We talked with:

• Heather Corinna is the author of "What Fresh Hell Is This? Perimenopause, Menopause, Other Indignities and You." They are the founder and director of Scarleteen, the pioneering inclusive sexuality, relationships and health education resource for young people established in 1998, and the current sexuality chair at Our Bodies, Ourselves Today.
• Dr. Jewel Kling is a professor of medicine, chair of the Division of Women's Health Internal Medicine, assistant director of the Women's Health Center and associate chair of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity for the Department of Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her clinical and research interests are in menopause, sexual health and LGBT care.

We talked about:

In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:

• Navigating the unknown. When it comes to perimenopause, there's a lot that a lot of us don't know. Women, nonbinary people — and yes, sex educators and physicians — can be surprised by their perimenopausal experience.
• Navigating the treatment maze. We know you've heard it a million times, but health basics (like getting enough sleep, managing stress, etc.) are actually really important in this phase of life. And our guests offer reassurance that hormone therapy is not a big, scary thing. Like any other medication, it comes with risks and benefits, and it's not for everyone.
• Navigating a new sex life. Sex may be different during perimenopause and beyond — but that could be a good thing. If certain types of sex don't work as well for you after the menopause transition, you may need to explore new, satisfying facets of your sexuality. There's no normal!

Can't get enough?

• Purchase the Mayo Clinic Press book "The Menopause Solution."
• Purchase Heather's book "What Fresh Hell Is This? Perimenopause, Menopause, Other Indignities and You."
  • From Bookshop.org
  • From Amazon
  • From Barnes & Noble 
• Want to read more on the topic? Check out our blog:
  • Menopause: Unexpected symptoms catch women by surprise
  • When your ovaries check out early: Early menopause
  • Are there reasons I’m feeling more down during perimenopause?

Got feedback?

• If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected]. 
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The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.