Below are some useful tips and insights from the team here at Bristol Menopause, acknowledged industry experts and trusted advisors, which will hopefully trigger some thoughts or ideas. 

Menopause is officially confirmed after 12 consecutive months without a period. From that point onward, a woman is described as post-menopausal.

Why Stress Feels Different in Midlife

Many women describe menopause as a time of feeling “wired but tired.” Anxiety, disrupted sleep, and difficulty coping with stress can all be linked to changes in cortisol — the body’s main stress hormone.

Every year, World Menopause Day highlights an important theme to raise awareness and improve women’s health globally. For 2025, the focus is on Lifestyle Medicine, and it couldn’t be more timely.

Written By Dr Rebecca Hiscutt
Diet is one of the most powerful tools you can use to support your body through
menopause. What and when you eat can amplify symptoms or help steady your energy,
mood and metabolism.

Perimenopause is the phase before menopause when hormone levels begin to fluctuate. It can last several years, with symptoms often appearing in the late 30s or 40s. Many women notice irregular periods, sleep problems, hot flushes, mood changes, or increased fatigue long before their “last period.”

This stage is not just a lead-up to menopause, it is a critical window for protecting long-term health. What you do in perimenopause sets the foundation for bone strength, heart health, and brain function in the decades ahead.

The theme for World Menopause Day 2025 is Lifestyle Medicine and Menopause, a topic that reflects the growing recognition that lifestyle choices profoundly affect how women experience midlife and beyond.

Brain fog. Forgetfulness. Difficulty concentrating. Mood swings.
These are some of the most common and frustrating symptoms women report during menopause.

For many, the changes feel frightening. Women worry about early dementia or losing their edge at work. Yet brain health in menopause is rarely discussed openly.

When most women think about menopause, they picture hot flushes, mood changes, or disrupted sleep. What often goes unnoticed is the impact on heart health.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women in the UK. And risk increases sharply after menopause. Yet heart health rarely features in the menopause conversation.

When it comes to sleep, women often draw the short straw. Not only are we more prone to insomnia and disrupted sleep than men, but certain life stages, particularly menopause and the menopause transition (perimenopause), can make sleep even more elusive. For many, difficulties begin in the early 40s and peak shortly after menopause. As sleep quality declines, other menopausal symptoms, like hot flushes, anxiety, and mood swings, often intensify.

When you hit menopause, your body goes through some significant changes.