Hormone testing in perimenopause and menopause is one of the most nuanced and most frequently mishandled areas of women’s healthcare. This post is your guide to understanding why — and what to ask for.

It’s what I wish every woman walked into her annual exam already knowing — the specific tests to ask for, why each one matters right now, and how to have the conversation with your provider so you leave with answers, not just printouts.

Menopause has finally entered the cultural conversation. That’s genuinely good news. More visibility means more women asking questions, seeking care, and refusing to suffer in silence. But visibility has also created a marketplace — and not everyone showing up in that marketplace has your best interests at heart.