Perimenopause can make your brain feel like it left the room — not that it remembers why it went there in the first place. In this first part of a two-part series with the Brain Docs, OvaryActive is talking all about dementia, brain fog, and the very real panic that happens when midlife memory glitches start feeling a little too ominous.

Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch welcome Dr. Ayesha Sherzai, one half of the Brain Docs, for a reassuring and science-backed conversation about what is actually happening in the brain during perimenopause. They talk about estrogen, memory, sleep disruption, hot flashes, mood changes, and why midlife brain fog is common, distressing, and usually NOT the beginning of dementia.

Part one is a hopeful, practical episode about brain health, dementia risk, and why You're Not Crazy continues to be the most medically useful sentence in perimenopause.

What you'll hear in this episode:

[0:28] Meet the Brain Docs

[1:21] Why study preventive medicine in neurology specifically?

[4:18] Migraine mea culpa

[5:49] Modern migraine science

[9:29] CGRP treatments explained

[11:37] Hormones OCP stroke risk

[17:24] Midlife brain fog fears

[19:20] Estrogen and cognition

[21:25] "When to worry" signs

[25:16] Referrals, prevention and what's coming in part 2

Links:

thebraindocs.com

Find the Brain Docs on Instagram: @thebraindocs

Find the Brain Docs on Facebook: @BrainDocsFB

Find the Brain Docs on YouTube: @theBrainDocs

Purchase The NEURO Plan Playbook: thebraindocs.com/playbook

Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube | perimenopausedrs.com/ovaryactive

Estrogen, Interrupted by Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su & Dr. Amy Voedisch

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

Stanford Medical Clinic: stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html

This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

Perimenopause: where your body starts doing weird things and then gaslights you about it.

In this episode of OvaryActive, Dr. Amy Voedisch and Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su dive into the "wait…what?" symptoms. Those random, head-scratching changes that pop up during the menopause transition. Think asthma out of nowhere, itchy ears that won't quit, or sudden dizziness that makes you question your balance and your sanity. Is it hormones? Is it aging? Is it both? Welcome to the gray area.

They are sharing what little research exists, where estrogen might be playing a role, and why so many of these symptoms live in the frustrating "we're not totally sure" category.

They also talk about whether menopausal hormone therapy helps, hurts, or lands squarely in the "we'll have to try and see" bucket.

Most importantly, this episode reinforces a core truth: you're not making this up. You're definitely not alone. And you're NOT crazy. This is really happening.

NOTE: Hey, we misspoke: BPPV is from the semicircular canals, not the ossicles. Thanks to listener Amy Patrick for spotting the error!

What you'll hear in this episode:

[0:29] We're talking WEIRD

[0:58] We have to give a disclaimer…because we're doctors.

[2:21] Can hormones fix it?

[3:50] Why am I out of breath?

[10:39] Okay, now I'm dizzy.

[12:47] I can't hear you!

[20:30] My ears are itchy?!

[22:54] My mouth is on fire!

[26:46] Why am I cold all the time? (I thought I was supposed be HOT!)

[29:44] This is really weird. My fingers are…buzzing?

[33:08] We hope you feel better. You're NOT crazy!

Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

Stanford Medical Clinic: stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html

This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

Perimenopause: the phase where your body does whatever it wants, whenever it wants, and your brain has thoughts about it. So what happens when hot flashes hit, anxiety creeps in, and suddenly you're questioning everything from your wardrobe to your worth? And more importantly…what if the problem isn't just the symptom, but the story you've been told about it?

In this episode of OvaryActive, Julia Weitlauf joins the Docs to talk all about cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for menopause—because apparently, we can't control the hot flashes, but we can control how much they ruin our day.

They are covering what CBT is, how it's been used for decades to treat things like anxiety and insomnia, and how it's now being adapted to help women manage menopause symptoms, specifically the distress around hot flashes.

Listeners will also hear why the CBT approach doesn't eliminate symptoms, but can significantly reduce their impact, improve quality of life, and help women get back to doing the things they love.

Bottom line: menopause may still be a buzzkill… but it doesn't have to run the show.

What you'll hear in this episode:

[3:00] What is CBT?

[4:53] How CBT is used for anxiety, depression, & imsomnia

[6:23] CBT with menopause and perimenopause

[15:08] CBT session-by-session breakdown

[24:47] When menopause overlaps with anxiety and depression

[26:58] CBT improves sleep, mood, and quality of life…why?

[28:08] DIY options

[32:26] Who should use CBT?

[33:41] How to find a therapist trained in CBT?

[35:19] Final takeaway

Resources:

Julia Weitlauf on LinkedIn

Managing Hot Flushes and Night Sweats by Myra Hunter

psychologytoday.com/us