Today we’re talking about something that doesn’t get nearly enough airtime: life after menopause. Not the hot flush headlines, not the “is this peri?” panic – but what comes once the immediate hormone storm has settled and you’re looking at your 50s, 60s and beyond thinking: Right. What now? And how do I stay well enough to actually enjoy it?
In this episode of A Grown Up’s Gap Year – The Podcast, Monique is joined by Dr Joanna Bruce, GP and practice owner of Myma Health in Bondi Junction. Dr. Jo has been a doctor for almost 30 years, a GP for almost 20, and now spends much of her time seeing women exactly like us – post-menopause, carrying a lot, and wanting to feel well, strong and supported in the next bit of life.
Together they explore:
- what Dr Jo wants a woman to know when she’s been told she’s “through it” but still doesn’t feel herself
- the key health pillars for the 10–20 years after menopause – bone, heart, brain, muscle, pelvic floor
- where HRT might sit in the longer-term picture, not just for symptom relief but for future health
- what not to dismiss as “just getting older”
- how to tune out the noisy supplement and “meno-washing” market (and what actually is worth spending money on)
- how to have better, less rushed conversations with your GP or specialist about this phase, including what to bring to appointments and what to ask
You’ll also hear them talk about travel and time-out – what to think about if you’re planning your version of A Grown Up's Gap Year and want your body to keep up.
This conversation is general in nature – it’s not personal medical advice or a substitute for seeing your own doctor – but it is designed to help you ask better questions and feel more informed when you do.
No scare tactics, no miracle fixes. Just clear, evidence-based guidance on how to feel strong, supported and well in the decades after menopause, so the next act of your life.
Additional Resources:
- Your SPACE Prescription - Anti Guilt Calculator
- Free Weekly Newsletter
- Dear Blokes Downloadable
- Setting Boundaries That Stick - checklist
- 52 Ideas for YOUR Version of A Grown Up's Gap Year
📚 Get your copy of A Grown Up’s Gap Year the book, from Amazon, moniquevantulder.com, bookshops and libraries, subscribe to the podcast, and take the first step toward your own A Grown Up’s Gap Year.
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