What We Still Don't Know About Menopause | Dr Elna Rudolph | TGE Talks: Menopause
The Great EqualizerShow Notes
What do we still not know about menopause?In the final episode of TGE Talks: Menopause, we sit down with South Africa's foremost sexologist, Dr Elna Rudolph, to explore the biggest unanswered questions surrounding perimenopause and menopause.Despite affecting half the global population, menopause remains under-researched, with significant gaps in our understanding of everything from exercise and brain health to sexual wellbeing, treatment outcomes, and why women experience menopause so differently.
In this conversation, we unpack where the science is clear, where evidence is still emerging, and why there is so much confusion surrounding topics like strength training, brain health, cognition, sexual wellbeing, hormone therapy and the menopause experience across different populations.Drawing on audience questions from throughout the series, Dr Rudolph shares insights into the current state of menopause research, discusses why women's health has historically been overlooked, and highlights the questions researchers are still working to answer.
Whether you've followed the entire series or are joining us for the first time, this episode offers an evidence-informed discussion about one of the most important — and least understood — stages of women's health.In this episode, we discuss:
• Why menopause research still has significant gaps – and why that matters. • What we know (and don't know) about strength training, protein and exercise during menopause. • Menopause, brain health, brain fog and cognitive ageing. • Painful sex, low desire and intimate wellbeing in midlife. • Hormone therapy, research priorities and the future of menopause care. • Why menopause experiences differ so dramatically from one woman to another. • The need for more research into menopause in African women and other under-researched populations. • Dr Elna Rudolph's biggest hopes for the future of menopause research.
About Dr Elna Rudolph: Dr Elna Rudolph is a South African medical doctor, sexologist and Clinical Head of My Sexual Health. She served as President of the World Association for Sexual Health from 2021 to 2025, becoming the youngest person ever to hold the position, the first African, and only the second woman in the organisation's history. -- 🎧 Brought to you by The Great Equalizer, TGE Talks: Menopause is a six-part podcast series that explores every aspect of menopause with insight from leading medical experts, specialists and sexual health advocates. 🎧 Tune in on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 🔔 Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:
Mother Brain by Chelsea Conaboy: https://www.chelseaconaboy.com/mother-brain Episode 105 | FOOD FOR MENOPAUSE with Dr Linia Patel: https://youtu.be/9xe-7Fu_ep4
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