If you’re anything like me, you were diagnosed with PCOS in your teens or twenties - struggling with irregular periods among other symptoms. But what happens to our periods when we’re 35 and older? How do we know what’s actually normal and then how can we tell when we’re reaching perimenopause and menopause?

A huge misconception I hear fairly regularly is that PCOS becomes less of a problem as you get closer to your perimenopausal and menopausal years. Unfortunately, they aren’t our saving grace when it comes to symptoms. In fact, often I see it’s quite the opposite clinically when I’m working with patients. 

This stage of your life, hormonally, is like a “second puberty”. Your hormones go absolutely haywire again as your body prepares for finishing those fertile years. 

But like PCOS, perimenopause and menopause isn’t something that’s talked about much - what should you expect? We need to know what a normal period looks like first in order to be able to see the tell tale signs of perimenopause and menopause. 

Given the release of her new book "Hormone Repair Manual: Every Woman's Guide to Healthy Hormones After 40”, I thought now was a great time to bring my good friend and colleague, Lara Briden back onto the podcast to talk all things periods when you’re 35 and older. 

In this episode, we discuss firstly what a normal period looks like and then more about to expect when you’re approaching and in the throws of perimenopause and menopause - and of course, what you can do to help get through that “second puberty”. Knowing the signs and what to expect as you approach these years means you can be well equipped to handle the potential hormonal storm of PCOS, perimenopause and menopause. 

This episode is for you if:

• You are 35 years old or over
• You’re starting to go through perimenopause or menopause
• You want to know how your PCOS will impact your journey through perimenopause and menopause

Some things we cover in this episode:

• What a normal period actually looks like
• Tell-tale signs of entering perimenopause
• HRT - is it good or bad for women with PCOS?
• Tools to help you manage this ‘second puberty’

Resources and References:

• Lara’s Book: Hormone Repair Manual: Every Woman's Guide to Healthy Hormones After 40
• Lara’s Website
• Lara’s Instagram
• My Book: Getting Pregnant with PCOS
• 29: Is menopause when my PCOS symptoms will get better?
• 44: Your Guide to Birth Control (Part 1): Hormonal Birth Control
• 45: Your Guide to Birth Control (Part 2): Non-Hormonal Birth Control
• 46: Your Guide to Birth Control (Part 3): Permanent Birth Control Procedures

Links to our programs:

• The PCOS Protocol
• Eggducated