Podcast Summary: Unlearn16 – "The One Where Gremlins Beat Perimenopause"
Host: Unlearn16
Guest: Kate Grosvenor
Release Date: May 6, 2025
Episode Title: The One Where Gremlins Beat Perimenopause
1. Introduction to Perimenopause and Menopause
The episode kicks off with Host Unlearn16 (referred to as "A") introducing Kate Grosvenor ("B") to discuss perimenopause and menopause. They begin with casual banter about Kate's origins in Yorkshire and segue into the serious topic at hand.
A [00:03]: "Class is in session. Hey, everybody, and welcome to Unlearn 16. Class is in session, guys. Today I went over the pond... and we went all the way to Kate Menopause."
2. Understanding the Hormonal Changes
Kate elaborates on the hormonal shifts during perimenopause, emphasizing the decline of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. She explains how these changes affect various bodily functions and mental health.
B [05:44]: "We need to put that into the dialogue right from the beginning. It doesn't just affect your body, it affects your mind as well."
B [07:10]: "Estrogen is responsible for a lot of them. So heart health... Progesterone is more responsible for us feeling calm... Testosterone is linked to libido and energy levels."
3. Misconceptions and the Impact of HRT Studies
The conversation delves into the historical misconceptions surrounding Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), particularly the flawed 1990s study that erroneously linked HRT to breast cancer. Kate dissects the study's shortcomings and its long-term negative impact on women's health.
B [14:07]: "They used to make HRT from pregnant mare's urine... It's a whole heap of tough. They used to give women HRT made from pregnant mares urine."
A [14:36]: "Because men have testosterone supplementation available, why aren't there equivalent options for women?"
4. Accessibility and Acceptance of HRT
Kate discusses the barriers women face in accessing HRT, highlighting differences between countries like the UK and Canada. She points out the scarcity of female testosterone prescriptions and the high costs associated with obtaining necessary hormone therapies privately.
B [20:53]: "There is no female testosterone licensed in the UK... It's available privately, but that's prohibitive."
A [24:51]: "This is just finance. We are not going to put money into adequately testing the duration of a cycle for women."
5. The Mental Health Crisis Linked to Menopause
A poignant segment covers the severe mental health implications of unmanaged perimenopause, including increased suicide rates. Kate shares a tragic court case highlighting how lack of proper menopause intervention can lead to devastating outcomes.
B [25:15]: "There was a woman in 2022... her death could have been prevented if she'd had menopause intervention and help earlier than she did."
6. Personal Experiences and Navigating the Medical System
Kate shares her personal journey through perimenopause, detailing her struggles with misdiagnosis and ineffective treatments. She emphasizes the importance of symptom tracking and advocating for oneself to receive appropriate care.
B [32:52]: "I started taking oral estrogen and I didn't have a good experience on it... I went back to her and she changed me to the patch. I felt absolutely great."
B [45:34]: "If you have any kind of tracker, a symptom tracker, and you give them a print out of it... doctors can see the evidence in front of them."
7. Advocacy and Solutions for Better Menopause Care
The hosts discuss actionable steps women can take to improve their menopause care, including using symptom trackers, advocating for mandatory menopause education for doctors, and exploring various HRT options tailored to individual needs.
A [43:28]: "How do we push for adequate testing and hormone level monitoring for women?"
B [51:00]: "Please just be an advocate for yourself. That's it."
8. Metaphor: Gremlins Representing Shame
To illustrate the internalized shame surrounding menopause, Kate introduces the metaphor of "gremlins." She suggests that shame, when kept hidden, grows like gremlins, but bringing it to light helps diminish its power.
B [61:02]: "Shame is like gremlins. Whenever you bring it out into the light, you wrap words around it, it shrinks."
A [61:38]: "If we can't laugh about it, that's another thing too, right?"
9. Social and Workplace Implications
The conversation highlights the lack of workplace accommodations for menopausal women, leading to decreased participation in the workforce and loss of valuable experience and wisdom. They touch on societal attitudes that dismiss women's health concerns during menopause.
A [54:29]: "Because first of all, the whole tier, what we're losing then is we're losing all of the wisdom."
B [55:05]: "There's a massive amount of women that leave the workplace between the ages of 49 and 54."
10. Conclusion and Call to Action
The episode concludes with a strong call to action for women to advocate for better menopause care, utilize available resources, and support each other through shared experiences. The hosts emphasize the importance of open dialogue and societal recognition of menopause as a critical phase in women's lives.
B [64:26]: "We need more women to advocate for perimenopause care in whatever country you live in."
A [64:16]: "It's not this pie in the sky thing. It is a very specific test that already exists... women have to start demanding it for themselves."
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
- A [00:03]: "Class is in session. Hey, everybody, and welcome to Unlearn 16."
- B [05:44]: "We need to put that into the dialogue right from the beginning."
- B [14:07]: "They used to make HRT from pregnant mare's urine."
- B [25:15]: "Her death could have been prevented if she'd had menopause intervention earlier."
- A [43:28]: "How do we push for adequate testing and hormone level monitoring for women?"
- B [61:02]: "Shame is like gremlins. Whenever you bring it out into the light, it shrinks."
- B [64:26]: "We need more women to advocate for perimenopause care in whatever country you live in."
Resources Mentioned
- Kate Grosvenor's Symptom Tracker: www.myparamenopausesymptoms.com
- NICE Guidelines (UK): Referenced for menopause symptom management.
- Menopause Foundation of Canada (MFC): For guidelines and support in Canada.
Final Thoughts:
This episode of "Unlearn16" sheds light on the often-overlooked challenges of perimenopause and menopause, advocating for better medical support, societal understanding, and personal empowerment for women navigating this significant life transition.