Perimenopause Power Hour: Your Guide to Thriving in Midlife

This is your Women's Health Podcast podcast. Welcome to the Women’s Health Podcast. I’m thrilled you’re here, because today we’re digging into a topic that touches the lives of so many of us—perimenopause. Whether you’re starting to feel some changes or you’re just curious about what’s ahead, this episode is about empowerment, clarity, and real talk, because you deserve to understand your body at every chapter. I want to get right to it: perimenopause isn’t something we learned much about growing up, yet it often hits during one of the busiest, most vibrant phases of our lives. Suddenly, you might find yourself dealing with hot flashes in the middle of a meeting, waking up at night drenched in sweat, or wondering why your moods are way more unpredictable than before. According to Every Mother, understanding perimenopause is one of the most powerful things you can do for your well-being. The more we know, the better we can advocate for ourselves and make the choices that serve us best. I’m joined today by Dr. Elina Zeldina from Premier OBGYN of Ridgewood, someone who’s all about personalizing care and giving women control over their menopause journeys. Here are the questions I’ll be diving into with Dr. Zeldina: First, what exactly is perimenopause, and how can you recognize that you’re in it? Next, what are the most common symptoms women experience during perimenopause, and why do these changes happen in the first place? Then, I’ll ask her about effective treatments—both lifestyle and medical. For example, hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, has been both championed and criticized. According to the Yale School of Medicine, HRT is the most effective treatment for many women when started early in perimenopause, especially for symptoms like hot flashes and sleep disruption. But it isn’t right for everyone, so we’ll talk about who it’s suited for and what the risks are. Since many women prefer non-hormonal options, we’ll also cover alternatives—like antidepressants and blood pressure medications, which have been shown to help with symptoms such as hot flashes and mood swings, as highlighted by Every Mother and Premier OBGYN of Ridgewood. For listeners who want to take control without medication, Dr. Zeldina will share advice about lifestyle steps that make an impact: regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, managing stress through techniques like yoga or mindfulness, and tapping into the power of supportive friendships. We’ll discuss what questions you should ask your doctor and how to find the right healthcare partner—because, as Dr. Haleema Sheikh points out at the Marion Gluck Clinic, advocating for the care you deserve is one of the most empowering things you can do during this transition. Before we wrap up, let’s hit those key takeaways. Perimenopause is natural, and while it brings changes, you have a wide range of options to manage symptoms and stay vital. The most important thing is to educate yourself, speak openly with your healthc This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.