Morning Glow Newsletter Vol. 15

Team Yara - Writing
Aug 28
8 min read

28 August 2025

Menopause’s Sneakiest Party Trick

By Yara, Editor-at-large

Hey there,

Let’s be honest: most of us think of hot flushes, mood swings and skipped periods when menopause comes up. But many signs are much sneakier, easily dismissed as stress, tiredness or just “getting older”. Here’s what else could be telling you something is up, and what you might do about it, without getting too technical.

1. Brain Fog and Memory Lapses

Dropping a word mid‑sentence or walking into a room and forgetting why you’re there? It’s common during perimenopause, thanks to shifting hormone levels that nudge your focus off track. It doesn’t mean you’re going mad… I promise.

2. Dry Eyes, Dry Skin, Dry Everything

Hormones help keep tissues moist. So as they dip, you might notice gritty eyes, flaky skin or a dry mouth. It’s not just inconvenient, it’s your body adjusting, nothing more.

3. Aching Joints or Stiff Muscles

If pop, crack or twinges feel new to your body, you’re not imagining it. Reduced oestrogen can make joints feel stiff, especially in shoulders, neck or knees. Simple gentle shopping or stretching often helps.

4. Anxiety, Insomnia or Deep Exhaustion

Feeling wired but utterly tired? Losing sleep, snapping at the smallest things, or feeling unexpectedly anxious? These might be hormones, not burnout, yet most of us write it off as stress.

5. Unexpected Creatures in Strange Places

Some women notice fluffy facial hair, softer but more wrinkled skin, or even frequent visits to the loo, more than usual. Hormonal shifts can affect body shape, hair patterns and bladder control, and they can catch you off guard.

So, what can you do?

Track your symptoms in a notebook or app, when they happen, what made them worse (laundry day or a big deadline?), so you see the pattern.
Talk to your GP. You don’t need medical jargon to get help, just say what you’re feeling.
Lifestyle steps help, a bit of sleep, good hydration, light movement and mindfulness can make a big difference.

— Yara, your Morning Glow Editor

Join the conversation here: www.yaraglow.com

Menopause Care: Don’t Let Shopping Tricks Replace Real Talk

Let’s cut to the chase. The BMJ just flagged a trend that’s taking us off‑course: a surge in hormone tests sold directly to women, often with zero medical backup… and yes, it’s doing more harm than good.

Folks are paying hundreds, sometimes in dollars, sometimes in pounds, for hormone panels that promise “personalised” care. In reality, experts say, these tests often miss the mark. Hormone levels fluctuate wildly; there’s no clear threshold to guide treatment; and neither can the results reliably show when your final period’ll arrive or whether to stop contraception. Worse still, they offer a false sense of precision.

Trusted bodies, including the British Menopause Society, NICE, ACOG, point out that menopause in women over 45 is a clinical diagnosis, based on symptoms and history, not lab numbers. Custom‑made hormone blends based on those test results don’t come with oversight like regulated treatment does, and some have safety concerns, including uneven oestrogen doses that might affect the womb lining.

What’s the takeaway? Menopause care works best when it starts with real conversation, how you’re feeling, your priorities, not what a test tells you. So if you’re tempted by shiny testing kits, pause and ask: am I listening to myself or to marketing?

Stay curious and grounded.

Alzheimer’s Clues Hidden in a Fish Tale

A recent study by King’s College London might offer a clue: women with Alzheimer’s disease showed noticeably lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood compared to healthy women. Men, by contrast, did not show the same drop. This discovery hints that the lack of these “good” fats could play a role in why more women get Alzheimer’s.

Researchers analysed plasma samples from over 800 people, including those with Alzheimer’s, mild memory problems and healthy volunteers. Using mass spectrometry (a technique for measuring lots of fat molecules), they spotted a fall in unsaturated (think omega-3) fats and a rise in “unhealthy” saturated fats in the women with Alzheimer’s.

The findings suggest these fats have a different impact on women’s brains. The team behind the study emphasises that we can’t jump to conclusions yet. We need clinical trials to find out if increasing omega-3 intake, through oily fish or supplements, can actually influence the progression of the disease.

Bottom line: it is worth making sure your diet includes enough omega-3s, especially for women thinking about long-term brain health.

Vaginal Oestrogen After Stroke: A Safer Story Than You Think

For many women, menopause brings uncomfortable symptoms such as dryness, itching, urinary changes, and repeated infections. Vaginal oestrogen tablets are often prescribed to help, but until now it was unclear whether they were safe for women who had already suffered a stroke.

A large Danish study of more than 56,000 women has provided some reassuring answers. Researchers looked at stroke survivors who were prescribed vaginal oestrogen and compared them with women who were not. The worry has always been that, even though these tablets are used locally, a small amount of the hormone gets absorbed into the bloodstream and might increase the risk of blood clots and another stroke.

The results were clear. There was no sign that using vaginal oestrogen raised the risk of a second stroke. It made no difference whether women were using it at the time of their stroke, in the months before, or even years earlier. This stands in sharp contrast to oral hormone replacement therapy, which is well known to raise stroke risk and is generally avoided in women with a history of the condition.

Doctors involved in the study said the findings should reassure both patients and health professionals. For women struggling with menopause symptoms after a stroke, vaginal oestrogen may be a safe option that improves quality of life without adding to the risk of recurrence.

The message is simple: while oral oestrogen remains risky, local vaginal treatment looks safe, even for stroke survivors.

Thinking of Testing Yourself for Menopause? Let’s Peel Back the Sticky Layers

Curious about menopause? You might have seen “pee‑stick” tests in pharmacies promising to pinpoint exactly where you are on that journey. They promise a quick, private snapshot, but are they actually helpful?

Researchers using genetic data have found that girls who go through puberty early… or have children early, face a raised risk of ageing‑related diseases, Here’s the gist: most of these tests measure a hormone called FSH, or follicle‑stimulating hormone, through a urine sample. Because FSH tends to rise as you approach menopause, the theory is that high levels hint you’re headed that way. Some kits even ask you to test multiple times over several days and enter your results into an app, which then estimates your stage.

But doctors say don’t go overboard with excitement. Hormone levels fluctuate wildly day to day, so a high reading doesn’t always mean you’re perimenopausal. And a low one doesn’t guarantee you’re not. That means those A‑4 labels may give a false sense of clarity.

Experts across the board advise that menopause is better diagnosed based on symptoms and your cycle history, not just lab numbers. A year without a period, for example, is often the most reliable indicator.

That said, if you’re desperate for validation, maybe you’re not noticing periods or feel clueless, some women find the tests affirming. They can provide a talking point when you see your doctor. Just don’t let them replace proper medical advice.

Bottom line: At-home menopause tests can feel empowering. But the real value comes from a clinician listening to your experience and symptoms, and offering solutions that make menopause more comfortable.

Your Face Called. It Wants a Massage!

If you’ve ever drifted off during a facial, you’ve already felt the magic of facial massage. It’s soothing, it eases tension, and it can give your complexion a fresh burst of glow. According to a leading medical massage therapist, when done well it can feel like a mini facelift, without the price tag. You don’t need fancy tools or a cabinet full of serums. Clean hands and a bit of know‑how is enough.

So, what exactly happens when you massage your face?

First, it boosts circulation. That increased blood flow feeds your skin nutrients and oxygen and helps flush away dullness and toxins. It also promotes lymphatic drainage, which can ease puffiness and detoxify.

Second, it softens tension in facial muscles. Holding stress or repetitive expressions can deepen lines, but gentle massage can relax these muscles and help smooth the appearance of fine wrinkles over time.

Third, using a slick like oil or silicone‑free serum lets fingers glide over the skin. That’s not just for comfort, it prevents tugging, broken capillaries and redness.

How to do it yourself at home:

Cleanse your face, then apply a few drops of face oil or gentle moisturiser.
Use light pressure with your fingertips, starting at the jaw and sweeping upwards to the cheeks and temples.
Keep your touch soft. Try small circular motions at key points like the temples, jawline and brow area to encourage drainage.

Even just a few minutes a day can help, relieving tension and refreshing your skin. It’s simple, relaxing, and heals from the inside out.

How to Relate to Your Thoughts and Emotions, Without Being Owned by Them

We’re all human… emotions and thoughts are unavoidable. But they don’t have to own you. The real challenge is how we relate to them, not the emotions themselves.

When we cling to joy, fight fear, or assume anxious thoughts are true, we’re no longer observing, we’re merging. We become the emotion, rather than stepping back and noticing it with compassion and wisdom.

Here’s how to reclaim that distance:

1. Pay Kind Attention, Don’t Judge

Mindfulness means simply noticing your emotions, worry, sadness, frustration, without labelling them good or bad. The goal isn’t to push them away, but to hold them gently and with awareness.

2. Practice Radical Acceptance

It’s not about approval. Radical acceptance means recognising reality as it is, not what you wish it to be. It helps quiet emotional fighting and frees your energy for things you can actually influence.

3. Reframe How You Relate

If your mind throws out “I can’t handle this,” loosen its hold by thinking instead, “I’m having the thought that I can’t handle this.” That tiny shift, psychologists call it “cognitive defusion,” creates distance and lightens the emotional load.

4. Share or Release It

Putting how you feel into words, whether by talking with someone you trust, or writing it out, can break the emotional tension. Expression doesn’t always fix it, but it helps shift the energy and release the grip of rumination.

Takeaway: Your inner world doesn’t need to run the show. You can learn to relate to your thoughts and emotions with clarity and kindness, without being swept away by them. It’s not control, it’s compassion in action.

Tips

Here are some quick, home-friendly practices you can use daily to stop being “owned” by your emotions and thoughts. They take only a few minutes each but build long-term resilience:

1. Name It, Don’t Become It

When a strong emotion hits, say it out loud or in your head: “This is anxiety.” “This is anger.” Naming separates you from the emotion… it’s happening, but it isn’t you.

2. The 4-7-8 Breath

Breathe in for 4 counts, hold for 7, breathe out for 8. It calms your nervous system and gives you space before reacting. Two minutes of this can shift a spiralling thought loop.

3. Ground with Five Senses

Wherever you are, list:

5 things you see
4 things you feel (chair, floor, clothes)
3 things you hear
2 things you smell
1 thing you taste

This roots you in the present moment, not in the storm in your head.

4. Thoughts on Paper

Keep a notebook handy. When a thought won’t let go, write it down exactly as it comes. No editing. Seeing it outside your mind often shrinks its power.

5. Compassion Pause

Put your hand on your chest, breathe, and silently say: “This is hard. I’m doing my best.” It feels small, but it interrupts self-attack and replaces it with gentleness.

Pick one of these practices today and do it for a week. Notice how your relationship with thoughts and feelings shifts, it’s not about silence, it’s about space.

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