This episode gets into perimenopause through an autistic lens—what it actually feels like, why it hits differently in autistic bodies, and how little real guidance exists. Matt, Erin, and Eleda talk through the biology, the lived experience, and the frustration of trying to make sense of something that affects so many people but still isn’t well understood—especially when you add autism into the mix.

We cover:

• How sensory differences can amplify menopause symptoms (hot flashes, sweat, fatigue, migraines) into something much more intense
• The overlap between hormones, histamines, and autoimmune conditions—and why everything can spike at once
• The lack of research, missed diagnoses, and why so many autistic people are left figuring this out on their own
• Real, often overlooked symptoms (phantom smells, joint pain, anxiety surges) and what it’s like not knowing what’s happening to your body
• What it takes to advocate for care, find informed providers, and experiment with supports like HRT

There’s no clean roadmap here. Just real talk, shared experience, and a starting point for conversations we should’ve been having a long time ago.