Perimenopause Uncloaked: Your Empowered Transition Toolkit with Dr. Elina Zeldina

This is your Women's Health Podcast podcast. Welcome back to the Women’s Health Podcast, where women’s stories, science, and empowerment intersect. Today we’re diving into a topic that touches millions but often stays cloaked in confusion and silence—perimenopause. Perimenopause is that transitional phase leading up to menopause, and it can start as early as your late thirties or early forties. For some, it arrives with a whisper—a skipped period here or there, maybe some restless nights. For others, it’s a symphony of changes: hot flashes, mood shifts, brain fog, trouble sleeping, and all the big emotional questions about what’s happening in your body and what comes next. Yet despite how universal this experience is, too many women find themselves unprepared, isolated, or even dismissed. Today, I want you to feel seen and heard. I also want you to leave with knowledge and tools. To do that, we’ve invited Dr. Elina Zeldina from Premier OBGYN of Ridgewood, an expert passionate about empowering women to make informed choices and navigate perimenopause with strength and self-compassion. I’m excited to welcome Dr. Zeldina and will ask her the questions so many of you have sent in. Dr. Zeldina, first, what exactly is perimenopause and how does it differ from menopause itself? What are the earliest and most common symptoms women might notice—beyond the notorious hot flashes? I also want to talk about the emotional toll. How do you counsel women coping with mood swings, anxiety, or shifting libido at this stage? For women who are working, raising families, or managing other life transitions, what are your top tips for advocating for their needs with healthcare providers and at home? Now, let’s talk about treatment. There’s so much confusion and fear around hormone replacement therapy. According to Yale Medicine, modern hormone therapy is much safer and more nuanced than people realize. Can you explain who might benefit most, what the real risks are, and how other options like antidepressants, lifestyle changes, or alternative remedies fit in? How do you help your patients decide what’s right for them? And finally, what’s your message of empowerment to women entering or navigating perimenopause today? I know Dr. Zeldina’s answers will bring both reassurance and actionable advice. For all listeners, here are some key takeaways from our conversation: Perimenopause is a perfectly normal life stage, not a disease. Common experiences like sleep disturbance, heavy periods, brain fog, joint pain, and mood shifts are real and deserve care and attention. A balanced diet, regular exercise, mindfulness, and open conversations with trusted providers can make a world of difference. Most importantly, you are not alone, and you get to define what thriving looks like for you during this transition. Thank you for tuning in to the Women’s Health Podcast. Please subscribe for more episodes that center and uplift women’s voices. This has been a quiet please product This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.