For Petra Boddington, menopause does not simply finish when periods stop.
A menopause coaching specialist and menopause champion, Petra works with women experiencing natural, surgical and treatment-led menopause. She says many of the women she supports believe they have already “been through” menopause because their periods ended years earlier, yet continue to experience fatigue, cognitive changes, loss of concentration, brain fog and changes in confidence.
Alexander Clementine founder Alex Perry spoke with Petra about post-menopause, genitourinary symptoms, exercise, changing body composition, strength and why she believes women should make informed decisions about their menopause care.
Key takeaways
Post-menopause does not necessarily mean women stop experiencing menopause-related changes; genitourinary symptoms deserve more open discussion; exercise should be something you enjoy enough to do consistently; progress is individual and can begin with very small steps; Petra prioritises being strong over being skinny; and she encourages women to research menopause treatment options and make informed decisions based on benefits, risks and quality of life.
What is the biggest misconception about menopause?
For Petra, one of the biggest misconceptions is that menopause is finished once periods have stopped.
She says women can reach the point where they have not had a period for 12 months and assume that means everything else should now be over too.
“A lot of women do think that that’s it then.”
When symptoms continue, Petra says women may instead attribute them simply to getting older.
Her own perspective is that menopause should be thought about over a much longer period.
“It is a lifetime journey.”
But she does not believe that has to mean accepting a miserable experience.
“It doesn’t have to be a miserable time.”
What is one menopause symptom Petra thinks is rarely discussed?
Petra’s answer is:
“Genitourinary syndrome.”
She believes women can attribute changes in this area to other experiences, including previous childbirth, rather than considering menopause.
For Petra, part of the difficulty is that intimate symptoms remain difficult to talk about.
She contrasts how readily women may discuss checking their breasts with how rarely they talk about their vulval and vaginal health.
“It’s such a taboo subject.”
She says:
“One of the things that is rarely talked about is genitourinary syndrome, and we should be talking about it more.”
Petra also describes her own experience of pain, discomfort and recurring UTIs and says these symptoms had a significant effect on her relationship.
Her aim now is to make conversations about vulval and vaginal health less uncomfortable and easier for women to have.
Why does Petra believe menopause symptoms need to be looked at together?
Petra describes experiencing a number of seemingly separate changes herself.
She had pain in her hands, frozen shoulder, tinnitus, vaginal symptoms, loss of confidence and anxiety around driving.
“I was never like that before.”
Each issue was considered separately.
“They were never brought into the big picture, which was, I was perimenopausal.”
Petra says this is one reason she encourages women to use symptom checkers and look at the overall pattern rather than considering every change in isolation.
She describes women struggling with cognitive symptoms too, including confusion, memory problems and brain fog.
For Petra, recognising the overall picture can help women better understand what they are experiencing and have more informed conversations about it.
What does Petra want men to understand about menopause?
Petra does not see menopause as something that affects women in isolation.
“If women are affected by it, then men are affected by it too.”
She talks about its effects at home, within families and in workplaces.
Her central message to men is simple:
“Just listen.”
Petra believes one of the difficulties women face is:
“Not being heard. Not being believed.”
She also believes understanding needs to improve on both sides.
“Both parties need to be more knowledgeable and more tolerant.”
Looking back on her own relationship, Petra says neither she nor her partner understood what was happening at the time.
Her advice now is:
“Sit, listen, understand, appreciate… and help.”
That help can also be practical. Petra talks about sharing responsibilities and giving women time to themselves when they need it.
What does Petra wish more women understood about post-menopause?
Petra describes her personal mission as helping women make their menopause journey a more positive one.
She acknowledges that menopause can arrive during an already significant period of change. Children may be leaving home. Parents may need care or may have died. Medical issues may also be happening.
But Petra does not believe this stage has to be defined by dread.
“It doesn’t have to be misery. It doesn’t have to be this dread.”
Instead, she sees potential for something else:
“It can be an opportunity.”
Petra talks about challenging herself in new ways, including performing stand-up comedy and setting herself a goal of competing in a bodybuilding competition at 60.
For her:
“It’s an opportunity that I can do whatever I want.”
And after years that may have involved caring for other people:
“Now it’s your time.”
What physical change catches women by surprise?
Petra points to changes in body composition.
“Your body composition is going to change.”
Her own approach centres on exercise and adequately fuelling the body.
Petra contrasts that with the low-fat, heavily cardio-focused approach to weight management that she remembers growing up with.
“Your body is different now, and you need to fuel your body in order for it to do what you need it to do.”
For Petra, the focus is not simply eating less.
“You need to fuel your body properly, you need to use movement properly.”
What is the best exercise during menopause?
When women ask Petra for the best menopause exercise, she answers with another question:
“What do you like doing?”
If somebody enjoys cycling, she encourages cycling. If they enjoy running, walking, Zumba or BodyPump, she encourages them to continue doing something they genuinely enjoy.
The important thing for Petra is consistency.
“Whatever you can do consistently, because that’s the key, you need to be consistent.”
She also talks about incorporating weight training into an exercise routine.
But if someone has never lifted weights before, Petra does not recommend throwing themselves immediately into an intimidating programme.
Instead:
“Pick something that you enjoy, something that you look forward to.”
What do small, consistent steps look like?
There is no universal starting point.
“That is so individual.”
Someone who has never lifted weights may begin with bodyweight exercises and learning what their body can do.
Petra says part of her role as a trainer is helping women build confidence until they surprise themselves.
“We underestimate what the body is capable of.”
Her oldest client is 81 and trains with Petra twice a week while also playing golf.
Petra also works in cancer rehabilitation and describes seeing people rebuild physical strength and confidence from very low points in their lives.
The progress might involve something as seemingly small as getting out of a chair.
That is why Petra’s summary is not to compare yourself with somebody else.
It is simply:
“Do a little bit more than you did.”
Are women too hard on themselves when their bodies change?
Petra’s answer is immediate:
“Always. Women are always too hard on themselves.”
She talks about the cultural focus on women being thin and the idea that being “skinny” should be the goal.
Her priorities have changed.
“I’d be far better off if I was just strong.”
For Petra, physical capability matters more: carrying shopping, climbing stairs, walking and continuing to do the things she wants to do as she gets older.
“What we care about is being able to live a longer and healthier life.”
Her philosophy can be summed up in the words:
“Strong over skinny, any day of the week.”
What does Petra want women to know about HRT?
Petra describes herself as a strong supporter of menopause hormone therapy.
Her central advice before speaking with a healthcare professional is to learn about the options and make an informed decision.
“Do your research, read about it, learn about it.”
She believes women should understand both sides of the decision.
“It’s a choice. It’s an informed choice.”
Petra recommends looking at the potential benefits and risks alongside quality of life.
“You need to know what the benefits are, what the risks are, evaluate it, look at your quality of life.”
She also encourages women to ask questions if they are told a treatment option is not suitable for them.
“Ask why.”
For Petra, questioning a decision is not disrespectful.
“You can question people. It’s not disrespecting them.”
Her emphasis throughout this part of the conversation is on women having access to information and being able to participate in decisions about their own care.
Exercise, nutrition and menopause care
When Alex asks Petra for her biggest piece of advice for someone beginning their menopause journey, she discusses three areas repeatedly throughout the interview:
exercise, nutrition and hormone therapy.
Petra is clear that she does not see any one element as working in isolation.
She frequently hears women say they have continued eating or exercising exactly as they always have, but that the same approach no longer feels as effective.
Her response is that approaches may need to change too.
“You need to change it.”
For Petra, menopause is therefore not about giving up on what your body can do.
It is about understanding where you are now, finding an approach you can sustain and continuing to build from there.
A more positive view of post-menopause
Petra’s perspective throughout the interview comes back to possibility.
She does not deny that menopause can bring difficult physical and cognitive changes. She speaks openly about her own loss of confidence, intimate symptoms, anxiety and experiences that were initially considered separately.
But she also rejects the idea that the years after menopause should simply be endured.
Her focus is on strength, confidence, knowledge and continuing to challenge yourself.
“Be anything you want, and do anything that you want.”
And perhaps the line that best captures her approach:
“Now it’s your time.”
About Petra Boddington
Petra Boddington is a menopause coaching specialist, menopause champion and personal trainer.
She works one-to-one with women experiencing natural, surgical and treatment-led menopause, with a particular focus on women who continue to experience symptoms after they believe they have already “been through” menopause.
Her work also includes exercise and cancer rehabilitation, menopause workshops and education around vulval and vaginal health.
This interview forms part of Alexander Clementine’s Expert Conversations, speaking directly with people working across menopause and women’s health about the questions women are asking.
