Disclaimer

I'm not a doctor. I'm a woman who lived through perimenopause and writes about what helped me and the women who write me back. Nothing on this site is medical advice. Don't change a medication, supplement, or hormone therapy based on what you read here without talking to a clinician who knows your body. If something I write contradicts what your doctor told you, listen to your doctor first — and then ask better questions.

What I am

I'm a writer and a former research analyst. I have lived experience of perimenopause — specifically a two-year stretch of 4 a.m. wake-ups, brain fog, weight redistribution, and four doctors who didn't know what to do with me — and I have done a serious amount of reading on the underlying biology since.

What I'm not

I'm not a physician. I am not an endocrinologist, OB-GYN, naturopath, functional medicine practitioner, nurse, or pharmacist. I cannot prescribe, diagnose, or render any kind of clinical opinion on your specific case. The closest I can come is: here's what the research says, here's what worked for me, here's the question I'd want you to be able to ask your doctor.

If you're in crisis

If you are having thoughts of self-harm, severe depression, or any acute medical emergency, please contact a crisis line, your physician, or 911. This site is not a substitute for that kind of help.

If you have a doctor you trust

Lucky you. Listen to them. Use these letters to ask them better questions, not to second-guess their judgment.

If you don't have a doctor you trust

That's the situation that drove me to write these letters. I can't replace a clinician for you, but I can help you walk into your next appointment with a more specific vocabulary and a better-informed sense of what to look for. That's the point.