Episode 6: Perimenopause vs Menopause — What’s the Difference (and Why It Matters)

If you’ve been told “your labs are normal” but you feel exhausted, anxious, overstimulated, or unlike yourself — this episode is for you.

In this episode, Jen breaks down the real differences between perimenopause and menopause, why most women feel their worst before periods stop, and how a functional medicine approach can bring clarity during this confusing season.

This is not about doing more — it’s about understanding what your body needs now.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• The key differences between perimenopause and menopause
  

• Why perimenopause often feels harder than menopause
  

• Common midlife symptoms that are not “just stress” or aging
  

• How estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, and thyroid hormones interact
  

• Why standard blood tests often miss the full picture
  

• How stress and under-fueling impact hormones after 35
  

• Functional testing options from an FDN-P perspective
  

• Why one-size-fits-all hormone advice doesn’t work
  

• What support actually looks like in midlife
  

  Functional Testing Discussed:

• DUTCH Hormone Test – hormone patterns, cortisol rhythm, estrogen metabolism
  

• Comprehensive Thyroid Panel – Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, antibodies
  

• GI-MAP Stool Test – gut health, inflammation, estrogen detox support
  

• Blood sugar and nutrient markers – foundational for hormone balance
  

Perimenopause isn’t a failure of your body — it’s a transition that requires different support. When we stop guessing and start listening, symptoms make sense — and healing becomes possible.

If you’re tired of guessing and want a plan built for your body, this is the work I do with my 1:1 clients.

Learn more about working together: www.youniquebalancehc.comSchedule a call with Jen: https://l.bttr.to/Y9HOt