Perimenopause Power: Your Questions, Answered by Dr. Ronni Farris

This is your Women's Health Podcast podcast. You’re listening to the Women’s Health Podcast. I’m so glad you’re here, because today we’re diving straight into something many of us feel, but too few of us are prepared for: perimenopause. Perimenopause is the transition time leading up to menopause, when estrogen and progesterone start to fluctuate and your period, your sleep, your mood, even your confidence, can feel like they’re being rewritten without your consent. The Mayo Clinic describes it as the “around menopause” phase, and it can last several years before your periods stop. Common symptoms include irregular cycles, hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, brain fog, mood changes, and changes in weight or energy. But here’s the empowering truth: this is a natural transition, not a personal failing, and you deserve real information and real support. Today, imagine we’re talking with Dr. Ronni Farris, an OB-GYN who focuses on perimenopause care, and with the team at Premier OBGYN of Ridgewood, who frame menopause as a natural transition, not an illness. I want to walk through the kinds of questions I would ask them, so that you feel equipped to ask your own clinician similar questions. First, I’d ask: How do you clearly diagnose perimenopause versus just saying “you’re stressed” or “it’s aging”? What blood work, cycle tracking, or symptom history really matters? Next, I’d want to know: What are the most common symptoms you see, and which ones should prompt a visit right away, like heavy bleeding, severe mood changes, or pain? Then I’d move into treatment. I’d ask Dr. Farris to break down hormone therapy in plain language: What is menopausal hormone therapy, who is usually a good candidate, who is not, and what does current research say about benefits and risks for hot flashes, bone health, and heart health? I’d follow with non-hormonal options. What role can antidepressants, blood pressure medications, or other non-hormonal drugs play for hot flashes or mood? And what does she really think about supplements, herbal remedies, or bioidentical hormones from clinics like the Marion Gluck Clinic in London, which emphasize personalized hormone balancing? Then lifestyle. I’d ask: If a listener can only start with three changes, what would make the biggest difference? Many specialists point to regular movement, especially strength training and walking, a nutrient-dense diet lower in alcohol and ultra-processed foods, and stress management like yoga, breathing exercises, or mindfulness. I’d also ask how sleep hygiene and limiting nighttime screen time can support hormone balance and mood. I’d want to cover mental health head-on. I’d ask: How can women distinguish between hormone-driven mood changes and a primary anxiety or depressive disorder, and what support options exist, from therapy to medication? Finally, I’d ask for advocacy tips. What questions should a listener bring to a ten-minute appointment so she leaves with a plan, not a p This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.