771: Beyond Hot Flashes: The 103 Symptoms of Perimenopause No One Talks About with Andrea Donsky

September 8, 2026 in Podcast, Women’s Health 0

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Episode Summary

What if the symptoms disrupting your life are connected to perimenopause, even if you’ve never had a hot flash?

Andrea Donsky spent 14 years in perimenopause and 11 of them with no idea what was happening to her body. Now, as a seven-time published menopause researcher, nutritionist, and bestselling author of Nourishing Menopause, she’s helping women put language to experiences that have been overlooked for far too long.

In this episode, Andrea joins Dr. Mariza to unpack her research into 103+ reported symptoms of perimenopause and menopause and why hot flashes aren’t even among the most common. Fatigue ranks #1, while nine of the top 10 symptoms are cognitive or mental-health related.

They also discuss why women are still being dismissed by healthcare providers, the foundational role of nutrition, blood sugar, sleep, movement, and stress management, and why perimenopause deserves to be viewed as an opportunity to protect your long-term health.

Most importantly, you’ll learn why this transition rarely looks the same from one woman to the next and why having the right vocabulary can completely change how you advocate for yourself.

Listen now to better understand what your changing body may be trying to tell you and the tools that can help you feel like yourself again.

ANDREA DONSKY

Andrea Donsky is a nutritionist, menopause researcher, bestselling author, and co-founder of We Are Morphus. She has worked in health and wellness for 26 years and has spent nearly a decade focused specifically on perimenopause and menopause.

Her research explores women’s real-world experiences during the menopause transition, including more than 100 reported symptoms and women’s experiences seeking care. She is the author of Nourishing Menopause, a research-backed guide combining nutrition, lifestyle, holistic health, and conventional approaches to help women feel their best through this transition.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why Andrea spent 11 years in perimenopause without realizing it
The 103+ symptoms women have reported during perimenopause and menopause
Why fatigue is the #1 reported symptom, not hot flashes
The surprising dominance of brain, cognitive, and mental-health symptoms
Why 40% of women in Andrea’s research reported feeling dismissed by healthcare providers
How nutrition, blood sugar, sleep, movement, and stress support women through this transition
Why HRT can be one valuable tool alongside foundational lifestyle strategies
How perimenopause can become a window of opportunity for protecting long-term health