Drew Barrymore Opens Up About Perimenopause

So, if you’ve found yourself experiencing symptoms that feel in-line with perimenopause, what can you do? “First,” says Dr. Mbaye, “exercising regularly and not smoking are two of the best things you can do on your own that will help manage symptoms. Beyond that, there are lots of hormonal and non-hormonal medical treatments that can manage a range of symptoms.”

Therapy is also an important tool, emphasizes Dr. Mbaye, especially for people who have more significant mood changes during this phase. Dr. Mbaye also shared that “if your symptoms are bothersome to you, bring them up to your doctor so they can then go through the options that are safe for your specific case.” She continued, “All perimenopausal symptoms are treatable if they’re bothersome, but they don’t need to be treated. It’s always up to the patient whether or not they feel the need to treat anything.”