There’s a lot of hype around perimenopause. Don’t buy it.
This article critiques the recent surge in hype surrounding perimenopause, warning that misinformation is driving unnecessary spending on tests and supplements. It emphasizes that while symptoms are real and can be difficult, there is no standardized medical test for the condition.
Why it matters
It addresses the growing trend of health-related misinformation on social media and the commercialization of women's health stages.
Discussions of the life stage are often clouded by misinformation.
Perimenopause has entered the chat. Perimenopause—and its better-known relative, menopause—used to be considered taboo. Not anymore, thanks at least in part to TV doctors and social media influencers. Perhaps it’s my age, but these days, both my algorithm and my conversations with friends increasingly swing toward perimenopause.
Menopause is defined as the life stage that occurs a year after a person has had their last period. Perimenopause is the sometimes years-long period before that point, which can also feature all the symptoms we’d typically associate with menopause.
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