#413 The Perimenopause Narrative: Myths, Fear & The Truth with Ann Marie McQueen.

Perimenopause has become one of the loudest and most confusing conversations in women’s health. Between fear-based messaging, outdated research, and oversimplified advice, many women are left unsure who to trust or what’s actually true. In this episode, I’m joined by Anne-Marie McQueen, health journalist and founder of Hotflash Inc., to unpack the narratives, myths, and truths around perimenopause and hormone therapy - and why nuance matters more than ever. We explore how women’s health messaging has evolved, the lasting impact of the Women’s Health Initiative, and why estrogen is once again being discussed/pushed - including what the removal of the black box warning really means (and what it doesn’t). We also discuss: Some of the most damaging narratives still circulating in women’s health Why these big name Drs are only focusing on estrogen Why the conversation around progesterone remains overlooked or one might say "suppressed" Anne-Marie’s personal perspective on hormone therapy Why hormones alone are not a complete solution Common perimenopause symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, and the often missed mental health side of things How important lifestyle and nutrition are, and how they can really help The biggest challenges women in midlife face today Emotional changes in perimenopause and learning how to feel, process, and trust your emotions And so much more. This conversation is REAL, thoughtful, honest, and deeply validating - especially for women who feel caught between “just take hormones” and “you don’t need hormones at all.” So if you’re navigating perimenopause, questioning the narratives you’re hearing, or looking for a more balanced, evidence-informed conversation about hormone therapy, this episode is for you. Ann Marie McQueen is a Canadian writer who has lived in Abu Dhabi since 2008. She moved to the capital to serve on the launch team for The National, later becoming features editor. She is now the editorial director and podcast host for the only health and wellness platform for men and women in the Middle East, Livehealthy, and has her own platform serving women in their 40s and 50s, www.hotflashinc.com. Social media; / hotflashinc YouTube; ‪@hotflashinc8983‬ TikTok; https://www.tiktok.com/@hotflashinc 👉 If you found this helpful, please like, share, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss future conversations from me and other experts who want to help you feel your best. I also appreciate your support on these videos because they actually do take time, especially where studies are involved and I don't monetize them. So if you would like to support me in making my videos or podcasts, and would like me to keep doing it, it would really mean a lot to me if you bought me a coffee - I do love coffee. Thank you so much for your generosity. https://buymeacoffee.com/cmhthanks Chemaine xo 🛑 DISCLAIMER: This video is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.