This is your Women's Health Podcast podcast.
You’re listening to the Women’s Health Podcast. Today, we’re getting right into something many of you are living through, often in silence: perimenopause. This is not the beginning of the end; this is the beginning of a new, powerful chapter in your life.
Perimenopause is the transition leading up to menopause, when hormones like estrogen and progesterone start to fluctuate. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists explains that it can start in your 40s, and sometimes earlier, and it can last several years. During this time you might notice irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, mood shifts, brain fog, or changes in sex drive. None of this means you are broken. It means your body is shifting gears.
According to the Yale School of Medicine, hormone changes in perimenopause can affect everything from temperature regulation to mood and even heart and bone health. Clinics like the Marion Gluck Clinic in London and Premier OBGYN of Ridgewood in New Jersey emphasize that this transition is natural, not an illness, and that with the right tools, you can feel informed, confident, and in control of your choices.
In today’s episode, I’ll be talking with an expert in this space, Dr. Ronni Farris, an obstetrician-gynecologist who focuses on perimenopause and menopause care, about how women can reclaim this stage as a time of empowerment, not fear.
Here are some of the questions I’ll be asking Dr. Farris.
First, I want her to ground us in the basics: What exactly is happening with our hormones in perimenopause, and why does it cause symptoms like hot flashes, heavy or skipped periods, and brain fog?
Then I’ll ask: How can a listener know if what she’s experiencing is perimenopause and not something else? When should she see a clinician, and what tests or evaluations are truly useful?
We’ll talk about treatment options. Hormone therapy, often called menopausal hormone therapy or hormone replacement therapy, is described by Yale menopause specialists as one of the most effective tools for hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. I’ll ask Dr. Farris who might be a good candidate, who should avoid it, and how to weigh benefits and risks.
Not everyone wants or can use hormones, so I’ll ask about non-hormonal options: medications like certain antidepressants that can reduce hot flashes, blood pressure medicines that can help symptoms, as described by resources like Clue and Every Mother, plus lifestyle approaches such as exercise, stress management, sleep routines, and nutrition.
We’ll explore mental health. Organizations like Let’s Talk Menopause report that irritability, anxiety, and low mood are incredibly common in perimenopause. I’ll ask how women can differentiate between a mood disorder and hormonally driven shifts, and what kinds of support, from therapy to community, can make the biggest difference.
Finally, I’ll ask Dr. Farris how women can advocate for themselves in the exam room. What questions should you bring to your doctor? What if you feel dismissed or told you’re “too young” or “just stressed”? And what does an empowering, collaborative care plan actually look like?
Before we close, I want to leave you with a few key takeaways.
First, if your body is changing in your 40s or even late 30s, you are not imagining it. Perimenopause is real, common, and worthy of proper care.
Second, knowledge is power. Learning about your hormones and your options, from hormone therapy to non-hormonal medicines to lifestyle strategies like movement, stress reduction, and nourishing food, gives you choices, not ultimatums.
Third, you deserve to be heard. If a clinician dismisses your concerns, it is absolutely acceptable to seek another opinion. Your lived experience is valid data.
And finally, perimenopause is not the end of your vitality. With the right information, support, and treatment plan, this can be a season of redefining yourself on your own terms.
Thank you for tuning in to the Women’s Health Podcast. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss our conversation with Dr. Ronni Farris and other experts who are here to walk this path with you.
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