Perimenopause isn’t one experience. It’s millions of individual journeys through the same biological transition—each shaped by different bodies, different histories, different circumstances.
Some situations require particular attention. Not because they make things impossible, but because they change the conversation. What’s safe. What’s available. What you need to advocate for.
What’s Covered Here
Contraception
Yes, you can still get pregnant during perimenopause. What you need to know about fertility, options, and when contraception can stop.
Surgical & Premature Menopause
When menopause comes suddenly or early, the experience is different. More abrupt. Often more severe. Different approaches may be needed.
Neurodivergence
Emerging research on how autistic individuals and others with sensory processing differences experience perimenopause differently.
History of Hormone-Sensitive Cancer
If you've had breast cancer or another hormone-sensitive cancer, some options are off the table. But you still have options.
Race, Ethnicity & Healthcare
How the menopause experience differs by race—and how the healthcare system fails women of color.
LGBTQ+ Considerations
Navigating perimenopause across the spectrum of gender and sexuality. This guide is for you too.
Why This Section Matters
Having a special circumstance doesn’t mean you have fewer choices—though it may feel that way when providers reflexively say “no” without exploring alternatives.
What it means is that the conversation needs to be more nuanced. More informed. More tailored to you specifically.
Being informed helps you have that conversation. It helps you push back when needed. It helps you find providers who understand your situation instead of settling for ones who don’t.
You deserve support through this transition regardless of your circumstances. This section helps you understand what that support might look like for you.