Perimenopause Warning Signs Doctors Miss & What to Do Instead

In this powerful episode of Autoimmune Alchemy, I sit down with Dr. Jila Senemar — OB/GYN, longevity physician, and founder of the Miami Menopause Collective. With 20 years of experience, Dr. Jila is rewriting the narrative around menopause — from fear to freedom.

We cover everything from early perimenopause signs and comprehensive lab testing to bioidentical hormones, PCOS, microplastics, and why lifestyle always comes first.

If you've ever felt dismissed by your doctor, this episode is for YOU.

10 KEY TAKEAWAYS

• It's not anti-aging — it's longevity.
• Lifestyle is non-negotiable first.
• Perimenopause doesn't start with hot flashes.
• Iron deficiency is massively underdiagnosed.
• Your cardiovascular risk skyrockets after menopause.
• All bioidentical hormones are FDA-approved.
• Comprehensive labs are not expensive.
• PCOS and endometriosis are driven by environment.
• Food can restore ovulatory cycles in PCOS.
• Women need time, not a 5-minute visit.

CHAPTERS

01:34 What Anti Aging Means

03:04 Start With Lifestyle Basics

04:58 When Stress Catches Up

07:57 Early Perimenopause Clues

10:46 Menopause As New Chapter

13:02 Stepwise Plan And Supplements

16:57 Red Light And Sauna Reality

18:25 Labs To Check First

22:19 Cardio Risk After Fifty

24:40 When To Consider Hormones

25:49 Hormone Therapy Reframed

27:01 Bioidentical and Delivery Options

28:23 Hormones Autoimmunity and Heart Risk

29:02 PCOS Metabolic Roots

30:52 Toxins and Fertility Trends

32:22 Endometriosis New Science

33:07 Optimizing Women in Their 20s

34:52 Patient Wins Lifestyle and Listening

40:08 Why Womens Health Needed More

43:25 Miami Menopause Collective and Empower

47:04 Where to Find Her

47:49 Closing Thanks and Takeaways

GUEST DETAILS

Dr. Jila Senemar, MD | OB/GYN | Longevity & Women's Health Physician

Founder — Miami Menopause Collective Host — Her Time, Her Health Podcast

Perimenopause · Menopause · Hormones Longevity Medicine · Women's Integrative Health

20+ Years in OB/GYN & Women's Health Based in Miami, Florida

CONNECT

🌐 jilamd.com

📸 @drjilasenemar (Instagram)

🎙️ Podcast: Her Time, Her Health 📍 Miami, Florida

About Your Hosts

Micah Yu, MD, MHA, MS, ABOIM, DipABLM, IFMCP

Dr. Micah Yu is a triple board-certified integrative rheumatologist who blends conventional medicine with holistic, nutrition-based healing to treat autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions. A patient himself, Dr. Yu brings a deeply personal perspective to his work, having reversed his own autoimmune arthritis through lifestyle and integrative medicine. He is certified in internal medicine, rheumatology, integrative medicine, lifestyle medicine, and functional medicine. As the founder of MyAutoimmuneMD and co-founder of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic, Dr. Yu empowers patients to address the root causes of illness and reclaim their health from the inside out.

Melissa Mondala, MD, MHA, MS, DipABLM

Dr. Melissa Mondala is a dual board-certified physician in Family and Lifestyle Medicine, with advanced training in Integrative Psychiatry and Integrative Medicine. As President of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic in Newport Beach—recognized by UC Irvine as a Public Health Site of Excellence—she pioneers a holistic, patient-centered approach to chronic disease. Dr. Mondala is a nationally recognized Lifestyle Medicine Intensivist, core faculty at Loma Linda University's Preventive Medicine Department, and a passionate advocate for plant-based nutrition, mental health, and women's wellness. A sought-after speaker and educator, she combines cutting-edge science with deep compassion to empower lasting healing, especially for those silently suffering from autoimmune, mental health, and long COVID conditions. She shares practical inspiration for healthy living and cooking at @drmelissaskitchen.

About AutoImmune Alchemy Podcast

Mission: Blending science with soul to transform autoimmune struggles into healing alchemy

AutoImmune Alchemy is a podcast dedicated to the autoimmune community, offering hope, validation, and evidence-based solutions for those struggling with complex autoimmune conditions. Hosted by the dynamic duo Dr. Melissa Mondala and Dr. Micah Yu, the show features expert interviews exploring root causes like hormonal imbalances, leaky gut, and inflammation that traditional medicine often overlooks. Each episode empowers listeners to take proactive control of their health through lifestyle medicine, nutrition, and integrative approaches.

Connect with AutoImmune Alchemy

• Website:MyAutoimmuneMD.com
• Dr. Lifestyle Clinic:www.drlifestyle.org
• Instagram: @myautoimmunemd
• Facebook: @MYAutoimmuneMD
• YouTube: @myautoimmunemd
• Email: contact@myautoimmunemd.com

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