Shropshire Menopause Hub

09/09/2026

I’m going back to March this year to reflect on the expert talk about HRT with Diane, whose business is called Bourne2care Ltd/Menopause or Just me?

This was the second time I had heard Diane talk about HRT and I learned so much both times. Diane has a wealth of experience and knowledge and is registered with the British Menopause Society, so we knew the information she shared would be research based & up to date.

Diane has been a registered Nurse for many years and what became quickly apparent in the room was her empathy and warmth, as she shared information and examples of issues women bring to her clinic.

I have been prescribed HRT by my GP and found it helpful but as I listened to Diane talking I realised there was room for improvement. I’m really lucky that my GP is helpful and after an appointment and some adjustments, I felt so much better.

On the night we heard about how HRT works and the different types available and Diane passed around “props”, which made it all seem real and resulted in some laughter too!

My biggest take home was that HRT is definitely not “one size fits all” and there are so many options. Some GPs are helpful, others are not but Diane treats every woman individually and makes thorough assessments to offer bespoke treatment. My advice would be to return to whoever prescribed your HRT if you feel it isn’t completely helping you or consider getting expert advice from someone like Diane.

Thanks again Diane. X

07/09/2026

Looking Back at Year One
~ Our Pelvic Health Talk with Linda Van Doorn.

As the Shropshire Menopause Hub reaches its first birthday, we're looking back at some of the amazing speakers we've welcomed over the past year.

One session that really stood out for me was Linda's talk on pelvic health. She talked openly about bladder and bowel problems, prolapse and the pelvic floor, as well as practical ways we can understand, strengthen and look after this often-overlooked part of our health.

I found it incredibly relevant because pelvic health really is something all women (and actually men too!) should know more about. It's one of those subjects that can feel a little awkward to talk about, but knowing what's normal, what isn't, and where to get help can make a huge difference to confidence and quality of life. And let's be honest, knowing where the nearest toilet is shouldn't have to be part of our life planning!

And today, 7 September, is World Menopause & Work Day. It's a good reminder that menopause doesn't simply stop at the office door. Symptoms can affect confidence, concentration, comfort and wellbeing at work, which is why having open conversations and understanding in the workplace matters.

What's one thing you've learned about menopause or midlife health that you wish you'd known years ago?

06/09/2026

Have you ever had difficulty sleeping during perimenopause or menopause?

I would say that alongside hot flushes, sleep disturbance is the issue we hear more women say affects them during midlife.

It has certainly affected me personally and feeling tired during the day following a sleepless night can really affect my mood and ability to concentrate. I can see why they used it as a form of torture!

We have been looking for the right expert to talk to our members about sleep issues in menopause for some time and Louise definitely fits the bill. She is a HCPC registered Clinical Sleep Scientist. It is really important to us at Shropshire Menopause Hub that we bring the right speakers to our members and being an expert in their field, together with lived experience is what we look for.

As this is a topic that could help many midlife women, we have made this session available to non members too.

To join us live via zoom on Wednesday 7th October at 7pm, follow the link :

https://l.bttr.to/50jXg

05/09/2026

We will be reflecting and celebrating the last year of Shropshire Menopause Hub during September but if you would like to hear more about what is coming up you can join our mailing list to receive our monthly news letter. Please feel free to share it with anyone you think would benefit too!

https://welcome.shropshiremenopausehub.com/mailinglist

04/09/2026

We spend so much time talking about everything that can go wrong in menopause.

The symptoms. The sleep. The anxiety. The weight changes. The brain fog. The endless list of things we’re apparently supposed to fix.

But one of my favourite Menopause Hub talks this year gave me a completely different way of looking at this stage of life.

Back in April, Beth joined us to talk about acupuncture and menopause, and introduced us to the idea from Chinese medicine that menopause is the second spring.

A time of renewed energy. More clarity. A return to yourself.

And I absolutely loved that.

Because yes, menopause can be challenging. But midlife can also be a bloody brilliant era.

You often know yourself better. You’re clearer on what matters. You’re less interested in pleasing everyone else. And you start asking some very different questions about how you want the next chapter of your life to look.

Beth’s knowledge and passion for acupuncture were incredible too — from the ways it may support menopausal symptoms, to the deeply relaxing effects, and even simple acupressure points we can use ourselves when stress is running high.

But it was that phrase that stayed with me.

The second spring.

I think we need a little more of that conversation around menopause.

Not just what we’re losing.

But what we might be stepping into.

01/09/2026

🎉 HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY TO SHROPSHIRE MENOPAUSE HUB! 🎉

One whole year of support, connection, conversation and community — and what a year it’s been! 💜

This month we are celebrating YOU — our Facebook followers, wonderful members, expert speakers and everyone who has helped make Shropshire Menopause Hub what it is.

From sharing experiences and finding understanding, to those “me too!” moments, laughter, friendship and honest conversations and so much knowledge from our expert speakers - it’s been wonderful to see our community grow.

🌸 Support when you need it
✨ Clarity when things feel confusing
🤝 Connection when you need it most

So, here’s to our first year — and to everything still to come! 🥂

Thank you for being part of our journey. 💜

Happy 1st Birthday, Shropshire Menopause Hub!

During the month of September Sarah, Shirley and Nicky will be reflecting on the last year, especially our fantastic expert talks.

In no particular order, we will be posting about the highlights of the year and what we have learned. So look out for our posts over the coming weeks.

We also have lots of exciting plans for our second year of Shropshire Menopause Hub, which will be revealed very soon.

14/08/2026

A really great expert talk last night with our very own co-founder Sarah Summers Nutrition, talking about The Menopause Plate.

It worked really well online as it was so hot and peak holiday season so shorts and a long cold drink were in order. We had a lovely combination of Shropshire Menopause Hub members and guests, who made it a fun interactive hour. The members who were unable to join us live have the opportunity to access the talk on our private YouTube channel.

Sarah gave us a perfect mix of research based explanations, practical suggestions and lots of laughs. As always, our speakers are experts in their field and have lived experience of perimenopause and menopause and Sarah is certainly no exception and has supported midlife women for almost a decade as a registered Nutritional Therapist.

My takeaway has been to look at the amount of protein and fibre I have in my meals and I’m going to try adding flaxseeds too. I learned that restriction is not helpful in midlife and looking at what you can add to meals to make nutrition work for you is the way forward.

Details of our next expert talk coming soon, this will be in October as September is all bout Shropshire Menopause Hub celebrating our first birthday.

12/08/2026

10/08/2026

Can your lunch comfortably carry you through the afternoon?

A well-built meal should usually leave you satisfied for around four hours, without the foggy head, shaky feeling, energy crash or sudden need to eat everything in sight.

If that keeps happening, I wouldn’t automatically blame your willpower.

I’d look at your plate.

In midlife, we need meals that do more for us — supporting energy, appetite, muscle, metabolic health and long-term cardiovascular health.

And that doesn’t mean restricting the hell out of what you eat.

Quite the opposite.

Often, it’s about making sure there is enough of the right mix of protein, fibre, healthy fats and carbohydrates to actually do the job.

That’s exactly what I’ll be talking about in The Menopause Plate — three simple ways to make your meals work harder for you.

📅 Thursday 13 August
🕖 7pm
📍 Live on Zoom
🎟 Free for Shropshire Menopause Hub members | £16 for guests

Tickets available via this link: https://l.bttr.to/0aIWG