Experts Reveal What’s Really Happening to Women in Midlife
Most women don’t realise what’s happening to them in midlife, they just know they don’t feel like themselves anymore.
In this special International Women’s Day episode, Dr. Shauna Watts hosts a live panel with experts in women’s health, psychology, pelvic health, and a powerful personal story from someone who has lived it.
This conversation breaks down what’s really happening during perimenopause and midlife, physically, mentally, and emotionally, and why so many women feel like they’ve suddenly “lost themselves.”
In this episode, we cover:
• Why anxiety, low mood, and overwhelm show up in midlife
• The real reason sleep changes, including the 3am wake-ups
• How hormonal shifts affect weight, energy, and confidence
• What’s happening to libido, arousal, and sexual health
• The role of pelvic floor health in strength, continence, and pleasure
• How stress and life load impact mental health during this stage
• What CBT for insomnia is and why it works
• The link between trauma history and menopause symptoms
• Why many women feel dismissed in the healthcare system
• The truth about hormone therapy and why it’s been confusing
• Why weight gain feels harder and the rise of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic
This episode is about replacing confusion with clarity.
When you understand what’s happening, you stop blaming yourself and start making decisions that actually support you.
For more resources:
Prof. Heather Irvine-Rundle:https://www.instagram.com/heatherirvine/
Gina Jeffreys: https://www.instagram.com/gina_jeffreys/
Dr Shauna Watts: https://www.instagram.com/dr.shaunawatts/
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247
Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.
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Chapters
01:23 — Meet the Women’s Health Panel
02:30 — Early Menopause & Gina’s Story
05:22 — From Confidence to Anxiety
07:36 — Weight Gain & Body Changes Explained
10:09 — Why Weight Loss Stops Working
13:32 — Mood Swings, Irritability & Anxiety
15:19 — What Midlife Anxiety Feels Like
18:27 — The Truth About Hormone Therapy (HRT)
22:30 — Mental Health, Brain Fog & Overwhelm
25:41 — Sleep Problems & the 3AM Wake-Up
28:01 — CBT for Insomnia That Actually Works
44:34 — Sex, Libido & Why Desire Changes
52:41 — Pelvic Health, Hormones & GLP-1 (Ozempic)
Keywords
perimenopause symptoms
menopause anxiety
midlife women health
hormonal changes women 40s
perimenopause mental health
menopause weight gain
loss of libido women
pelvic health midlife
CBT insomnia menopause
hormone therapy women
midlife identity crisis women
women’s health podcast
Dr Shauna Watts
menopause support
