What You Didn’t Hear on Oprah’s Menopause Special

Oprah launched her big menopause special, and it’s all I’ve been hearing about lately. It’s on the news, on my social media feeds, and has even made its way into conversations with peers.

In case you missed it, Halle Berry, Naomi Watts, Maria Shriver, and Certified Menopause Specialist Dr. Mary Claire Haver joined Oprah in a broadcasted conversation about what women experience in perimenopause. The message was clear: if you’re in midlife and feeling off, it’s definitely menopause.

That’s where I hit pause. Have we completely missed the point?

So in this episode of Medsplaining, I go through common symptoms of perimenopause that could hide as a real health condition. To those who watched or heard of Oprah’s special, I want to say that although your perimenopause symptoms are valid, it should not be a reason to skip the doctor.

✨ Is it perimenopause or something else?

[00:28] — There’s an exclusive Zax’s Original skincare giveaway worth over $130. Want in? Here’s how to enter.

[01:04] — Everything you need to know about Oprah’s big menopause special.

[02:22] — Racing heart? It might be perimenopause. Or it might be something your cardiologist would love to discuss.

[02:55] — Heavy bleeding or irregular spotting? Before labelling it as “just menopause,” there’s a whole world of possibilities lurking beneath the surface.

[03:20] — Migraine alert: sometimes it’s just hormones. Sometimes it’s your body waving a big red flag.

[03:19] — Fatigue? It might not always be a lack of sleep. It could also be iron and B12 that are MIA.

[03:54] — Is your sleep apnea worsening? Perimenopause might not be the culprit here.

[04:0] — Don’t write off mood swings as part of the transition because it’s also a big part of mood disorders.

[04:27] — This one sign will tell you if brain fog could be more than just forgetting your keys again…

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Thanks for tuning in. See you next time!

Hugs and good health,

Dr. Jen