"How to Menopause" Navigating Perimenopause and Menopause Symptoms with Tamsen Fadal

In this episode of SHE MD, hosts Mary Alice Haney and Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi welcome Tamsen Fadal, a renowned journalist and advocate for menopause awareness. Tamsen and the hosts explore the challenges women face with perimenopause, menopause symptoms, and health risks of various treatments such as HRT. Tamsen also shares insights from her book "How to Menopause" and her documentary "The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause".

Access more information about the podcast and additional expert health tips by visiting SHE MD Podcast and Ovii.

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TAMSEN FADAL’S TAKEAWAYS:

• Menopause is Not the End: It’s only a transition and the more you understand it, the easier it will be
• Get Genetic Testing Done: Knowing about the APOE4 Gene, APOB, Genetic testing, and understanding one's lifetime risk of breast cancer is crucial for making informed decisions about perimenopause and menopause treatments.
• Prioritize Community & Connection: Have conversations about what you’re going through and support the other women in your life as they go through changes
• The Importance of Sleep is Underrated: Sleep hygiene, including consistent bedtimes and morning sunlight exposure, can significantly improve sleep quality during menopause and perimenopause.
• Symptoms of Perimenopause: Itchy skin, brain fog, mood swings, weight gain, and irregular periods can start as early as the mid-30’s. Women need to educate themselves about menopause symptoms and advocate for their health

IN THIS EPISODE:

• (00:00) Introduction
• (03:40) “How To Menopause”
• (05:07) Tamsen's perimenopause and menopause journey
• (11:40) Brain fog as a severe symptom
• (18:52) When do you start hormones?
• (26:33) Perimenopause HRT risks
• (40:08) What are perimenopause symptoms?
• (41:18) Sleep hygiene with menopause
• (47:09) Empowering women through menopause education

RESOURCES:

tamsenfadal.com - Tamsen Fadal's website

howtomenopause.com - Tamsen Fadal's Book

Tamsen's Instagram

Tamsen's Facebook

Tamsen's LinkedIn

Tamsen's YouTube

GUEST BIOGRAPHY:

Tamsen Fadal

Tamsen Fadal is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, author, documentary filmmaker, and social media’s “midlife mentor.” After over three decades as a news anchor, Tamsen pivoted her career towards women’s advocacy, guiding her audience of 4+ million (50+ million monthly views) through midlife and beyond. She is the creator and executive producer of the PBS documentary, The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause, which has been viewed by over 1 million women across 350+ cities and 42 countries, and the author of her new book, How To Menopause: Take Charge of Your Health, Reclaim Your Life, and Feel Even Better than Before (Hachette 2025).

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