Common Perimenopause/Menopause QuestionsCommon Perimenopause/Menopause Questions
Healthy YOU!
If you’ve ever found yourself Googling, “Is this perimenopause?” at 2 a.m., you’re not alone. In this episode of Healthy YOU, Frankye Myers sits down with Dr. Diane Maddela, board-certified OB/GYN with Riverside Partners in Women’s Health, for a myth‑busting, clarity‑building conversation about the common perimenopause questions women are asking every single day.
37:10•8 Jun 2026
Common Perimenopause Questions, Real Answers with Dr. Diane Maddela
Episode Overview
- Perimenopause and menopause are mainly clinical diagnoses based on age and symptoms; hormone tests are rarely needed and can be misleading.
- Symptoms can go far beyond hot flashes, including joint pain, bowel changes, brain fog and significant anxiety that often gets missed.
- Compounded pellet hormone therapy is not FDA‑regulated, can carry higher risks and cannot be removed once placed, unlike standard patches, gels or tablets.
- Not every woman needs hormone therapy, and decisions should be based on personal history, symptoms, goals and a thorough discussion of risks and benefits.
- Strength training plus moderate “zone 2” cardio, good sleep, stress reduction and solid relationships are key tools for weight, brain and heart health in midlife.
“You're not imagining those changes, and you're not meant to figure it out alone or suffer in silence.”
What drives someone to seek a life with more sleep, less anxiety and fewer 2 a.m. Google searches about hot flashes? This conversation between host Frankye Myers and board‑certified OB/GYN Dr. Diane Maddela gets right to the point about perimenopause and menopause, cutting through confusion with clear, straight‑talk answers. You’ll hear why hormone tests usually aren’t the magic answer people hope for, and why age and symptoms tend to matter more than lab numbers. Dr.
Maddela lays out the classic signs like hot flashes and night sweats, but also the less obvious ones: joint pain, bowel changes, brain fog, shifting mood and especially anxiety. She stresses that midlife symptoms should be viewed through a hormone lens, not as a personal failing. A big chunk of the chat focuses on hormone therapy myths. Dr.
Maddela explains the difference between FDA‑approved bioidentical hormones and compounded pellet therapy, sharing real concerns about safety, dosing and side effects when pellets can’t simply be stopped. She also answers the guilt‑laden question many women ask: “Did I miss my chance if I wasn’t offered hormones in my 50s?” Her answer is reassuring and firmly grounded in evidence.
For anyone frustrated that their old diet and workout tricks don’t touch midlife weight gain, there’s a practical breakdown of insulin resistance, cortisol, sleep, and why endless high‑intensity workouts backfire. Dr. Maddela champions strength training and steady “zone 2” cardio as realistic game‑changers for body composition, brain and heart health. Throughout, the tone stays warm, funny and honest, with both women sharing lived experience alongside medical facts. As Dr.
Maddela says, “You’re not imagining those changes, and you’re not meant to figure it out alone or suffer in silence.” If you or someone you care about is asking, “Is this perimenopause?” what would it feel like to get real answers and a plan instead of guesswork?
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