Friend, can we just say it out loud?  Most of us were not taught what perimenopause actually looks like.  We knew about hot flashes. We knew sleep might get weird. But nobody sat us down and said, “Hey… you might feel anxious for no reason, your joints might ache, your skin might feel dry, your cholesterol might change, and your mood could swing hard—AND you’re not crazy.”  

That’s why I loved my conversation with Meghan Rabbitt, a women’s health journalist of 20+ years and author of The New Rules of Women’s Health—a huge, deeply researched guide meant to live on your coffee table (and honestly, go with you to your doctor appointments). PenguinRandomhouse.com+1

First: Perimenopause vs. Menopause; Here’s the simplest way to explain it:

• Perimenopause = the transition before your final period
  
  

• Menopause = when you’ve gone 12 months without a period

And yes… the “clock can reset.” That’s why symptom tracking matters.

Next: Symptoms are bigger than we think

Perimenopause and menopause symptoms can include:

• hot flashes and night sweats
  
  

• heavier or irregular periods
  
  

• mood changes (sadness, anxiety, irritability, even rage)
  
  

• brain fog
  
  

• joint pain
  
  

• dry or itchy skin
  
  

• vaginal and urinary changes
  
  

• shifts in cholesterol and insulin sensitivity

If you’re reading this thinking, “Wait… THAT is menopause too?”  You are not alone.

My favorite tip from this conversation is to write your symptoms down before your doctor visit—then rank them in order of what’s impacting your life the most.

Because we rarely get enough time in appointments, and I want you to walk in confidently, not rushed and flustered.

My heart behind sharing this

So many women—especially women over 40—take care of everyone else first.

But your body is talking. Your mind is talking. Your energy is talking.

You deserve to listen.

And you deserve a doctor who listens too.

If you want to hear the full episode, you can listen here: And if you want Meghan’s book, The New Rules of Women’s Health, it’s available for pre-order now. PenguinRandomhouse.com+1