Perimenopause: Hormones & Hearsay | Part III

In the third and final part of our perimenopause series, Morgan and Sass dig into the science of how the brain actually changes through perimenopause, the well-documented racial and cultural gaps in menopause healthcare, and a full rundown of what HRT can and can't do.Plus: closing thoughts on what this stage of life really means, and a promise that this is only the beginning of the conversation.New here? Start with Part I (what perimenopause actually is) and Part II (the symptoms and listener stories) before this one - it'll make a lot more sense with the full picture.What We Cover- Dr. Lisa Mosconi's "Three P's" research - the female brain remodels itself three times across a lifetime (puberty, pregnancy, and perimenopause), compared to one rewiring for men at puberty- What's actually happening neurologically - how falling estrogen disrupts the brain's fuel supply, and why that connects to brain fog, mood, heat regulation, and sleep changes- Boundary-setting and "targeted empathy" - the theory behind why perimenopausal women are often described as having less patience, and why that shift may be a feature, not a bug- The research and healthcare gap by race and ethnicity - data on when Black and Hispanic women reach menopause relative to white, Chinese, and Japanese women, disparities in hot flash duration, and HRT prescribing gaps- The "weathering hypothesis" - chronic stress, cortisol, and premature reproductive aging- Uterine fibroids and hysterectomy rates, and the lack of a middle-ground monitoring approach before surgery becomes necessary- A broader discussion of healthcare policy and access - including funding for women's health research and the impact of immigration and diversity policy on medical workforce diversity (the hosts share their own views on this topic)- A full HRT breakdown - what it treats, bone and cardiovascular benefits, the debunked breast cancer myth from the 1990s, oral vs. topical risk differences, and the difference between prescription testosterone gel and newer women-marketed alternatives- Closing reflections - including a male perspective on learning all of this for the first time, and what "rewiring, not losing your mind" means as a takeawayA Note on This EpisodeThis episode touches on healthcare policy and includes the hosts' personal opinions on some contested topics (research funding, immigration, and diversity programs in medicine). As always, this podcast reflects Morgan and Sass's own views and experiences - it's not medical or policy advice.This podcast is for information and solidarity, not medical advice. Please speak to a healthcare professional about your own symptoms and treatment options.This Is Just the BeginningMorgan and Sass are planning to keep exploring this topic — including a future episode looking at the male perspective. If something in this series resonated (or you disagreed with something), they want to hear about it please, leave a comment or send a DM.Thank you for listening to the full series. If it helped you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it.This Episode is brought to you by Riverside and MasterClassOur Amazon Recommendation List is HERE | We will earn a Commission from all purchases made from these links.