What happens when your sex drive goes out for cigarettes… and never comes back?

One day, desire is there. The next, it seems to have packed a suitcase, left without saying goodbye and forgotten to leave a forwarding address.

During menopause and perimenopause, sexual desire can change. Sometimes it decreases. Sometimes it seems to disappear altogether. And sometimes it comes back differently.

But is it all about hormones? What about exhaustion, stress, poor sleep, vaginal dryness, changes in arousal, body image and the complicated business of being a woman with an actual life?

In this episode of Bloody Menopause, Teresa Silva talks about menopause, libido, sex and pleasure with humour, honesty and a little science — without turning women's sexuality into yet another thing we're supposed to get right.

We explore:

• Changes in libido during menopause and perimenopause
• Hormones, sexual desire and arousal
• Vaginal dryness and discomfort during sex
• How sleep, stress and exhaustion can affect desire
• Body image, confidence and intimacy
• Relationships and communication
• Why having less desire doesn't automatically mean something is wrong with you

Because menopause isn't just about hot flushes and sleepless nights. It's also about sex, intimacy, pleasure and learning to understand a body that's changing.

And perhaps the question isn't simply how to get your old sex drive back.

Perhaps it's also about discovering what desire and pleasure mean to you now.

Bloody Menopause is menopause and perimenopause without whispers, shame or perfect answers — just real life, science, humour and the occasional hormonal plot twist.

🎙️ Hosted by Teresa Silva

Has menopause changed the way you experience desire, intimacy or pleasure? Share your story with Bloody Menopause. Your voice matters too.

🎧 Also available in Portuguese, Spanish and French.

This isn't hormonal drama. It's a revolution. And apart from everything that's wrong… everything's fine!

⚠️ Disclaimer: Bloody Menopause is an entertainment and general information podcast and does not provide medical advice. If you're experiencing pain, vaginal dryness, changes in sexual function or other symptoms that concern you or affect your quality of life, please speak to a qualified healthcare professional.

pisode 03 — About mood swings, irritability and emotional outbursts — and that rollercoaster that can take us from laughter to tears in a matter of minutes. Ever cried because you ran out of butter? Snapped at a broken toaster? Felt furious for no obvious reason — and five minutes later wondered what on earth just happened?

Menopause mood swings can feel like an emotional rollercoaster with no warning and, occasionally, no brakes.

In this episode of Bloody Menopause, Teresa Silva dives into the emotional side of menopause and perimenopause — from mood swings, irritability and emotional outbursts to the hormonal changes that can make everything suddenly feel… a lot.

Why can emotions become so intense during menopause? What do changing levels of oestrogen and progesterone have to do with mood, sleep and stress? What role does cortisol play? And why might “You’ve no reason to be like this” be one of the worst things you can say to a menopausal woman?

With humour, real-life stories and a little science, we explore:

• menopause and perimenopause emotional changes
• mood swings, irritability and emotional outbursts
• oestrogen, progesterone, cortisol and the menopausal brain
• why poor sleep can make emotions feel even harder to manage
• menopause myths versus reality
• simple survival strategies for overwhelming emotional days
• and why sometimes crying over butter really is part of the story

Because maybe you're not suddenly becoming a different person. Your body and brain are going through a major hormonal transition — and we need to talk about it.

Bloody Menopause is menopause and perimenopause without whispers, shame or perfect answers — just real life, science, humour and the occasional hormonal explosion.

🎙️ Hosted by Teresa Silva

Have you had your own “What on earth is happening to me?” menopause moment? Share your story with Bloody Menopause. Your voice matters too.

🎧 Also available in Portuguese, Spanish and French.

This isn’t hormonal drama. It’s a revolution. And apart from everything that’s wrong… everything’s fine!

⚠️ Disclaimer: Bloody Menopause is an entertainment and general information podcast and does not provide medical advice. If your symptoms concern you or are affecting your quality of life, please speak to a qualified healthcare professional.

Episode 02 — About insomnia, night-time awakenings, and that brain that decides 3 a.m. is the perfect time to rethink your entire life. Wide awake at 3 a.m. again? Exhausted, desperate to sleep — while your brain suddenly decides it’s the perfect time to rethink your entire life?

If you think you’re the only one awake, you’re not.

Menopause and perimenopause can seriously disrupt sleep, turning the night into a full-blown festival — no music, no drinks, just your brain organising a TED Talk you never requested at three in the morning.

In this episode of Bloody Menopause, Teresa Silva takes on menopause insomnia and sleep problems: the sleepless nights, waking up in the middle of the night, the racing mind that refuses to switch off, and what hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause may have to do with it all.

With science, humour and a healthy dose of sleep-deprived survival, we explore:

• insomnia during menopause and perimenopause
• waking up in the middle of the night
• hormonal changes and disrupted sleep
• why your brain seems determined to wake up at 3 a.m.
• how poor sleep can affect mood, energy and everyday life
• and how to survive those nights when six uninterrupted hours of sleep feel like an impossible luxury

Because surviving sleepless nights is practically a skill — and sometimes knowing why they’re happening makes the 3 a.m. festival a little less lonely.

Bloody Menopause is menopause and perimenopause without whispers, shame or perfect answers — just real life, science, humour and the occasional sleepless night.

🎙️ Hosted by Teresa Silva

Have you joined the 3 a.m. club too? Share your menopause sleep story with Bloody Menopause. Your voice matters too.

🎧 Also available in Portuguese, Spanish and French.

This isn’t hormonal drama. It’s a revolution. And apart from everything that’s wrong… everything’s fine!

⚠️ Disclaimer: Bloody Menopause is an entertainment and general information podcast and does not provide medical advice. If sleep problems persist, concern you or are affecting your quality of life, please speak to a qualified healthcare professional.