Why do we pathologize perimenopause, as if it’s a problem to be fixed? Amanda chats with Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz, board-certified OB-GYN, integrative women’s health advocate, and author of Menopause Bootcamp. Dr. Gilberg-Lenz breaks down the key indicators of perimenopause, hormone therapy vs botanical supplementation, why estrogen dominance isn’t a medical term, and the importance of intergenerational conversations between women.
Curious about a specific topic? Here’s what they cover:
- Grassroots menopause movement (1:20)
- When perimenopause becomes menopause (6:05)
- Menopause is one day of your life (7:45)
- Perimenopausal experiences (8:19)
- Stress around perimenopause (9:00)
- Power of language (11:45)
- Racism and epigenetics (14:22)
- Common symptoms of perimenopause (15:30)
- Less common symptoms of perimenopause (18:10)
- Estrogen receptors in the brain (19:30)
- Getting to know estrogen (20:20)
- How estrogen affects inflammation (20:50)
- Age range of perimenopause (21:40)
- Long covid or perimenopause (24:00)
- Lifestyle habits for healthy aging (26:00)
- Exercise with age (28:25)
- Mindset and community (30:45)
- Intergenerational conversations (35:15)
- The narrative around female aging (39:10)
- From maiden to mother to crone (43:30)
- Sexuality with age (48:00)
- PMS and perimenopause (49:10)
- Top botanicals for symptoms (52:00)
- Entourage effect (52:55)
- Tablestake supplements and habits (54:20)
- Melatonin (56:30)
- Estrogen dominance (57:50)
- Predatory testing (1:00:05)
- Hormone therapy (1:04:00)
- Bioidentical hormones (1:06:30)
- Family history of breast cancer (1:10:20)
- How early can you start (1:12:50)
- How eggs change over time (1:14:20)
- Getting pregnant in 50s+ (1:16:40)
- Early menopause (1:18:05)
- What to look for in a doctor (1:21:10)
- Does pregnancy in your 40s affect perimenopause (1:23:10)
