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Feeling Off? Why You Need to Know About Perimenopause Now

Tamsen Fadal

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🧡 Order my New York Times bestselling book How To Menopause → http://bit.ly/46fxgfC

Maybe you’ve noticed you don’t feel like yourself anymore. The brain fog, mood swings, weight gain and exhaustion creep in slowly, and most women never realize these symptoms can start as early as their late 30s. Too often, they’re dismissed as stress, depression, or just part of getting older. But they’re not, they’re signs of perimenopause.

Dr. Mary Claire Haver, leading OB/GYN, bestselling author of The New Menopause and the upcoming book The New Perimenopause, joins me to explain what’s really happening in this overlooked stage of life and why it matters for every woman’s long-term health.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why so many women miss the early signs of perimenopause
The science behind hormonal chaos and how it impacts your brain, heart, bones, and metabolism
The real cost of being told to “tough it out,” from osteoporosis to dementia
Which symptoms to watch for (beyond hot flashes) and why blood tests often don’t give answers
The tools and mindset shifts that help you feel like yourself again

If you’ve ever felt “off” and wondered if it’s you, stress, or something deeper, this conversation will give you answers, validation, and a way forward.

Want more support in perimenopause? Get Tamsen’s FREE guide: https://www.tamsenfadal.com/how-to-pe...

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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:23 Dr. Mary Claire Haver’s Journey to Menopause Medicine
05:41 What Perimenopause Really Is (and How It Differs From Menopause)
08:34 The “Zone of Chaos” and Why Hormones Go Haywire in Midlife
10:26 Why There’s So Little Research on Perimenopause
14:09 How Young Can Perimenopause Start?
15:18 The Greene Climacteric Scale: A Tool to Spot Symptoms
18:19 Why Blood, Saliva, or Urine Tests Don’t Diagnose Perimenopause
23:18 Why Doctors Still Aren’t Trained to Recognize Perimenopause
26:25 Perimenopause, Motherhood, and Feeling Like You’re “Not Yourself”
29:44 Brain Fog, Anxiety, and ADHD-Like Symptoms Explained
32:12 Antidepressants vs. Hormone Therapy in Perimenopause
34:24 The Most Common Symptom of All: “I Don’t Feel Like Myself”
37:40 The Real Cost of Being Dismissed in Perimenopause
39:13 Silent Bone Loss: Why Osteoporosis Starts Before Menopause
41:36 Heavy Periods, Joint Pain, Palpitations & Other Physical Changes
44:00 Belly Fat in Perimenopause: Why It Happens Without Lifestyle Changes
46:19 Eating Disorders, PCOS & Endometriosis in Perimenopause
49:21 Perimenopause and Sexual Health: Desire, Pain & Treatment Options

Head to BranchBasics.com and use code TAMSEN for 15% off your Starter Kit #ad #sponsored

This show is sponsored by Midi Health. Visit https://www.joinmidi.com/tamsen today to book your personalized, insurance-covered virtual visit. Midi. The Care Women Deserve.

About Tamsen Fadal:
Tamsen is a journalist, NYT best-selling author, and menopause advocate with over 4M followers. As host of The Tamsen Show Podcast, she’s become a powerful voice in the menopause conversation. She is the creator and producer of The (M) Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause, a groundbreaking documentary calling for change in how we approach women’s health.

Tamsen is also the author of the New York Times Bestsseller How To Menopause, the ultimate guide to navigating midlife with confidence. From SXSW to Capitol Hill, Tamsen champions policies that break the stigma around menopause and empower women at work and beyond. After 30 years as a TV anchor, she now leads the charge in midlife health advocacy. Featured in Oprah Daily, The Today Show, NYT, and more.

#perimenopause #perimenopausesymptoms #thetamsenshow

20 Comments

@TamsenFadalTV Creator 11 months ago Pinned

Listen to the full episode of The Tamsen Show here 🎙🧡 https://www.tamsenfadal.com/the-tamsen-show-podcast

@aminah761 1 year ago

The mental health symptoms and the weight gain and sleep disturbance is the worst 😢😢😢

@n5791k 1 year ago

Fatigue is by far my #1 life altering perimenopausal symptoms. I've literally been tired for 4 years

@aminah761 1 year ago

I’m 45 and perimenopause is a beast so glad people are now talking about other symptoms besides hot flashes cause it wayyy more than that . Wish I was warned about this at younger age 😢

@magdalenacollazo5113 11 months ago

I am SO GRATEFUL for you two! I can see why suicidal rates for women between 45-55 is so high… This information is powerful and LITERALLY saving lives

@KimikoMaui 1 year ago (edited)

I was an aerial acrobat. I am lean and fit. Im 52. I felt changes for the last 10 years but it was the last year when things stopped working. I cam still do pull ups, handstands, and some say I workout harder than everyone in the gym younger than me but I developed a forever pms pooch, brain fog, adhd, etc etc. I got to the point where "nothing worked anymore". I thought because of my lifestyle I would not be affected. Hrt with testorone has been beyond amazing.

@jamiebarrera3507 9 months ago

I am 48, and been in Peri since my mother suddenly passed away when I was 40. I have been gaining weight, dealing with brain fog. I had to quit my job that I was at for over 15 years because of harassment and insults because I was struggling with understanding the women I was working with. They were mean, aggressive, gas lighting and passive aggressive. I felt stupid and ashamed. Wow,this had helped me so much. God thank you for this show and these doctor's. I am not stupid, after all I just graduated and recieved my degree in psychology. Shane on these women I worked with and certain doctor's that do not listen. Praise God for my husband who understands. Thank you so much for this show and talking about us women that need to be seen and heard

@lnspotts1 3 months ago (edited)

I'm 42 and perimenopausal. I finally found a menopause trained gynecologist after being gaslighted by several doctors. I finally felt heard yesterday and am in the process of getting treatment. Thank you for fighting for this!

@LifeLongStrength-68 1 year ago

🌸 I’m 45 and living through perimenopause has been one of the hardest journeys of my life. People often think it’s just about hot flashes, but the truth is, it’s so much more — mood swings, sleepless nights, weight changes, and a rollercoaster of emotions that no one really prepared me for. 😢

✨ I still remember when the first symptoms hit — I thought something was “wrong” with me, because no one had ever talked openly about this stage of life. For months I felt isolated, until I finally found communities and voices like yours shining a light on what women really go through. That awareness alone gave me back a sense of dignity and strength. 💪🌹

💡 Thank you for breaking the silence and fighting against the lack of education around women’s health. Because of resources like these, I’ve started to change my lifestyle: strength training, eating more protein, prioritizing sleep, and considering HRT with the guidance of a doctor. For the first time, I feel like I have tools instead of fear.

🙏 God bless you for speaking truth so boldly. To every woman reading this: you are not alone, your struggles are real, and together we can face this stage with grace, courage, and knowledge. 💖🔥

@CookingWithTeet 4 months ago (edited)

My joints are severely aching…belly fat is out of control, raging night sweats, zig zag mood swings, muscle aches, dry skin, itchy ears, I was just made aware that I am now in menopause and never knew I was in perimenopause. I was shocked to hear that I’m now in menopause. It’s affecting my mental health. I emailed my OBGYN and told her about this patch and I’m scheduled to start on it on Tuesday. I’m 49 turning 50 in November. 🙏🏽

@theafter40diary 5 months ago

Panic attacks, weight gain, palpitations... these started when I turned 38. In my 40s now.. The reason why I am starting my peri diary channel.

@FlowerChild2026 1 year ago

My story @ 37 symptoms started at age 36. I advocated for my self for a year non-stop and finally got an endocrinologist to believe me and prescribe me HRT and progesterone. My days are better but still trying to navigate this. Both of you ladies channel are heaven sent. Tysm💛

@literaljones 5 months ago (edited)

I actually went to be tested for early onset dementia twice, it got so bad. I both mentally and physically fell apart, losing everything I had spent the previous 23 years of my life building. I went to countless specialists, received the same barrage of diagnosis everyone else is getting right now, because no one ever thought about hormones. I was told I was perimenopausal in 2019, but my options were limited and what they offered exacerbated my chronic migraines, so I ended up on nothing, had a hysterectomy in 2023, had several visits to the ER for vasovagal attacks and weird vertigo issues, and when my fatigue and windedness got so bad I could barely walk, I had bloodwork done in Australia (not even my own country) that showed I was already post-menopausal. I JUST started HRT this past December, so 4 months ago? The difference in my mental and physical health state is astounding! It's like I've come back to life after a decade long nightmare

@glorimarboyd5120 1 year ago

What we need at this point is a book about supplements cause I have spent over $1000 in the past year trying to find a solution for my gut issues, lack of sleep, anxiety, hair loss, dry skin, lack of energy, etc!!!! 😩

@michelleprice5945 9 months ago

The weight gain for me has been the worst. I'm 5'8, was always around 135/145, i was shocked when my dr told me i was 200, socked and sad. I workout daily, fast, watch what i eat. Nothing has helped and I'll not going on a glp.

@terraloft 1 year ago

@28,29 minutes... I want to share and shout this to everyone .
Lord of all mercy and grace, give us patience and compassion for these days.. in ourselves and our loved ones

@aimeechada 7 months ago

I started my mom on vaginal estrogen for her reoccurring UTIs. It is a miracle. She has not had one since I started her on it. Every woman needs to know this. Thank you.

@SOULIMAN_ASHOUR 7 months ago

the brain fog hit me hard lately, glad to know why

@Toxicjustice 1 year ago

I salute the generations of women who unknowingly went through this without any validation or knowledge of what is happening.
God bless the person who donated those millions for the trainings.
Thanks to these two awesome women and the community involved for bringing the issue forward and making women feel seen across the globe. More power to you!

@amberlavalley 1 year ago

I am so grateful to have this information, though I believe those of us who have had hysterectomies are still being overlooked. As a 43 yo women who still has ovaries, I feel this journey is even more complicated. I have open conversations with friends to get some perspective, but the consensus has been "hooray! you don't have a period, why should you care so much?" My quality of life certainly is better post op but the end of our bleeding is the only true indicator. I desire a better and stronger life as I age. I believe we need a tailored plan. Are there resources out there i havent found?

I am sharing this content with every woman I know. Thank you both for the wisdom, effort and care. You are both beautiful and inspiring