When we talk about perimenopause, we talk a lot about symptoms, but not nearly enough about what's happening to your heart. Since February is Heart Health Month, it's the perfect time to take a "beat" to focus on your cardiovascular health.

In this episode of OvaryActive, the Docs zoom out from hot flashes and hormones to talk about the number one killer of women: cardiovascular disease. They also explain why the menopause transition is a critical (and often ignored) window for heart health.

Preventive cardiologist Dr. Beth Abramson joins Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch to connect the dots between perimenopause, estrogen changes, and rising cardiovascular risk.

They talk about why cholesterol and blood pressure tend to creep up after ovarian function declines and how lifestyle factors actually matter more than we'd like them to. This conversation reframes midlife as an opportunity, not a countdown.

The takeaway? You're not doomed, but you do need to pay attention. Your heart has been quietly keeping score this whole time.

What you'll hear in this episode:

[0:28] Welcome Dr. Beth Abramson

[1:20] Heart health 101

[5:21] Understanding risk factors and prevention

[7:30] Diet & exercise: practical advice

[12:34] Menopause & cardiovascular health

[16:30] Pregnancy & long-term heart health

[24:11] Lp(a) explained

[26:29] Hormones ≠ heart shield

[32:14] Risk–Benefit Math

[40:16] What the future holds

[44:07] Basic health practices are important

[44:36] A few final thoughts on heart health

Resources:

cardiometabolicprevent.ca

Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

Stanford Medical Clinic: stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html

Birth control or hormone therapy? Why does this decision feel like a personality test you didn't study for?

In this episode of OvaryActive, the Docs tackle one of the most confusing (and hotly debated) topics in perimenopause: when birth control is actually the right choice, when menopausal hormone therapy makes more sense, and why TikTok might not be the best place for medical nuance.

Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch walk listeners through how clinicians actually think about this decision. The process includes contraceptive needs, bleeding patterns, symptom "greatest hits," and medical history that actually matters.

The Docs will guide you through the options and even cover what a combination approach might look like. Most importantly, shared decision-making, not social media panic, should guide treatment choices.

This episode reminds you that perimenopause is real, complicated, and highly individual. And the right plan is the one that treats your physiology, not someone else's algorithm.

What you'll hear in this episode:

[1:05] Birth control vs. hormone therapy

[2:49] Contraception needs during perimenopause

[5:34] Understanding menopausal hormone therapy

[7:45] Assessing symptoms

[16:59] So many choices! How do you choose?

[22:03] Breakthrough symptoms

[23:51] Combination approaches (Amy's FAV)

[29:58] You didn't miss the window!

[35:32] Alternative methods & why they may not be a good fit

[40:22] You're NOT crazy!

Follow the show @OvaryActive Instagram | YouTube

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

Stanford Medical Clinic: stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html

Hot flashes, mood swings, surprise chin hairs… and now migraines? Welcome to perimenopause, where your hormones throw a rave in your brain and forget to invite you.

In this episode of OvaryActive, the Docs tackle the maddening intersection of migraine misery and perimenopause chaos, complete with aura weirdness, estrogen roller coasters, and the universal fear of bright lights and strong perfumes.

Migraines are more than "just a headache" and there is a reason they love to show up right before or during your period. You'll hear about triggers ranging from hormones to allergens to the existential dread of week three of your cycle.

This episode sheds light on the difference between migraines with and without aura, why estrogen drops can send your brain into chaos, and what treatments actually work.

You'll know your options, understand your triggers, and realize (important!) that you do not have to suffer through perimenopausal migraines alone.

What you'll hear in this episode:

[1:57] Why do migraines appear or get worse during perimenopause?

[3:40] Headaches vs. true migraines

[8:03] What the what is a migraine "aura"?

[13:33] Can you prevent migraines?

[21:25] Migraines can also mean anxiety, sleep issues, and hot flashes

[22:27] Practical treatment options

[29:46] What's new in the migraine treatment world?

[32:39] OTC remedies for when a migraine happens

[38:41] You're NOT CRAZY!

Resources:

curablehealth.com

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

Stanford Medical Clinic: stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html