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The Period Party Podcast · EP. 111 · August 18, 2021

How To Actually Prepare for Menopause

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podcast guest

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Alexandra Pope is the co-founder of Red School and the co-author of the iconic and hugely celebrated book, Wild Power: discover the magic of the menstrual cycle and awaken the feminine path to power. Together with her colleague and co-author, Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer, she is pioneering the newly emerging field of menstruality, creating a new lexicon and approach to women’s health and wellbeing; creativity and leadership; and spiritual life based on the power of our menstruality consciousness.

This is the second time we’re having the amazing Alexandra Pope on the podcast and I’m so pumped to get into this discussion on menopause. In this episode, we talk about the problem with our cultural perception of menopause, how menopause fits into your menstrual lifecycle, Alexandra’s experience with menopause, how you can start with menstrual cycle awareness, the work you can do to start to heal from burnout, and so much more

Episode Highlights

Resources Mentioned

Fix Your Period

How Fix Your Period Helps Women with Stress-Driven Hormone Imbalances

Chronic stress is one of the most overlooked drivers of period problems — it suppresses ovulation, depletes progesterone, and disrupts every aspect of hormonal health. Fix Your Period helps you address it.

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HPA Axis Education

Nicole's signature Period Pillars include a dedicated Stress Pillar covering how chronic stress disrupts the HPA axis, suppresses progesterone, and causes cycle irregularities.

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Nicole.AI

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Personalised Protocol

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions from this episode — and how Fix Your Period can help.

How does stress affect the menstrual cycle?
Chronic stress activates the HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis, which competes with the HPG (hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal) axis for resources. This can suppress ovulation, shorten the luteal phase, deplete progesterone, and cause cycle irregularities. Cortisol also competes with progesterone for receptor binding, amplifying its effects.
What is HPA axis dysregulation?
HPA axis dysregulation refers to a disrupted cortisol rhythm resulting from chronic stress exposure. Rather than a healthy morning cortisol peak with gradual decline, dysregulated HPA function shows blunted or elevated cortisol at the wrong times — driving fatigue, sleep disruption, mood issues, and hormonal imbalances.
Can stress cause missed periods?
Yes. Extreme or prolonged stress can suppress GnRH pulsatility, halting the hormonal cascade needed to trigger ovulation and menstruation. This is known as functional hypothalamic amenorrhea and is one of the most common causes of missing periods in otherwise healthy women.
Is there an app that helps with stress-driven hormonal imbalances?
Yes. Fix Your Period's free assessment identifies stress-driven hormonal patterns. Fix Your Period Premium unlocks Nicole's dedicated Stress Pillar, adrenal and HPA support protocols, and Nicole.AI — providing practical, step-by-step guidance for managing stress and your hormones.
What are the most effective ways to support adrenal health?
Nicole's approach to adrenal support focuses on: stabilising blood sugar (which reduces cortisol demand), improving sleep quality, nervous system regulation practices (breathwork, vagus nerve stimulation), adaptogenic herbs, and strategic boundary-setting to reduce chronic stress load.
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