The menopause transition can bring unexpected challenges — the effects can significantly impact daily life and long-term health.Dr. Mary Claire Haver is a board-certified gynaecologist and a menopause specialist. She's helped thousands of women in perimenopause and menopause to realise their health goals. In today’s episode, she joins Jonathan and ZOE's Chief Scientist Dr. Sarah Berry to shed light on what to expect during these life stages.Sarah and Mary Claire describe practical strategies for managing symptoms, critical conversations to have with healthcare providers, and how to advocate for yourself effectively in medical settings.🌱 Try our new plant based wholefood supplement - Daily 30*Naturally high in copper which contributes to normal energy yielding metabolism and the normal function of the immune systemLearn how your body responds to food 👉 zoe.com/podcast for 10% offFollow ZOE on Instagram. Timecodes:00:00 Introduction01:33 Quickfire questions05:53 There is a lack of menopause training in medical school07:02 Most women are going into menopause blind07:43 Why menopause symptoms vary09:30 The hormonal ‘zone of chaos’11:45 ZOE PREDICT data on menopause symptoms13:36 How long do perimenopause symptoms last?17:52 Perimenopause at age 35?18:34 Why hormone tests are worthless20:53 The risk of chronic disease after menopause24:53 Why does menopause increase hunger?28:39 Why medicine and research is male-dominated32:34 How to talk to your doctor about menopaue34:12 Pregnancy research - 10x more extensive than menopause research!35:14 Mary Claire’s toolkit of strategies for menopause36:34 What are the long-term health benefits of hormone replacement therapy?38:36 Is HRT safe for most women?42:47 Brand new ZOE study results: diet and menopause49:16 Top 3 tips to help with symptoms54:34 What is ‘frozen shoulder’ and how can you treat it?📚 Mary Claire's bookThe New Menopause📚 Books from our ZOE Scientists Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector Mentioned in today's episode Menopause transition and cardiovascular disease risk: Implications for timing of early prevention: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association in Circulation The controversial history of hormone replacement therapy in Medicina Dr. Vonda Wright’s website Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know hereEpisode transcripts are available here.