Everything can feel like it changes at once in midlife, and “it’s just aging” doesn’t explain the full story. We sit down with Cynthia Thurlow, NP and author of The Menopause Gut, to unpack a missing link many women never hear about: as estrogen and progesterone decline in perimenopause and menopause, the gut microbiome can become a powerful driver of how we feel day to day. If you’re dealing with bloating, stubborn weight changes, brain fog, new food sensitivities, reflux, or a body that suddenly feels unpredictable, this conversation gives you a clearer map.

We break down what the gut microbiome actually is, why diversity matters, and how shifts in inflammation and the intestinal barrier can ripple into immune health and autoimmunity risk. Cynthia explains short-chain fatty acids, the gut brain axis, and why mood and sleep can worsen when the gut gets inflamed. We also talk about hormone therapy research, including what it may mean for restoring a more “youthful” microbiome, while keeping expectations grounded in what science can and can’t confirm yet.

Then we get practical. We share a food-first approach to probiotics, easy ways to support digestion without buying a cabinet of supplements, why fiber is a midlife superpower (and how to increase it slowly), and how meal timing and stress management shape circadian rhythm. One of the biggest takeaways is surprisingly simple and surprisingly hard: boundaries. Learning to say no can be one of the most effective microbiome-friendly changes you make in menopause.

If this helped you connect dots in your own body, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend who needs a smarter menopause gut health playbook.

Cynthia Thurlow is a nurse practitioner, host of
the Everyday Wellness podcast, author and
international speaker, with over 15 million views
for her second TEDx talk (Intermittent Fasting:
Transformational Technique).

With over 25 years of experience in health and
wellness, Cynthia is a globally recognized expert
in perimenopause/menopause and intermittent
fasting, and has been featured on ABC, FOX5,
KTLA, CW, Medium, Entrepreneur, and The Megyn
Kelly Show.

Website: www.cynthiathurlow.com

Cozy Earth: www.cozyearth.com

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MiDOViA LINKS:

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymidovia
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/midovia
Email Us: info@midovia.com

MiDOViA is dedicated to changing the narrative about menopause by educating, raising awareness & supporting women in this stage of life, both at home and in the workplace. Visit midovia.com to learn more.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images & other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Pain that shows up in midlife has a special way of messing with your confidence. One day you’re fine, the next day your knee, hip, back, or shoulder is changing how you sleep, move, work, and show up for the people you love. We wanted a smarter answer than “that’s just aging,” so we sat down with Stacey Roberts, a longtime physical therapist and chronic pain expert, to talk about what’s actually happening and what you can do next.

Stacey shares the moment that changed her own thinking: a sudden knee “pop,” a swollen joint, and an appointment that rushed straight to total knee replacement and a cortisone injection. From there, we unpack a key takeaway for anyone dealing with arthritis, joint pain, muscle pain, or chronic pain: imaging does not equal destiny. You can have significant arthritis and still be pain-free, and you can often reduce pain by finding the real drivers instead of chasing a quick fix.

We also connect the dots to perimenopause and menopause. As estrogen and other hormones decline, you lose natural anti-inflammatory support, which can turn up pain even when your habits haven’t changed. We talk HRT as one possible tool, plus practical lifestyle strategies that matter just as much: reducing ultra-processed foods, checking biomechanics and movement patterns, considering gut health and food sensitivities, and taking stress hormones like cortisol and thyroid function seriously. If you’ve been told to just push through, this conversation offers a different path: curiosity, personalization, and a plan.

If this helped, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review. What’s one pain trigger you’re ready to investigate first?

Stacey Roberts PT, RN, MSN has over 30 years of experience helping patients live pain-free while achieving their health goals. She is a Holistic Master’s Prepared Registered Nurse, a Musculoskeletal Specialist, a Pelvic and Sexual Health Physiotherapist, and a Functional Medicine Specialist. Stacey owns the New You Health and Wellness Practice in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, combining cutting-edge technology, advanced manual therapy, and functional medicine to help patients attain optimal health. Many of her patients, including herself have avoided surgery, drugs, and injections. She is the author of the #1 best-selling book, ​​

The Pain Free Formula: Solving The Puzzle of Muscle and Joint Pain Without Surgery, Drugs, or Injections and the host of the #1 podcast on chronic pain, The Pain Free Formula

Websites:

https://newyouhealthandwellness.com

New You Health and Wellness

Cozy Earth: www.cozyearth.com

20% OFF Discount Code: MIDOVIA

MiDOViA LINKS:

Website: https://www.midovia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymidovia
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/midovia
Email Us: info@midovia.com

MiDOViA is dedicated to changing the narrative about menopause by educating, raising awareness & supporting women in this stage of life, both at home and in the workplace. Visit midovia.com to learn more.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images & other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Sex and desire can change in midlife in ways that feel sudden, personal, and isolating. We wanted to pull this topic out of the shadows and put real language around what is actually happening in your body, your brain, and your life. Our guest, Dr. Sarah Berg, is a board-certified OBGYN and certified menopause practitioner known for a direct, honest approach, and she helps us replace shame with clarity.

We dig into why menopause libido changes are rarely “just hormones.” Dr. Berg breaks down the biology that can make sex uncomfortable including vaginal dryness, tissue changes, pH shifts, and urinary symptoms that raise UTI risk or create fear of leakage. We define genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) in plain terms, explain why it affects the vulva, vagina, urethra, and bladder, and talk through how painful sex can create a lasting pain-tension cycle that takes time to unwind. You will also hear why pelvic floor physical therapy can be a game changer for both function and pleasure, and what to expect if you book an evaluation.

We also get practical about treatment options and expectations. Dr. Berg explains where vaginal estrogen fits, why it is different from systemic hormone therapy, and why it matters for comfort and UTI prevention. We cover testosterone as a possible tool for carefully selected cases, plus the real first step many women skip: bringing it up with your clinician and asking for time to address sexual health properly. If you are carrying the mental load, running on no sleep, or caring for everyone but yourself, we talk about that too because desire does not thrive in survival mode.

Dr. Sarah Berg is a board-certified OB-GYN and Certified Menopause Practitioner who spent over a decade caring for women across all life stages. After seeing too many women feel dismissed or confused in midlife, she made it her mission to change that through education.

She is the founder of Selfority, a science-based women’s health education platform designed to make menopause information accessible, engaging, and empowering. Dr. Berg writes for Katie Couric Media, Parents.com, and Unbiased Science, and is a national speaker known for her honest, direct, and slightly “spicy” approach to women’s health.

Her work helps women better understand their bodies, advocate for their care, and feel confident navigating the menopause transition.

Website: https://www.selfority.com/

Let’s Talk Menopause Menoposium/ Boston: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-talk-menopause-live-boston-ma-tickets

www.letstalkmenopause.org

MiDOViA LINKS:

Website: https://www.midovia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymidovia
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/midovia
Email Us: info@midovia.com

MiDOViA is dedicated to changing the narrative about menopause by educating, raising awareness & supporting women in this stage of life, both at home and in the workplace. Visit midovia.com to learn more.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images & other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.