PERIMENOPAUSE: When The Real Change Begins

January is our “greatest hits” month—and this conversation with Dr. Jen Ashton and Aarti Sequeira remains one of the most shared and talked-about episodes of 2025. Perimenopause is messy, misunderstood, and wildly under-discussed—even though it can last a decade or more and affect nearly every system in the body. I’ve been going through it for 12 years…and counting!  In this episode, we get real about what perimenopause actually looks like in real life: brain fog, sleep disruption, rage, hormone chaos, and that unsettling feeling of “I don’t feel like myself anymore.” Dr. Jen explains why the most significant changes happen during perimenopause—not after menopause—and why women deserve better information, better research, and better care. We also explore why this season can be both destabilizing and deeply empowering. It’s not about fear. It’s about reclaiming agency in a phase of life that too often goes unexplained.  If you’ve ever wondered, “Is this normal?” or “Why didn’t anyone tell me about this?”—this conversation is for you. Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It.  Listen in to learn more :  [0:00:57] - Changing Perceptions of Perimenopause [0:01:05] - Consistency and the Connectivity Challenge [0:06:36] - Hormonal Changes During Perimenopause [0:12:03] - Gender Equity and Research Funding [0:22:47] - Challenging Perimenopause Victim Narratives Listen to the entire Perimenopause Series here:  Ep 1 Perimenopause: The real change Ep 2  Perimenopause: How to prepare  Ep 3  Perimenopause: What no one is saying about GLP-1’s Ep 4  Perimenopause: Is Testosterone the game-changer women need Ep 5 Perimenopause: Why ages 45-50 are so risky for women and how to get help In this episode, we are diving into honest conversations about perimenopause, three major changes a woman goes through in her lifetime, why the changes in perimenopause feel so monumental, current research on women’s health, the pros and cons of western medicine and the American healthcare system, advocating for ourselves, and taking responsibility for our own health. LINKS Get Paula’s Personal Newsletter   https://www.paulafarisofficial.com/newsletter  Connect with Paula on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/paulafaris/?hl=en  THE CARRY™ ALL NEWSLETTER by and for working moms  https://carrymedia.com/the-carry-all/  My Favorite Weighted Vest https://amzn.to/4iMWhla  https://menopause.org/  https://www.myalloy.com/ Use code: PAULA42103 for $25 off first order Meet Dr Jen Meet Aarti Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices