Perimenopause: The Sequel to Puberty Nobody Asked For!

Hello Shesight readers! Dr. CeeVee here, ready to dive into a topic that’s been hitting home harder than the realization that my favorite ’90s songs are now considered “classic hits.” That’s right, we’re talking about women’s health after 40. So grab your favorite fizzy water (or the ice-cream!), settle into your coziest chair, and let’s get real about this rollercoaster we’re all suddenly on.

Remember when we thought surviving puberty and our twenties was the hard part? Ha! Enter perimenopause, stage left. It’s like your body decided to go through a mid-life crisis, but instead of buying a sports car or planning for your world trip, it’s throwing hot flashes and mood swings at you. One minute you’re fine, the next you’re a human furnace wondering if this is what dragon breath feels like. And don’t get me started on the sleep issues. It’s like your body forgot how to sleep through the night – something you haven’t experienced since your newborn baby days or those all-night study sessions in college.

But wait, there’s more! As if perimenopause wasn’t enough, some of us are still dealing with the monthly “fun” of PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) and its overachieving cousin, PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder) . If PMS is that friend who shows up uninvited, raids your fridge, and leaves your emotions all over the place, PMDD is when that friend decides to throw a full-blown house party in your body and mind.

Let’s be clear – these aren’t just “female problems” to be dismissed with a pat on the back and a bar of chocolate. They’re legitimate health concerns that deserve serious attention and proper medical care. And no, they can’t be fixed by just “relaxing” or “thinking positive thoughts,” as some internet motivational guru might suggest.

In my quest for answers, I’ve gone down more internet rabbit holes than I care to admit. Between social media groups, influencers, and that one relative who swears by rubbing herbal concoctions or wild yam cream on your feet, there’s no shortage of… let’s call it “creative” advice out there. While it’s great that we’re all trying to help each other out (solidarity, sisters!), some of these “miracle cures” sound about as legit as those emails promising to make you a millionaire overnight. Your hormones are complicated, folks. Treat them with more respect than you would a late-night fast-food craving. The best thing you can do for yourself is to get a professional medical check for your hormones and consider proven treatment options, including HRT (hormone replacement therapy).

Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room – or rather, the lack of elephants in research labs studying women’s health. It’s 2024, and we still know more about male pattern baldness than we do about the intricacies of the female body. If men had to deal with perimenopause, I bet we’d have a “Menopause-B-Gone” pill right next to the hair loss treatments at the nearest pharmacy by now.

The truth is, women’s health research is still catching up. We need more funding, more studies, and more attention to these issues that affect half the world’s population. It’s time to make some noise louder than we did at the Taylor Swift concerts!

So, what can we do while science is still trying to figure out that women are, in fact, not just smaller men? Well, for starters, we can be our own advocates. Schedule those check-ups like you’re trying to get front-row tickets to your favorite comedy show or the recliner seats for the latest Tom cruise movie. Keep a symptom diary – it’s like a personal blog, but with more bloating and less public sharing. Connect with other women going through similar experiences because misery loves company, especially when that company brings chocolate.

Don’t be afraid to experiment (safely) with lifestyle changes. Exercise, diet modifications, and stress-reduction techniques can work wonders. And yes, scrolling through cute animal videos absolutely counts as stress reduction – I won’t tell if you don’t.

Educate yourself, too. Read reputable sources about women’s health. I read the medical blogs of reputed Universities more than from the website of a wellness coach who wants to provide you with a “60 day reset diet” to get back to the shape you were in your 20s! Girl, be realistic. Even you don’t want that 20-year-old self of yours! Random health blogs don’t count (unless you want to convince yourself that your headache is actually a rare tropical disease).

For everyone out there – whether you’re a woman over 40, under 40, or a man who has suddenly realized women are people too – you can make a difference. Create an open dialogue about women’s health in your family. At work, advocate for policies that support women’s health needs. Flexible work hours during difficult days shouldn’t be more controversial than pineapple on pizza.

In society, support and promote women’s health research. Donate if you can, participate in studies, or at least stop saying “but women live longer” every time we bring up health inequalities. Remember, a society that cares for its women is a society that thrives. So let’s band together, raise our voices, and demand the attention and research our bodies deserve. Because if we can make avocado toast a cultural phenomenon, we can definitely make women’s health a priority.

Stay fabulous, stay healthy, and may your hot flashes be few and your self-care game be strong!

Universal Love and Abundance,

Dr. CeeVee

(Dr. CeeVee is the pen name of Dr. Chandra Vadhana R, Founder of Prayaana Labs and Managing Editor, of  SheSight  Magazine)

P.S. If you understood all these references and symptoms, congratulations! You’re officially in the target demographic for both this article and joint pain. Welcome to the club!