Episode 5: Perimenopause, Hormones and the Midlife Squeeze. What Women’s Health Gets Wrong
Oct 19, 2026 · 1 hr 45 min · 17 segments
Women’s health is finally getting the attention it deserves, but there’s still a long way to go. Perimenopause can begin years before periods change, and many women are told they’re “fine” while…
Women’s health is finally getting the attention it deserves, but there’s still a long way to go. Perimenopause can begin years before periods change, and many women are told they’re “fine” while struggling with anxiety, poor sleep and symptoms that don’t fit a neat diagnosis. In this episode of *What Is Health*, Oliver Barnett is joined by two guests with a special interest in women’s hormones: Dr Anu, who runs London Bioidentical Hormones and is co-author of an upcoming book, *Nutrition, Hormones and Mental Health*, and Daisy, a nutritional therapist at the London Clinic of Nutrition who specialises in immunity, women’s hormones and complex health conditions. In this episode: - How women’s health has changed, from “all women do is cry and bleed” to growing attention on research and advocacy - Why perimenopause is so often missed, and why early signs can include anxiety and insomnia rather than irregular periods - The “midlife squeeze”: career, young children, ageing parents and unpaid workload, and what that does to stress and hormones - Why later motherhood is normal, and why the term “geriatric pregnancy” needs to go - Why mainstream care can be a one-size-fits-all approach, and why testing and individualised support matter - Bioidentical, body-identical and synthetic hormones explained, and why the labels confuse so many women - Endometriosis: the roles of gut health, inflammation, immune function and estrogen metabolism, plus the idea of looking after “the house that houses the hormones” - Acute vs chronic stress, why “cortisol is bad” is too simple, and how to think about it - Wellness data vs medical-grade data: how far to trust wearables and HRV scores, and when something like a glucose monitor may help - Why healthspan matters just as much as lifespan The views shared are those of the speakers, based on their clinical experience, and are not a substitute for medical advice. Please speak to your GP or a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to hormone therapy or supplements. The London Clinic of Nutrition has supported thousands of people to get to the root cause of their health concerns. If you’re in need of support, find the team at londonclinicofnutrition.co.uk. Subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode.
Women’s health is finally getting the attention it deserves, but there’s still a long way to go. Perimenopause can begin years before periods change, and many women are told they’re “fine” while…
