Menopause Nurse Memo's

Vikki Ellison
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Join Vikki Ellison a menopause specialist nurse from Calm Menopause & Wellbeing Clinic each week for bite-sized conversations on perimenopause and menopause—designed to inform, reassure, and empower. In under 15 minutes, you’ll get clear, practical insights into everything from symptoms and treatment options to lifestyle tips and the latest evidence-based guidance. Whether you’re navigating hormonal changes yourself, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about this natural life stage, these short episodes cut through the noise with advice you can trust. 

  1. 6d ago

    HRT and the WHI research of 2002

    Send us Fan Mail For many women, the words HRT still bring fear — often because of what they heard following the publication of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) research in 2002. In this episode, I take a closer look at what the WHI study actually found, why its early results caused such widespread concern about HRT, and why the headlines that followed did not tell the whole story. We’ll explore some of the important limitations of the original research, including the age and health profile of many of the women involved, the types and doses of hormones used, and why the findings cannot necessarily be applied to every woman considering HRT today. I’ll also explain how our understanding of menopausal hormone therapy has evolved, including the importance of the woman’s age, stage of menopause, symptoms, medical history, type and route of HRT, and whether a uterus is present. HRT isn't a treatment that is right for everyone — but neither is it the dangerous treatment many women were led to believe it was. For suitable women, started at the right time and prescribed appropriately, HRT can be an important part of managing menopausal symptoms and may also have benefits for bone health and cardiovascular health. So, if you've been frightened by what you heard about HRT, or you're wondering whether the risks have been exaggerated, this episode aims to give you a clearer, more balanced understanding of the evidence. Let's put the headlines aside and look at the science. https://calmmenopause.co.uk/ https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1CzLZjxgPA%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr&e=AT05ML4wHgdNu244GlOIripK8SgnACBVq3N-pbK88PgHf52KJQDwwtDQCAys5NNNb5kTKOa7HVVAQi1KaKvJTfixUbLLm8u15OAyA0GYTNNpt9WZkyFfM7o

  2. Aug 17

    Aging well - Thriving through midlife and beyond

    Send us Fan Mail Ageing is a privilege, and with the right knowledge and support, it can be one of the healthiest and most fulfilling stages of life. In this episode, I explore how women can embrace midlife with confidence by taking a proactive approach to their health. We'll discuss how Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), alongside good nutrition, regular exercise, quality sleep, and effective stress management, can help women stay strong, healthy, and vibrant for years to come. We'll look beyond simply treating menopausal symptoms and explore how maintaining hormonal health can support your heart, bones, muscles, brain, and overall wellbeing. You'll discover why strength training becomes increasingly important, how the food you eat fuels healthy ageing, and the small lifestyle changes that can have a lasting impact on your energy, confidence, and quality of life. This episode is packed with evidence-based advice, practical tips, and reassurance to help you make informed choices about your health. Whether you're in your forties, fifties, sixties, or beyond, it's never too early—or too late—to invest in your future wellbeing. Join me as we explore how balancing hormones, nourishing your body, and staying active can help you not only live longer but live better—so you can continue doing the things you love with strength, purpose, and vitality. Because healthy ageing isn't about turning back the clock—it's about making every year ahead your best yet. https://calmmenopause.co.uk/ https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1CzLZjxgPA%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr&e=AT05ML4wHgdNu244GlOIripK8SgnACBVq3N-pbK88PgHf52KJQDwwtDQCAys5NNNb5kTKOa7HVVAQi1KaKvJTfixUbLLm8u15OAyA0GYTNNpt9WZkyFfM7o

  3. Jul 27

    Balancing hormones with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

    Send us Fan Mail Are you wondering whether Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is right for you? Confused by conflicting advice or worried about the risks? You're not alone. In this episode, I explains how HRT works, who can benefit, and how the right treatment can help restore hormonal balance during perimenopause and menopause. We'll discuss the different types of HRT, how treatment is tailored to your individual needs, what to expect when starting therapy, and how balancing your hormones can improve symptoms such as hot flushes, anxiety, poor sleep, brain fog, low mood, joint aches, and loss of confidence. Whether you're considering HRT for the first time, already taking it, or simply want evidence-based information, this episode will give you the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about your health. Join me for practical advice, myth-busting, and expert guidance to help you feel like yourself again. https://calmmenopause.co.uk/ https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1CzLZjxgPA%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr&e=AT05ML4wHgdNu244GlOIripK8SgnACBVq3N-pbK88PgHf52KJQDwwtDQCAys5NNNb5kTKOa7HVVAQi1KaKvJTfixUbLLm8u15OAyA0GYTNNpt9WZkyFfM7o

  4. Jun 6

    Contraception during perimenopause & menopause

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the podcast. Contraception during perimenopause & menopause this podcast is talking about a stage of life that many women enter with questions, confusion, and often very little clear guidance — perimenopause and menopause. For many, this transition can bring a combination of changing hormones, unpredictable cycles, heavy menstrual bleeding, mood changes, sleep disruption, hot flushes, brain fog, and shifting energy levels. At the same time, contraception can still be an important consideration. One of the biggest misconceptions is that fertility disappears overnight — but pregnancy is still possible during perimenopause, even when periods become irregular. In this episode, we’ll explore how contraception choices can support not only pregnancy prevention, but also symptom management and quality of life during the menopause transition. We’ll discuss the different options available, including hormonal and non-hormonal methods, and how individual health needs, lifestyle, and symptoms all play a role in finding the right approach. We’ll also focus on two combined oral contraceptive pills that are increasingly discussed in this space: Zoely and Qlaira. Both can be particularly helpful for women experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding, troublesome perimenopausal symptoms, and the need for reliable contraception. Qlaira contains estradiol valerate, a form of estrogen closer to the body’s natural estrogen, and is licensed for the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding in women who also want contraception. It may help regulate cycles, reduce bleeding, and improve some hormone-related symptoms during perimenopause. Zoely combines nomegestrol acetate with natural estradiol and may offer good cycle control with stable hormone levels, which some women find beneficial for mood changes, headaches, and fluctuating perimenopausal symptoms, while still providing effective contraception. As always, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The best choice depends on age, medical history, migraine history, smoking status, cardiovascular risk factors, bleeding patterns, and personal preferences. So whether you’re navigating changing periods, considering contraception in your 40s or 50s, or simply trying to understand your options during perimenopause and menopause, this episode is here to help you make informed, confident decisions about your health. https://calmmenopause.co.uk/ https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1CzLZjxgPA%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr&e=AT05ML4wHgdNu244GlOIripK8SgnACBVq3N-pbK88PgHf52KJQDwwtDQCAys5NNNb5kTKOa7HVVAQi1KaKvJTfixUbLLm8u15OAyA0GYTNNpt9WZkyFfM7o

  5. May 24

    HRT Choices

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the podcast, where we explore Hormone Replacement Therapy — often known as HRT — and the choices available to women during perimenopause and menopause. For many women, navigating menopause can feel confusing and overwhelming. Alongside symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, anxiety, poor sleep, brain fog, low mood, and joint aches, many are faced with trying to understand whether HRT is the right option for them — and if so, which type. With so much information available, and sometimes conflicting advice, it can be difficult to know where to start. This podcast is here to help simplify those choices. Together, we’ll explore the different types of HRT available, including oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone, body-identical hormones, patches, gels, sprays, tablets, and vaginal oestrogen. We’ll discuss the benefits, possible risks, common myths, who can safely use HRT, and how treatment can be tailored to your individual needs and symptoms. Whether you’re just beginning to consider HRT, already using it and wondering if your treatment is right for you, or simply want clear, evidence-based information to help you make informed decisions, this podcast will provide practical guidance and compassionate support. Menopause is not one-size-fits-all — and neither is HRT. So wherever you’re listening from, join us as we break down the options, answer common questions, and empower women to make confident choices about their menopause care. https://calmmenopause.co.uk/ https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1CzLZjxgPA%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr&e=AT05ML4wHgdNu244GlOIripK8SgnACBVq3N-pbK88PgHf52KJQDwwtDQCAys5NNNb5kTKOa7HVVAQi1KaKvJTfixUbLLm8u15OAyA0GYTNNpt9WZkyFfM7o

  6. May 10

    Mental health & Wellbeing during the Perimenopause & Menopause

    Send us Fan Mail For many women, this stage of life can bring unexpected emotional and psychological changes alongside the physical symptoms. Anxiety, low mood, overwhelm, poor sleep, loss of confidence, brain fog, irritability, and feeling “not quite yourself” are incredibly common — yet so many women suffer in silence or feel misunderstood. This podcast is here to change that conversation. Together, we’ll explore the impact that hormonal changes can have on emotional wellbeing, relationships, work, sleep, confidence, and everyday life. We’ll discuss evidence-based treatments, lifestyle approaches, self-care strategies, and the importance of understanding that you are not alone in what you’re experiencing. Whether you are just beginning to notice changes, are struggling with severe symptoms, or are supporting someone through menopause, this podcast aims to provide reassurance, education, and practical support in a compassionate and non-judgemental space. So wherever you’re listening from, take a moment for yourself, and join us as we navigate mental health and wellbeing through perimenopause and menopause together. https://calmmenopause.co.uk/ https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1CzLZjxgPA%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr&e=AT05ML4wHgdNu244GlOIripK8SgnACBVq3N-pbK88PgHf52KJQDwwtDQCAys5NNNb5kTKOa7HVVAQi1KaKvJTfixUbLLm8u15OAyA0GYTNNpt9WZkyFfM7o

  7. Jan 25

    The impact perimenopause & menopause can have on your relationships

    Send us Fan Mail Perimenopause and menopause are often discussed in terms of physical symptoms, but their impact reaches far beyond the individual. Fluctuating hormones can influence mood, energy, confidence, sleep, and cognition—changes that inevitably shape how someone relates to the people around them. Partners may struggle to understand sudden shifts in emotions or intimacy, friendships can feel strained when someone withdraws or feels “unlike themselves,” and professional relationships may be affected by brain fog, fatigue, or reduced tolerance for stress. In this podcast, we explore how perimenopause and menopause can affect relationships with partners, friends, and colleagues, and why awareness matters on both sides. We will talk openly about the misunderstandings, the unspoken frustrations, and the quiet losses that can occur—but also about communication, compassion, and practical ways to strengthen relationships during this transition. Because menopause is not just a personal experience; it is a shared one, and understanding it can make all the difference. https://calmmenopause.co.uk/ https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1CzLZjxgPA%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr&e=AT05ML4wHgdNu244GlOIripK8SgnACBVq3N-pbK88PgHf52KJQDwwtDQCAys5NNNb5kTKOa7HVVAQi1KaKvJTfixUbLLm8u15OAyA0GYTNNpt9WZkyFfM7o

  8. 12/07/2025

    The effects of perimenopause and menopause in the work place

    Send us Fan Mail This podcast brings you an eye-opening conversation that affects millions of women—yet is still too often misunderstood or overlooked in professional settings: the impact of perimenopause and menopause in the workplace. In this episode, you’ll hear real, honest discussion about what it’s like to navigate symptoms such as hot flushes, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and brain fog while trying to meet the demands of modern working life. We talk about the emotional toll, the practical challenges, and the silent struggles that women often carry without support. You’ll also hear insightful reflections on what employers can do better—from creating open cultures to implementing simple, effective adjustments that can make a world of difference. And, importantly, we explore how awareness and understanding can empower women to advocate for themselves and thrive during this transition. It’s a conversation filled with lived experience, professional insight, and plenty of compassion—one that we hope will spark change, encourage empathy, and remind anyone listening that they’re not alone. https://calmmenopause.co.uk/ https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1CzLZjxgPA%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr&e=AT05ML4wHgdNu244GlOIripK8SgnACBVq3N-pbK88PgHf52KJQDwwtDQCAys5NNNb5kTKOa7HVVAQi1KaKvJTfixUbLLm8u15OAyA0GYTNNpt9WZkyFfM7o

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About

Join Vikki Ellison a menopause specialist nurse from Calm Menopause & Wellbeing Clinic each week for bite-sized conversations on perimenopause and menopause—designed to inform, reassure, and empower. In under 15 minutes, you’ll get clear, practical insights into everything from symptoms and treatment options to lifestyle tips and the latest evidence-based guidance. Whether you’re navigating hormonal changes yourself, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about this natural life stage, these short episodes cut through the noise with advice you can trust. 

Information

  • Creator
    Vikki Ellison
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Menopause Nurse Memo's
  • Show Website
    Menopause Nurse Memo's