Lara Briden is a naturopathic doctor and bestselling author of the books Period Repair Manual and Hormone Repair Manual — practical guides to treating period problems with nutrition, supplements, and bioidentical hormones.  With a strong science background, Lara sits on several advisory boards and is the lead author on a couple of peer-reviewed papers.  She has more than 20 years’ experience in women’s health and currently has consulting rooms in Christchurch, New Zealand, where she treats women with PCOS, PMS, endometriosis, perimenopause, and many other hormone- and period-related health problems. On this episode we discuss with Lara all things periods and perimenopause.  What is perimenopause? The nine symptoms you need to know!Is midlife really from 37? What is going on hormonally and how this affects our entire body systemDealing with heavy periodsSupplementing our hormones Taking the contraceptive pill  Dealing with stress, does perimenopause affect our ability to cope the same as before? Alcohol use and the real truth you need to know!  All things ‘sorting your sleep out’ including dealing with night shifts! All this and so much  more! LINKS: Website Hormone repair manual book The Lara Briden Podcast - Everything women’s health in under 15 minutes Graph of hormonal changes of perimenopause Graph of menstrual cycle        Get 10% off Katie's Breastfeeding & Lactation: the fundamentals online course today with code POD10 at checkout.  Support the show Please support the show via Patreon or BuyMeACoffee MERCH here! Music Joseph McDade Like this podcast? Leave us a review here Want more from Katie and Rachel? Katie's website Rachel's website Disclaimer The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute medical or legal advice; instead, all information available on this site are for general informational purposes only. The Midwives' Cauldron podcast reserves the right to supplement, change or delete any information at any time. The information and materials on the podcast is provided "as is"; no representations are made that the content is error-free. Whilst we have tried to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information we do not warrant or guarantee the accurateness. The podcast accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on the content.