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*This episode is published and ready to hear wherever you get podcasts. Let's talk about it.*

Five experts. Three parts. The menopause episode we all deserve-- and yes that includes everyone because even people without uteruses get to vote about them and if you have anyone in your life who's been through it or going to go through it, you should understand what the hell is happening scientifically. Hormones. Mood swings. Brain fog. Night sweats. And why doesn’t your shoulder work?

Part 1: Dr. Mary Claire Haver is an OB-GYN who wrote bestsellers “The New Menopause” and the just-released “The New Perimenopause." Dr. Monica Christmas is a professor and clinician with decades of experience in menopause treatment,  and repeat guest Dr. Lara Durgavich is a primatologist who has some answers about why our species goes through “the dodging.” 

Part 2 covers what to DO about symptoms of menopause, from vagina creams to hormone replacement therapy to libido to brain clarity and the importance of lifting heavy stuff. 

And finally, Part 3 has advice for loved ones to help support people in their lives who are sailing the stormy seas of hormonal change.

LET'S TALK ABOUT IT BELOW.

At long last,

Your Father Wardpod

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Emmenology (MENOPAUSE & PERIMENOPAUSE) Part 1 with Dr. Monica Christmas, Dr. Mary Claire Haver and Dr. Lara Durgavich - alie ward

Hormones. Mood swings. Brain fog. Night sweats. And why doesn't your shoulder work? The time is here for this whopper of a 3-part series on menopause with a total of five Ologists. No matter what your age or gender, you owe it to the people in your life who go through this to understand it.

Comments

DrWhitr

I outloud cheered when I saw this episode was up. Can't wait to listen and learn. We turned off my uterus 20+ years ago with testosterone but it's still in there doing mysterious stuff

Alie Ward

we took mine out and threw it in a furnace (the Field Trip: Alie's Mystery Surgery has more details)

She Purple

My favorite science podcast interviews my favorite peri/meno author!! 😍🙌🎉 Sending to everyone I know so they have _context _

Lizzy Martinez

Yay pod dad and Ologies team for getting this complete and out there for us to listen and learn our hearts (or uteruses, uteri?) out! While I'm not at this point in my life, I rely on being on hormonal BC 24/7 due to a few conditions I have and hey who knew having consistent hormones would actually help a lot! Thank you again Alie!

Melissa Hart

This is the episode I've needed for so long; thank you, and I'm sharing this with everyone I know, including my husband!

That Iowa Ginger

Wait wait wait. My frozen shoulder was related to menopause? (Ish)

Alie Ward

All 3 parts: required listening

Euan Munro

Just here to say what the actual fuck ahou frozen shoulders!

Grey

I did the same with mine and my only regret was not doing it sooner :p

Mama Obsessions

I am so so exciting for the next episode just started perimenopause and it sucks 😞 thanks Alie and Team real need this ology

Mama Obsessions

Me to I sent this to 3 people after listen my husband needs to know my crazyness is not my fault is all perimenopause well mostly 😂

Nina Giacobbe

Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you I love you thank you

Dunlap Girl Squad

This could not have come at a better time! I had my appointment today to talk to my dr about my recent symptoms. I was able to communicate what was going on better since I listened to this episode and she agreed that it looks like I’ve been experiencing perimenopause at 35!

Elliot Heye

so excited about this one!!!! i’m about to start a huge research project on menopause and uti, so this genuinely couldn’t have come at a better time

Daisy-me-rollin

I so appreciate that you put so much time and thought into this one. There is a huge deficit on all information menopause and I’m glad these conversations are happening.

DrWhitr

I love your field trip episodes! I shared that one so much. I suspect this two parter is going to be hitting the heavy share rotation

Jubata

I really hope you address the specific roadblocks faced by those of us with atypical lobular hyperplasia or similar high-risk breast biopsy results. Because we are strictly excluded from systemic estrogen therapy, we are left with very few options. Newer non-hormonal drugs like Lynkuet are great for hot flashes, but they do absolutely nothing for the devastating cognitive and emotional symptoms. SSRIs don't fix the whiplash of perimenopausal rage, depression, and profound brain fog either. At 50, navigating a demanding career while dealing with these symptoms without the safety net of HRT makes many of us feel completely up a creek. What does the science say for those of us who cannot take estrogen? Thank you, Alie, for shining a light on this!

Ckaricai

Could my foot pain be menopause related or is it only frozen shoulders? Also I wish someone would have warned me about dryness everywhere. Suddenly my eyeballs are always dry and gunky. I had to get special drops. But I don’t know if it’s menopause or aging or both.

Brooklyn Tree Hugger

Fantastic episode! Excited for the next installments. I’m hoping they explain the connection between perimenopause and cholesterol. I am a very active person who always had low cholesterol. Then suddenly around 43, my cholesterol shot up 200+. Doctors only said to eat oatmeal, decrease butter and fats. I’ve heard other perimenopausal women say their cholesterol shot up as well. So grateful we are getting the attention! Now we just need the funding for research!

Anna Howard

I am so excited about this 3 parter! I'm a empathetic hairdresser who has so many of my regulars who are struggling with things involving perimenopause and menopause. I just love learning things to hopefully help them get help that they don't believe is there. I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to so many of your episodes. I share things I've learned daily to try to help others have a better understanding and also encourage them to listen as well! I would love to know if there is any explanation as to why so many experiencing menopause develop itchy/ tingly scalps and mild alopecia. Also in regards to your secret we have claw grabbers for trash pick up and I love taking them with me on hikes/ trail runs to keep our natural lands clean! Thank you for all that you do!

Alicia Navarrete Alonso

I thought I was devastated to hear hormone panel blood tests do not reflect pero menopause, but after giving it 2 seconds of thought, this is probably great news for me specifically now that I have soooo many symptoms and still thought "well, my estrogen is fine, that can't be it" 🥲

Cortney

I joined the ologies patreon just for these episodes. It's probably too late to ask questions, but if you don't have a period (I had a hysterectomy a few years ago bc of endometriosis), how do you know if you're going through menopause? How do you know if it's endometriosis or menopause, especially since 99% of the time endo doesn't show up on any imaging? Is there any notable difference in symptoms? Are people who have had hysterectomies more likely to go through menopause sooner (even if they keep their ovaries)? Or is that flimflam?

Cortney

(My endo doctor suggested I'm probably going through menopause at 36 [based off of me saying "hey I'm having the exact same endo symptoms I had before I had my hysterectomy and excision surgery"] even though I think it's a recurrence of endo, especially based on the fact that I had stage four DIE [deep infiltrating endo]).

Cortney

ALSO. There's been a recent viral "treatment" for perimenopause symptoms where you take an H1 blocker and an H2 blocker and many people in perimenopause are saying it's improved their symptoms very significantly. I've also heard that there's no science behind this, but what could be the possible reason for this working?

Cortney

I suspect it has something to do with hormone levels affecting histamine.

Alex Minor

I have sent this to all of my friends AFAB. I can’t wait for the next episodes. I’m experiencing perimenopause at 37, and the information is so sporadic. I love that Dad is putting this together.

Melissa Macias

I was dealing with frozen shoulder and depression and brain fog AND a horribly toxic work situation all at the same time. It was the absolute worst. And I knew nothing about perimenopause symptoms. I don't even recognize the person I was during that time period. Fucking awful. 0/10 do not recommend.

Susan G

As someone who is 44 I'm in this episode and while I don't like it it is definitely a relief to hear! I had a hysterectomy a few years ago because of adenomyosis, so have no idea what my cycle would be doing. But I have so many symptoms of perimenopause. My doctor did some hormone tests and said it couldn't be because my oestrogen was too high, but have heard from friends and now there that that doesn't mean anything. Anyway, going to book in an appointment with a menopause doctor to find out if this is a thing for me and if there's anything I can be doing to help. Thanks for the pod Dad Ward!

Stephen Lickman

My wife and I love Ologies. Yet, no other episode has prompted as many fist pumps and screams at our audio/ visual entertainment system as this episode. Thank you, Alie for what you do.

Erin Wilson

The Ute yeet! I’m envious. Thank you for this series- can’t wait to listen!

Erin Mattimoe

I want to post this on all of my socials, and pin it to the top! Then I want to yell from the rooftops that this is here and everyone needs to hear it. I guess this isn't really adding to any discussion. Thank you for doing this ep, Alie...so much gratitude.

lothlauren

Listened with my husband, and we both were able to recognize things that were going on with me and he learned so much! Can't wait for the next two parts!

Jenna U

I had the same reaction! He wrote about how he became obsessed with picking up garbage in one of his books. He ended up doing it for hours every day and the local town named a garbage truck after him: https://youtu.be/5A2yC0-xPvo?is=42g2yG64vOF9JmSc

Itsok

Yes! Same!

Watson

I’m really glad to see you here! I’m trans masc and just…apparently doomed to brain fog now that I’m a Trans Masc Of A Certain Age and the medical professionals don’t know what to do with me. 🫠 Thanks for tackling it Alie

Ricky G!

Are episodes coming out on a monthly basis?

Katy

Just started listening to episode 2, and I'm already so grateful for this show. The pill (no idea which one, unfortunately) put me in a really anxious/depressed place with crying jags so I got a copper IUD as soon as I realized that... so menopause HRT makes me nervous - but this is helping put my mind at ease that my prior experience doesn't mean I'll experience the same thing with MHT.

Sarah Jo

I really appreciate the mood of the asides in this episode. Fucking cackling about the Molotov cocktail suggestion

Katy

Omg the aside about the body odor/aldehyde thing! Just remembered my brief obsession with learning about perfume and I was trying to figure out my distaste for aldehyde-centric fragrances (like Chanel 5)... To me, they just generally smell like a nursing home. But how dare you even remotely associate a fragrance with an age group! People sometimes describe those fragrances as granny perfumes, so other people are like "what do you have against grandmas? That's just ageism and sexism because the fragrance style is less in fashion." But I felt so validated when I learned we naturally give off more aldehydes as we age.

QUEERS Refuges

I am a transgender refugee advocating for LGBTQ+ refugees who are struggling to survive in the camp. Today our community urgently needs help with food and medicine If you cannot donate, please share this post so someone who can help might see it

Gela

I loved perimenopause and menopause. I didn’t call them symptoms, I called them reminders. I didn’t need hormone replacement drugs, I needed me time, nutrition, exercise, deep reflection to assist me to draw up my accumulated wisdoms. I eased into my 50s and out of the frantic years, farewell that super mum cultural bs and enter an awakening into purpose and fulfilment. Never been healthier or happier

I Have to Say Weird Shit or I will Explode and Die

Just FINALLY joined - LOVE Ologies to death. First just listened to episode #2 - all you need to do is use skinprep pads to get rid of the weird adhesive stuff from your patch, easy peasy. Then - thank you for doing these. I am a doctorally prepared nurse and had about 3 minutes of menopause education. Now that I am going through it I am self studying and even with medical background it is exhausting to sift through. Finally - a million hats off to all of those women that came before us and raw dogged it. Women are tough. https://sugarmedical.com/products/skin-prep-protective-wipes?srsltid=AfmBOoprTYCTPVK517ZM3XldzAZuh9_FFotYi9DwzUNFfziVEGZC6Sjv

Olga Kolesnikova

I just listened to part 2 and I literally paused the episode and got my exercise mat out and did an exercise routine from youtube 😅

Jackie G

I know questions are over, but I have new questions. In episode 2 the doctor kept talking about IUDs and what hormones they do and don't include. Does that mean that and IUD is a form of HRT? Why aren't the interactions with various bc types talked about more? Is there a resource on this?

bug in a rug

Regretting that I didn't know any of this when my mom went through menopause! Feeling lots of compassion for her now

Anna Batie Kuka

Thank you! Started listening to episode 1. I hope this and following episodes have info about options for women who can't do estrogen HRT. I had a blood clot ten years ago, and was told I can't have estrogen. My girlfriends in peri rave about it...and I hear sad trombone noises every time.

Alli B

46 and so grateful for these conversations and the lovely presentation you created in this 3 parter. I wish I hadn’t missed the call for questions, but hoping my question is answered in part 3. Dad Ward, you’re the best.

Obilot

Speaking of menopause. Bone health. I’m hearing (and also seeing on PubMed!) some stuff about needing Vitamin K2 (in natto [vegan!], hard aged cheese like Jarlsberg or gouda) to direct calcium to the bones—and AWAY FROM THE ARTERIES! What can we learn about this?! I’d heard there’s little evidence for the benefits to bone density of calcium + D alone, but maybe K2 can improve things by routing the Calcium molecules to where they ought to land (bones & blood electrolytes probably) and away from ARTERIES…?

Allison Holloway

I'm on part 3, and I wonder if you telling us to mention menopause to our HR departments is related to the fact that the HR department of my science adjacent company made a post on our internal newsletter about supporting people going through menopause...

Obilot

I very seriously want to know whether this is a legit thing my doc had never heard of, or total flim-flam, or ‘sooort of; it’s complicated’.

Poor-basil

Have been excitedly awaiting this series of episodes and I'm so grateful for all the work that was put into producing them! My mom went through early menopause due to her breast cancer treatment and this series has helped me understand so much more of what she was going thru during all of that. She is also an occasional ologite and I can't wait for her to listen to this so we can talk about it!!

Susan Olson

This was very effective for continuing my resolve to keep exercising and doing my PT, but tbh I still don't understand how reducing intra-abdominal/visceral fat would in and of itself reduce risk of stroke, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease.

Michala House

I knew from the moment you described your passion for picking up trash publicly that we would make incredible friends. I too love and have sincere joy of picking up trash publicly, and I also am the hag of my town and at any body of water. I definitely go into an instant Mom mode to tell people to pick up their trash, and I feel good about it! We are vigilantes of stopping the crime of littering! 🦹🦹‍♀️💪🏽😂 Now that I’ve made it weird, I’m about to make it weirder. That comment also made me instantly become a paid patreon member. I chose the highest friend option on the patreon membership because since I’m just going on a whim here about being best friends, I couldn’t commit to best friends. 😅. Now that I’ve written an entire novel, I also want to say THANK YOU for these three amazing episodes about perimenopause. They came at a time in my life when I needed it the most. The episode made me feel validated in all my absolutely crazy feelings of this emotional rollercoaster, and it gave me resources to ride out this emotional roller coaster more like an emotionally stable rockstar! 🤘🏽💚 I’m smack in the middle of an extremely rough time between emergency spine surgery, being self employed and needing to figure out how to pay for life for not working the next 6 weeks, dealing with a medical lawsuit because I’m a witness to a medical crime a week and a half Post Op, my refrigerator went out😅, and most importantly, I’m smack in the middle of perimenopause! 🫪0/10 recommend raw dogging life during perimenopause. 🥵😑👎🏽 THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES!

Mk Alderson

I’ve sent these three episodes to everyBODY I know. You are a god.

Alicia Navarrete Alonso

I just listened to part 3 and all I can say is thank you so much. I asked my mom about her menopause and she says doesn't remember any symptoms at all--never mind the fact that she was hospitalized for drinking antifreeze. All the advice from fellow ologites feels like a hug.

Juniper Nichols

Why don't we ever talk about the fact that fat produces estrogen? Is it really a coincidence that so many people suddenly put on fat in their 40s, presumably as their ovary production levels decline? I can't help but feel like my spare tire has been put there by a brain clamoring for more estrogen, and the body responding the only way it can. I get that it's complicated, but I'd love more people looking at whether fat can be functional sometimes. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41574-025-01180-2

JuniperRose

It could be. I get all over skeletal pain with peri, but the tops of my feet hurt the worst. HRT helped alleviate the symptoms.

Rebecca Roehm

I’m so glad you did these episodes as they were very informative. I do wish there more listener questions addressed. It felt like so much time was spent on weight training and exercise that other things were missed.

Susan Gehr

Thank you for answering the question about itchy ears. I have had relief for the first time in months!

Anna Freitas

Adult child of an older mom here to second (third? umpteenth?) the "tell everyone" advice. My mom was 41 when I was born and her menopause symptoms included a lot of anger. I think it would have helped all of us adapt better if she'd talked about menopause and how that can affect emotional refulation. Of course, maybe in the 00s there wasn't enough known about (peri)menopause to talk productively about it 🤷‍♀️ Related advice... If you know you're prone to anger, you might want to treat practicing anger management strategies similarly to exercise as you think about preparing for menopause. The people around you knowing what's behind the anger can help make it feel less hurtful, but it got pretty out of hand for my mom sometimes. No one wants to let themselves slide into abusive behavior, even if they're rare/brief moments

D.J. Brenner

I just got a, "have menopause? Take this drug for better sex!" ad on a news podcast, and I can only thank Alie Ward for this. I have 0% of the demographic to get this ad otherwise.

UsedToBeCool

Thank you thank you thank you.

Alice Rubin

Alli, thank you for these episodes. You did great! I listened to the second episode TWICE! I appreciate your honesty and vulnerability and pushing through your own personal challenges while putting together such wonderfully informational episodes. This shit is hard, and with all you've experienced, it's understandable it brought up some stuff for you. But you did the work for the people! You are amazing and these 3 episodes are ssh a service to humans who go through this experience. Thanks for giving us a tool to have help with these critical conversations.

Nikki O’Leary

I loved this 3 parter, and I shared it with all of my lady friends - and doctors! I take Estriol / Progesterone cream, and hearing that micronized progesterone cream might not be absorbing sufficiently, I went down a rabbit hole of medical articles with my HRT provider. They sent me a few articles, including this one - a 6 month study that shows the effectiveness of the cream, and their claim that serum levels are not a sufficient way to determine that there is an affect on the endometrium. Anyway, I'd be dying to hear what Dr. Christmas thinks about this. I'm so on the fence now about switching! https://jeffreydachmd.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Transdermal-Progesterone-As-Alternative-Progestin-in-Hormone-Therapy-Leonetti-HB-Landes-J-Altern-Ther-Health-Med-2005.pdf