Perimenopause 101: The Symptoms, Tests & Fixes No One Tells You About

By the end of this episode, you are going to understand something that nobody told you. And once you do, nothing about the last few years is going to feel random anymore. Tamsen went through perimenopause completely alone. No one explained what was happening. No TikTok full of women going through the same thing. No doctor proactively connecting the dots. Just a message in her patient portal that said, “In menopause, any questions?” That was it. In this honest and personal episode, Tamsen shares the five things she wishes she had known, from why the belly fat was never her fault to why she was Googling dementia symptoms in a bathroom stall during the evening news, to the one thing that took her years to unlearn about hormone therapy that she thinks about every single day. You'll learn: Why the belly fat and bloating were not your fault and what is actually behind them How perimenopause changed every relationship in Tamsen's life before she even understood what was happening Why the psychological symptoms hit before the physical ones and what that means for the anxiety, irritability, and brain fog you may be feeling right now The truth about the 2002 Women's Health Initiative study and why it kept millions of women from accessing tools that could have helped them Why testosterone almost never comes up in the first conversation and why Tamsen thinks it should What to do if your doctor has dismissed your symptoms or never brought up the perimenopause conversation at all If you have ever felt like you were falling apart in slow motion and no one could see it, including yourself, this episode is for you. Get Tamsen's ⁠How to Perimenopause guide! https://bit.ly/tf-perimenopause-guide If you liked this conversation, check out the rest of the How To Menopause series: ⁠Estrogen Down There 101: Here's Everything You Need to Know⁠: https://bit.ly/tts-yt-htm-estrogen-101 ⁠Testosterone 101: Everything You Need to Know in 20 Minutes⁠: https://bit.ly/tts-yt-htm-testosteron... ⁠Relationships 101: Is It Him or Is It Menopause? Here's How to Tell: https://bit.ly/tts-yt-htm-relationshi... STAY CONNECTED WITH TAMSEN: Get ⁠Tamsen's newsletter filled with free tools⁠ to living better, feeling stronger, and knowing you’re never alone: https://bit.ly/tts-youtube-newsletter Get Tamsen’s NYT instant bestselling book, How To Menopause: https://bit.ly/tts-youtube-book Free Resources from Tamsen: https://bit.ly/tts-youtube-hub Watch all the episodes on YouTube: https://bit.ly/tts-youtube-playlist Follow Tamsen on Instagram: https://bit.ly/tts-youtube-ig2 The Tamsen Show on Instagram: https://bit.ly/tts-youtube-ig1 Follow Tamsen on TikTok: https://bit.ly/tts-youtube-tt 🧡 LEAVE A REVIEW If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we'd love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... SPONSORS: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro 03:30 Why Millions Of Women Feel Dismissed During Perimenopause 04:31 34 Common Perimenopause Symptoms Women Ignore 06:21 Why Your Anxiety, Weight Gain & Brain Fog May Be Hormonal 07:58 The Real Reason Belly Fat & Bloating Happen In Midlife 10:40 How Perimenopause Changes Relationships & Friendships 12:36 Brain Fog, Rage & Anxiety, What Hormone Changes Do To Your Brain 15:24 Why Strength Training Is Critical During Perimenopause 17:25 The Hormone Therapy Fear That Misled A Generation Of Women 19:16 Why Testosterone Matters For Women In Midlife Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical concerns or treatment options. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Tamsen Show. ABOUT TAMSEN: Tamsen is a journalist, NYT best-selling author, podcast host, filmmaker and menopause advocate. As host of The Tamsen Show Podcast, she’s become a powerful voice in the conversation about midlife. She is the creator and producer of The (M) Factor and The (M) Factor 2, groundbreaking documentaries calling for change in how we approach women’s health. Tamsen is also the author of the New York Times Bestseller How To Menopause. From SXSW to Capitol Hill, Tamsen champions policies that break the stigma around menopause and empower women at work and beyond. After 30 years as a TV anchor, she now leads the charge in midlife health advocacy. Featured in Oprah Daily, GMA, The Today Show, NYT, and more. #perimenopause #perimenopausesymptoms #thetamsenshow