What if that feeling of "I just need to get my act together" isn't about organization or willpower, but your hormones? Brookes Vaughan, founder of The Women's Health Company, joins us to untangle the confusing web of perimenopause and menopause – two terms often used interchangeably but representing distinctly different phases of a woman's life.
Brookes brilliantly explains that menopause literally means "stopping of the monthly" and occurs when you've gone a full year without a period (around age 51 for most women). Perimenopause, however, is that rollercoaster 5-10 year journey leading up to menopause that can begin as early as 35. One patient described it perfectly: "Perimenopause feels like my daughter's Barbie Jeep – it goes forward, then stops suddenly... it's very jarring."
This episode cuts through the dismissive "it's just your age" responses many women hear from healthcare providers. We explore the comprehensive testing rarely offered but desperately needed – beyond basic hormone levels to include thyroid function, insulin resistance, nutrient deficiencies, and more. Brookes explains why checking only TSH levels isn't enough, using a brilliant car analogy: "TSH is like oil for your car, T4 is like gasoline, but your car won't go until someone puts their foot on the gas – that's T3."
You'll learn which specific tests to request, what symptoms warrant attention (from brain fog to irregular periods), and why the "Six P's" of womanhood (Puberty, Preconception, Pregnancy, Postpartum, Perimenopause and Pause) make our hormonal journeys so complex compared to men's "steady Eddie" hormones.
Join us for this eye-opening conversation that validates what you're experiencing and empowers you with knowledge to advocate for proper testing and treatment. And stay tuned – we'll be welcoming Brookes back soon to tackle the controversial topic of Hormone Replacement Therapy and separate fact from fiction.

Follow Brookes on Instagram @thewomenshealthcompany

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