7 Domains of Perimenopause
Perimenopause—the transitional years leading up to menopause—is a time of significant biological, emotional, and social change. Often beginning in a woman’s 40s (and sometimes earlier), this phase is marked by shifting hormones, evolving health needs, and changing roles at work and at home.
Despite how common it is, perimenopause is frequently misunderstood, under-discussed, and under-supported.
Part of the 7 DOMAINS OF WOMEN'S HEALTH podcast, this collection examines perimenopause through seven essential aspects of a woman's well-being.
A Closer Look at Perimenopause
These seven episodes combine clinical expertise with lived experience to explore what is happening in the body and beyond. From symptom management to identity shifts, this series offers a comprehensive, grounded look at a transition that affects every dimension of a woman’s life.
The Episodes
E115: The Physical Domain of Perimenopause
Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, PhD, launch the 7 Domains of Perimenopause series by exploring what is actually happening in the body during these transitional years. From irregular periods, hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and changing metabolism to the often-misunderstood role of hormone fluctuations, they separate common myths from evidence-based medicine.
E116: The Emotional Domain of Perimenopause
Anna Nash, PhD, joins Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, PhD, to examine the mood, mental health, and relationship changes that often accompany the transition to menopause. The conversation explores how women’s sense of self, relationships, and overall well-being evolve with age, experience, and changing priorities.
E117: The Social Domain of Perimenopause
Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, PhD, are joined by Kristen Hawkes, PhD, distinguished professor of anthropology and pioneer of the grandmother hypothesis. At a time when many women are told to fear aging or mourn the end of fertility, they examine why post-reproductive women have long played a vital role in human communities, how older generations contribute to the health and success of families, and what this reveals about our deeply social nature.
E118: The Intellectual Domain of Perimenopause
Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, PhD, are joined by neurologist Christine Cliatt Brown, MD, to separate fact from fiction about the aging female brain. They discuss what current research tells us about hormones and brain health, the growing influence of misinformation surrounding perimenopause, and the evidence-based strategies women can adopt to support cognitive health throughout midlife and beyond.
E119: The Financial Domain of Perimenopause
Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, PhD, examine the business of perimenopause care through the lens of evidence-based medicine. They revisit the history of hormone therapy, unpack how past research continues to shape public perception, and explore why misinformation can become a profitable business model.
E120: The Environmental Domain of Perimenopause
Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, PhD, explore the many ways our surroundings shape the menopausal transition. They examine how environmental factors may influence reproductive aging, discuss practical strategies for creating more supportive home and workplace environments, and consider how stigma, social inequities, and misinformation can make perimenopause more difficult to navigate.
E121: The Spiritual Domain of Perimenopause
Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, PhD, explore how women can approach this transition with curiosity instead of fear. Drawing on neuroscience, psychology, literature, and years of caring for women in midlife, they discuss how our response to change can shape who we become.
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