Perimenopause Explained: Dr. Mary Claire Haver on Hormones, Sleep, and Mental Health

Perimenopause can feel like losing control of your own body: the hot flashes, the sleepless nights, the brain fog, the sudden anxiety. In this powerful conversation, Tamsen sits down with leading OB/GYN and author of the upcoming book The New Perimenopause, Dr. Mary Claire Haver, to unpack what’s really happening during perimenopause and menopause, and what women can do to take control. 

In this episode, Dr. Haver breaks down everything you need to know about hormone therapy, vaginal estrogen, and testosterone for women, and how small changes in sleep, nutrition, and protein can improve libido, bone health, and even anxiety and depression. This episode is about understanding your body, not fighting it.

Dr. Haver breaks down what most women are never told:

• Why sleep becomes harder and what actually helps
• How estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone work together
• The truth about hormone therapy and who it’s safe for
• What to do when your doctor dismisses your symptoms
• How protein, strength training, and supplements like magnesium make a real difference

This conversation will leave you feeling seen, informed, and more in control of what’s happening in your body. Because perimenopause isn’t the end of something, it’s the beginning of understanding yourself in a whole new way.