Ep. #570 | Is It Perimenopause or Something Else – Masterclass

By Jenn Pike | March 23, 2026

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In this masterclass episode, I’m breaking down the critical health factors that get dismissed when everything gets lumped under the perimenopause umbrella—and what you actually need to be testing and addressing.

Key Topics:

Why “It’s Just Perimenopause” Isn’t Good Enough

  • The difference between normal perimenopause transition and symptoms that signal deeper issues
  • Why severity matters: fatigue vs. extreme exhaustion, hair changes vs. handfuls falling out
  • How to advocate for proper testing and care

The Four Major Areas Being Overlooked:

1. Your Thyroid (The Big One)

  • Why TSH alone is NOT enough—what you actually need to test
  • The difference between subclinical hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s
  • How thyroid issues show up differently in thin vs. heavier women
  • The connection between thyroid health and your daughters’ period issues

2. Your Adrenal System

  • HPA axis dysfunction (what “adrenal fatigue” really means)
  • Why your cortisol awakening response matters
  • The connection between stress, sleep disruption, and that 1-4am wake-up call
  • How to support your adrenals without crushing your body with over-exercise

3. Blood Sugar & Insulin

  • Why you MUST eat within 1-2 hours of waking (yes, really)
  • The difference between fasting glucose and fasting insulin—and why both matter
  • How insulin resistance shows up in perimenopause
  • Why coffee is not breakfast (and what it’s actually doing to your metabolism)

4. Gut Health & Estrogen Metabolism

  • Why digestive issues intensify as we age
  • The gallbladder-liver-insulin connection you need to understand
  • Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in perimenopause
  • If you don’t have a gallbladder, what you MUST be taking

Additional Topics:

  • FSH and ovarian function: what rising numbers really mean
  • Hot flashes as cardiac events (not just annoyances)
  • Cognitive changes, memory issues, and the perimenopause-ADHD diagnosis connection
  • Why we need to stop treating perimenopause like something to “white knuckle through”

The Hard Truths About Healthcare:

I’m getting real about the reality of women’s health testing in this episode:

  • Why “free healthcare” doesn’t cover functional women’s health
  • The difference between Western medicine testing and functional diagnostic testing
  • How to create a health savings account strategy
  • What testing actually costs and why it’s worth it
  • When to work with a specialist vs. a generalist

Testing & Resources Mentioned:

Blood Work You Should Request:

  • Full thyroid panel (TSH, Free T4, Free T3, antibodies, Reverse T3)
  • Fasting insulin AND fasting glucose
  • Complete lipid panel
  • Liver enzymes
  • Iron panel

Functional Tests Worth Considering:

  • DUTCH Complete (adrenal/hormone testing)
  • HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis)
  • Comprehensive stool testing
  • Mira Fertility Tracker for tracking hormone fluctuations

Key Takeaways:

  1. One change can create a ripple effect
    • You don’t need to overhaul everything at once
  2. Your body is designed to work in your 40s and 50s
    • We just need to support it properly
  3. Stop comparing yourself to your 20s
    • The goal is vitality at your current age
  4. Testing is an investment, not an expense
    • Pay now or pay later
  5. Find practitioners who specialize
    • Not all healthcare providers are trained the same

The Mindset Shift:

This is about stepping into the wisdom of midlife while honoring your body as it is RIGHT NOW. Not trying to look like you did in your 20s. Not accepting that feeling terrible is “just part of aging.” Finding YOUR definition of health and vitality.

Let’s dive in!

Thank you for joining us today. If you could rate, review & subscribe, it would mean the world to me! While you’re at it, take a screenshot and tag me @jennpike to share on Instagram – I’ll re-share that baby out to the community & once a month I’ll be doing a draw from those re-shares and send the winner something special!

Click here to listen:

Apple Podcasts – CLICK HERE
Spotify – CLICK HERE

This episode is sponsored by:

  • withinUs | Use the code JENNPIKE20 at withinus.ca for a limited time to save 20% off your first order and 20% off your first subscription order
  • St. Francis | Go to stfrancisherbfarm.com and save 15% off your all your orders with code JENNPIKE15 
  • Eversio Wellness | Go to eversiowellness.com/discount/jennpike15 and save 15% off every order with code JENNPIKE15 /// not available for “subscribe & save” option

Free Resources:

Programs:

Connect with Jenn:

Have a question? Send it over to hello@jennpike.com and I’ll do my best to share helpful insights, thoughts and advice.

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