newby takes a wholistic approach to Midlife and the biological and social challenges it throws at
- [Vagina A Re-Education by Lynn Enright](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/vagina-a-re-education-by-lynn-enright) - Vagina A Re-educationby Lynn Enright Buy Now Synopsis From earliest childhood, girls are misled about their bodies, encouraged to describe their genitalia with cute and silly names rather than anatomically correct terms. In our schools and in our culture, we are coy about women while putting straight men’s sexuality front and centre. Girls grow up
- [I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/i-feel-bad-about-my-neck-by-nora-ephron) - I Feel Bad About my neckby Nora Ephron Buy Now Synopsis #1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A candid, hilarious look at women of a certain age and dealing with the tribulations of maintenance, menopause, empty nests, and life itself. With her disarming, intimate, completely accessible voice, and dry sense of humor, Nora Ephron chronicles her life as
- [Second Spring by Kate Codrington](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/second-spring-by-kate-codrington) - Secon springbyKate Codrington Buy Now Synopsis It’s time to re-frame Menopause. Perimenopause can sometimes feel like the rug has been pulled from under our feet and this can leave us feeling disempowered and lost. Second Spring is a new kind of menopause book, bringing the radical notion that with small changes and a clear-eyed look at
- [Your Blueprint For Strong Immunity by Dr Jenna Macciochi](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/your-blueprint-for-strong-immunity-by-dr-jenna-macciochi) - Your Blueprint for Strong immunitybyDr jenna Macciochi Buy Now Synopsis Your Blueprint for Strong Immunity breaks down the science behind our health and shares the secrets of how to be well, for good. Expert immunologist Dr Jenna Macciochi has over 20 years’ experience as a scientist researching the impact of lifestyle on the immune system
- [Moonwise by Awen Clement](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/moonwise-by-awen-clement) - Moonwiseby Awen Clement Buy Now Synopsis Many of us feel the pull of the moon when we see it in the sky, but did you know that you have a personal connection to the cycle of the moon based on the phase that you were born under? In Moon Wise, Awen Clement offers a framework to
- [Quilt On Fire by Christie Watson](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/quilt-on-fire-by-christie-watson) - quilt on fire by christie watson Buy Now Synopsis In her early twenties, Christie Watson was convinced she’d found her soulmate, in a glowing flash of light that turned out to be a tealight setting her quilt on fire. Twenty years later, her bed is burning once again… as she wakes in a perimenopausal sweat,
- [Bonny and Read by Julie Walker](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/bonny-and-read-by-julie-walker) - Bonny and Readby Julie Walker Buy Now Synopsis Caribbean, 1720. Two extraordinary women are on the run – from their pasts, from the British Navy and the threat of execution, and from the destiny that fate has written for them.Plantation owner’s daughter, runaway wife, pirate – Anne Bonny has forged her own story in a
- [Competition Ts&Cs](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/terms-of-service-and-use-2) - 1. How to Enter 1.1. To enter the competition on Instagram, entrants will need to follow The Merry Menopause like the post, tag a friend and comment. 1.2. The winner will be selected at random. 2. When to Enter and Who can Enter 2.1. The Competition opens on Wednesday 9th March and closes on
- [Menopause Yoga by Petra Coveney](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/menopause-yoga-by-petra-coveney) - Menopause Yogaby Petra Coveney Buy Now Synopsis Bringing together western medical science and eastern wellbeing for menopause education, this book helps yoga teachers develop their understanding of menopause and women’s health as well as support their students. Petra Coveney – creator of Menopause Yoga (TM) – shares yoga, breath and meditation practices, poses, and CBT
- [Calm Your Gut by Cara Wheatley-McGrain](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/calm-your-gut-by-cara-wheatley-mcgrain) - Calm Your gutby Cara wheatley-Mcgrain Buy Now Synopsis Discover a unique toolkit of science, self-compassion and intuitive eating practices to help you understand, love and heal your gut. Living with gut problems means it can feel like our insides are working against us, but have you ever taken a moment to really listen to your gut?
- [Everything You Need To Know About The Menopause by Kate Muir](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-menopause-by-kate-muir) - Everything You Need to know about the menopause byKate Muir Buy Now Synopsis An eye-opening, no-holds-barred guide to the perimenopause and menopause written by campaigner, journalist and documentary-maker Kate Muir. Everything You Need to Know About the Menopause (and were too afraid to ask) is the thinking woman’s guide to the menopause, bringing you answers
- [Period Queen by Lucy Peach](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/period-queen-by-lucy-peach) - Period Queenby Lucy Peach Buy Now Synopsis As young girls, most of us were given the talk about how to manage our periods. It’s the beginning of a tedious bloody grind, one of the last great taboos. But the truth is, the menstrual cycle has benefits – big, fantastic, daily, monthly, even lifelong, benefits.Every month,
- [Mum, What's Wrong With You](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/mum-whats-wrong-with-you) - "Mum, What's Wrong With YOu?"by Lorraine Candy Buy Now Synopsis Mums: are you feeling lonely, confused or worried? Are you panicking that maybe you’re getting everything wrong? Does it, in the words of Lorraine Candy’s own teenage daughter, ‘suck to be you’ (Mum) right now? Welcome to the most challenging part of your parenting journey: the
- [The M Word by Dr Ginni Mansberg](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-m-word-by-dr-ginni-mansberg) - The M Wordby Dr Ginni Mansberg Buy Now Synopsis Night sweats, hot flushes, anxiety, insomnia, exhaustion, itchy skin, low libido, painful sex … Any of these sound familiar? Ninety per cent of women experience these symptoms some time between the ages of 40 and 60, but shhhhhhh … just suck it up, princess. And nobody
- [The Cancer Ladies Running Club by Josie lloyd](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-cancer-ladies-running-club-by-josie-lloyd) - The Cancer Ladies running Club by Josie Lloyd Buy Now Synopsis Sometimes we need our friends to help us find our feet…When Keira first receives her breast cancer diagnosis, she doesn’t want to have to tell her family, or step back from work. She doesn’t want to sit in a hospital, or be part of
- [Masterclass](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/masterclass) - Your Menopause starts before your periods stop What every women needs to know about her Perimenopause and Menopause. A 60 minute live and interactive Masterclass and Q&A THURSDAY 2nd DECEMBER @7.30PM (GMT) Do you want a Merry Menopause and a Merry Christmas?The best Christmas present you can give yourself
- [Women, Food & Hormones by Dr Sara Gottfried](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/women-food-hormones-by-dr-sara-gottfried) - Women, Food & Hormonesby Dr Sara Gottfried Buy Now Synopsis New York Times bestselling author Dr Sara Gottfried shares a new, female-friendly Keto diet that addresses women’s unique hormonal needs, so readers can shed pounds and maintain the loss more easily.Most diet plans were created by men for men, but women’s bodies don’t work the
- [How to Get Over Being Young by Charlotte Bauer](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/how-to-get-over-being-young-by-charlotte-bauer) - How to Get Over being young by Charlotte Bauer Buy Now Synopsis A deliciously funny and sage guide to midlife – an unscientific, flaws-and-all account of one woman’s adventures and misadventures through the dark comedy of the wilderness years. Through her own experiences as a fifty-something woman, and those of her three sisters, her indomitable
- [The Age Well Plan by Susan Saunders](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-age-well-plan-by-susan-saunders) - The Age Well Planby Susan Saunders Buy Now Synopsis The Age-Well Project dived deep into the science of ageing well, and authors Annabel and Susan explained how they overhauled their own lives to prioritise healthy longevity. In The Age-Well Plan, Susan draws on almost a decade of extensive research into healthy longevity and her experience
- [How to Build a Healthy Brain by Kimberley Wilson](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/how-to-build-a-healthy-brain-by-kimberley-wilson) - How to build a healthy brainby Kimberley Wilson Buy Now Synopsis A groundbreaking science-based guide to protecting your brain health for the long term. Whatever your age, having a healthy brain is the key to a happy and fulfilled life. Yet, for both young and old, diseases of the brain and mental health are the biggest
- [The XX Brain by Dr Lisa Mosconi](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-xx-brain-by-dr-lisa-mosconi) - The XX Brainby Dr Lisa Mosconi Buy Now Synopsis Women are far more likely than men to suffer from anxiety, depression, migraines, brain injuries, strokes and Alzheimer’s disease. But, until recently, scientific research has focused on ‘bikini medicine,’ assuming that women are essentially men with different reproductive organs.The XX Brain presents groundbreaking research showing that
- [Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/invisible-women-by-caroline-criado-perez) - Invisible Womenby Caroline Criado Perez Buy Now Synopsis Imagine a world where… * Your phone is too big for your hand * Your doctor prescribes a drug that is wrong for your body * In a car accident you are 47% more likely to be injured. If any of that sounds familiar, chances are you’re
- [Untamed by Glennon Doyle](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/untamed-by-glennon-doyle) - Untamedby Gelnnon Doyle Shop Now Synopsis Who were you before the world told you who to be? Part inspiration, part memoir, Untamed explores the joy and peace we discover when we stop striving to meet the expectations of the world, and instead dare to listen to and trust in the voice deep inside us. From
- [The Sweetness of Venus by Sarah Chadwick](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-sweetness-of-venus-by-sarah-chadwick) - The Sweetest of Venusby Sarah Chadwick Shop Now Synopsis For millennia, scientists thought women were inside-out versions of men, and male anxiety about female sexuality generated ludicrous ideas and perpetuated inaccurate information. The Sweetness of Venus is a provocative, straight-talking history that exposes the denial, misunderstanding, brutality, and lies endured by this taboo part of human anatomy. Much
- [Perimenopause Power by Maise Hill](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/perimenopause-power-by-maise-hill) - Perimenopause PowerbyMasie Hill Buy Now Synopsis A must-read for anyone looking for a well-researched, evidenced-based book on perimenopause and menopause that gives women the information they need to address their hormonal needs. Perimenopause Power will help women to understand what’s going on with their bodies and how to deal with troublesome symptoms, and share valuable
- [The New Hot by Meg Matthews](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-new-hot-by-meg-matthews) - The New Hot by Meg Mathews BUY NOW Synopsis When Meg Mathews hit menopause she was shocked at the lack of awareness, understanding and support shown to women – and also found the information available far too dreary. After getting her symptoms under control she became determined to help other women avoid an experience like
- [From Daughter to Woman by Kim McCabe](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/from-daughter-to-woman-by-kim-mccabe) - from Daughter to WomanbyKim McCabe Buy Now Synopsis The teen years are tough – for teens and for parents. Many parents dread the moodiness, dishonesty, preference of friends over family, exam stress, and the push for greater independence. Mothers have a pivotal role to play; this is a guidebook for parents and mothers of girls in particular
- [Mindful Menopause by Sophie Fletcher](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/mindful-menopause-by-sophie-fletcher) - Mindful MenopausebySophie Fletcher Buy Now Synopsis With the right tools, you can change your experience of Menopause.In this supportive book, and its ten relaxing audio downloads, mindful hypnotherapist Sophie Fletcher equips you with powerful skills to manage the challenges of perimenopause and menopause. Drawing on years of experience helping women at times of transition, Sophie will
- [The Happy Menopause by Jackie Lynch](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-happy-menopause-by-jackie-lynch) - The Happy Menopause byJackie Lynch Buy Now Synopsis This practical nutrition and lifestyle guide provides women with the tools to build their own menopause diet which specifically targets the symptoms that are relevant to them. There are so many ways that nutrition can support a healthy and happy menopause, but a one-size-fits-all approach simply won’t work.
- [The Perimenopause Solution by Emma Bardwell & Dr Shahdiz Harper](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-perimenopause-solution-by-emma-bardwell-dr-shahdiz-harper) - The Perimenopause SolutionbyEmma Bardwell & Dr Shazadi harper Buy Now Synopsis The perimenopause (the time leading up to the menopause) is often misunderstood. For some women, it lasts a few months; for others it consumes the best part of a decade. This transitional period can be a time of emotional turmoil, shifting priorities and physical changes:
- [The M Word by Dr Philippa Kaye](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-m-word-by-dr-philippa-kaye) - The M Word by Dr Philippa Kaye Buy Now Synopsis The menopause does not have to mean the end of your libido, of sex, of work, or of feeling like who you used to be. ‘The M Word’ is a complete one-stop guide to the peri-menopause and menopause, covering everything from understanding symptoms to managing
- [The Soul Of A Women Isabel Allende](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-soul-of-a-women-isabel-allende) - The Soul of a womanby Isabel Allende Buy Now Synopsis The wise, warm, defiant new book from literary legend Isabel Allende – a meditation on power, feminism and what it means to be a woman. An Independent, Guardian and Grazia Highlight for 2021. When I say that I was a feminist in kindergarten, I am not exaggerating. As
- [Men... Let's Talk Menopause by Ruth Devlin](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/men-lets-talk-menopause-by-ruth-devlin) - Men... Let's Talk Menopause by Ruth Devlin Buy Now Synopsis A comprehensive guide to the female menopause, written for men to help them understand this often perplexing topic. It addresses all the important aspects of the menopause, including the physical, psychological, genito-urinary and long term symptoms that can occur. It gives essential information on options
- [Flex by Annie Auerbach](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/flex-by-annie-auerbach) - Flex by Annie Auerbach Buy Now Synopsis Flex is a creative, rebellious way to live. It’s about looking at routines (like the nine to five) and social norms (like women bearing the brunt of the ‘emotional load’ at home) and bending and re-shaping them. Flex is looking within and understanding yourself, your body and the patterns
- [Manage Your Menopause Naturally by Maryon Stewart](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/manage-your-menopause-naturally-by-maryon-stewart) - Manage Your menopause Naturally by Maryon Stewart Buy Now Synopsis Menopause has historically been treated as a problem to be solved or an illness to be cured, not the natural process it is. Many modern books on menopause offer worthy insights and advice, others are written in bewildering medicalese, and many others recommend unproven, piecemeal approaches
- [The Hot Topic by Christa D'Souza](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-hot-topic-by-christa-dsouza) - The Hot Topic by Christa D'Souza Buy Now Synopsis There has never been a better time to be a menopausal woman. Technology is such that 60 really is the new 40 (or even 35)… But for Christa D’Souza, some nagging questions remain… What is the point of us now that we are officially biologically irrelevant? Are hormones safe,
- [Oestrogen Matters by Dr Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris PhD](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/oestrogen-matters-by-dr-avrum-bluming-and-carol-tavris-phd) - Oestrogen Matters by Dr Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris PhD Buy Now Synopsis For years, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was hailed as a miracle. Study after study showed that HRT, if initiated at the onset of menopause, could ease symptoms ranging from hot flushes to memory loss; reduce the risk of heart disease, Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, and
- [Menopause by Dr Louise Newson](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/menopause-by-dr-louise-newson) - Menopause by Dr Louise Newson Buy Now Synopsis This new Concise Manual takes a straightforward look at menopause. What is it? When does it occur? What can be expected? How can it be managed? Dr Louise Newson is a well-known specialist in menopause and saw the need for a fact-based manual for women and their families. Menopause is
- [Making Life Easy by Dr Christiane Northrup](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/making-life-easy-by-dr-christiane-northrup) - Making Life Easy by Dr Christiane Northrup Buy Now Synopsis In this joyfully encouraging new book – as useful for men as it is for women – bestselling author Dr Christiane Northrup explores the essential truth that has guided her ever since medical school: our bodies, minds and souls are profoundly intertwined. Making life flow with ease and
- [Lost Connections by Johann Hari](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/lost-connections-by-johann-hari) - Lost Connections by Johann Hari Buy Now Synopsis What really causes depression and anxiety – and how can we truly solve them? Award-winning journalist Johann Hari has suffered from depression since he was a child and started taking anti-depressants when only a teenager. He was told that his problems were caused by a chemical imbalance
- [Immunity: The Science of Staying Well by Dr Jenna Macciochi](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/immunity-the-science-of-staying-well-by-dr-jenna-macciochi) - IMMUNITYBY DR JENNA MACCIOCHI Buy Now Synopsis In this ground-breaking book, expert immunologist Dr Jenna Macciochi unravels the new science around immunity. Immunity decodes exactly what it takes to be well in the modern day and reveals tips and tricks you can start putting into practice immediately, including chapters on: * Immunity-nourishing nutrition and the best foods to
- [How The Pill Changes Everything - Your Brain On Birth Control by Dr Sarah E. Hill](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/how-the-pill-changes-everything-your-brain-on-birth-control-by-dr-sarah-e-hill) - How The Pill Changes Everything by Dr Sarah E. Hill Buy Now Synopsis Hormonal contraception is something most women will use at some point during their life. But the reach of the pill goes far beyond the small number of targeted effects we take it for. It affects almost every system in our body.Column inches
- [Hormonal by Eleanor Morgan](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/hormonal-by-eleanor-morgan) - Hormonal by Eleanor Morgan Buy Now Synopsis HORMONAL explores everything from contraception to PMS, in relation to anxiety, depression and taboos about hysteria and the ‘hormonal’ woman. It is a compelling portrait of the modern landscape of women and health, showing us how to navigate stigma and misinformation. Combining her own experiences with extensive research and
- [Goddesses Never Age by Dr Christiane Northrup](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/goddesses-never-age-by-dr-christiane-northrup) - Goddesses Never Age by Dr Christiane Northrup Buy Now Synopsis As Christiane Northrup MD shows us in this profoundly empowering book, we have it in us to make growing older an entirely different experience, for both our bodies and our souls. In chapters that blend personal stories and practical exercises with the latest research on health
- [Flash Count Diary by Darcey Steinke](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/flash-count-diary-by-darcey-steinke) - Flash Count Diary by Darcey Steinke BUY NOW Synopsis Menopause hit Steinke hard with hot flashes, insomnia and depression. As she searched for some way to understand what was happening to her she came up against a culture of silence. While some books promoted hormone replacement therapy and others encouraged accepting the coming crone, Steinke
- [Period Power by Masie Hill](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/period-power-by-masie-hill) - Period Power by Masie Hill Buy Now Synopsis The hormones of the menstrual cycle profoundly influence our energy, mood and behaviour, but all too often we’re taught that our hormones make us unreliable, moody bitches, or that it’s our lot in life to put up with ‘women’s problems’. Maisie Hill, a women’s health practitioner, knows the
- [The Menopause Starts Before Your Periods Stop](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-menopause-starts-before-your-periods-stop) - The Perimenopause Phase One, 35-45In your mid-30s, you are still producing enough hormones to give you good energy, skin, muscle tone and a sex drive, but subtle changes are happening in your ovaries as your egg supply starts to dwindle. ⠀During the early stages of this phase, your cycle may still be arriving like clockwork,
- [Terms of Service and Use](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/terms-of-service-and-use) - General This website (the “Site”) is owned and operated by Jo Fuller The Merry Menopause (“COMPANY,” “we” or “us”). By using the Site, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and to use the Site in accordance with these Terms of Service, our Privacy Policy and any additional terms and conditions that
- [Blog](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/blogs) - Blog ARTICLES AND INSIGHTS FROM THE MERRY MENOPAUSE
- [Perimenopause Phase Two, 45-55](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/perimenopause-phase-two-45-55) - In phase two our hormone levels start to change dramatically and over time we stop having a regular menstrual cycle.Our egg supply has shrunk, making pregnancy less likely but not impossible, beware!⠀Progesterone, oestrogen and testosterone levels decline which lead to irregular cycles. You may skip two or more cycles, going more than sixty days without
- [LEADER & LINE MANAGER EDUCATION](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/leader-line-manager-education) - Supporting the wellbeing of your workforce LEADER & LINE MANAGER EDUCATION Do the Leaders and Line managers within your organisation know what the menopause is? What the symptoms are and how to recognise them? Do they have the right skills in place to be able to talk to and support members of their team who may
- [MENOPAUSE WORKPLACE POLICY](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/menopause-workplace-policy) - Supporting the wellbeing of your workforce MENOPAUSE WORKPLACE POLICY I can help you introduce menopause as an inclusive topic and help you become a supportive menopause friendly employer wherever your people are based. Together we can plan your workplace policy and an ongoing menopause awareness program. These can sit alongside your Inclusion and Diversity training, policies

## Landing pages

- [The ReSet](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/the-reset/) - The ReSet The Reset Are your relationships in need of attention? Do you need to make a decision? Are you stuck? Are you having challenges with your teens? Do you find your symptoms impacting your work life or hindering your ability to start your own business? Are you feeling overwhelmed by caregiving responsibilities? Lacking motivation

## Portfolio

- [October 2020:  The New Hot by Meg Matthews](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/portfolio_page/october-2020-the-new-hot-by-meg-matthews) - Synopsis When Meg Mathews hit menopause she was shocked at the lack of awareness, understanding and support shown to women - and also found the information available far too dreary. After getting her symptoms under control she became determined to help other women avoid an experience like hers. The New Hot is her no-holds-barred guide
- [Nov 2020: Immunity: The Science of Staying Well by Dr Jenna Macciochi](https://www.themerrymenopause.com/portfolio_page/nov-2020-immunity-the-science-of-staying-well-by-dr-jenna-macciochi) - Synopsis In this ground-breaking book, expert immunologist Dr Jenna Macciochi unravels the new science around immunity. Immunity decodes exactly what it takes to be well in the modern day and reveals tips and tricks you can start putting into practice immediately, including chapters on: * Immunity-nourishing nutrition and the best foods to eat * The

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