| | | | With the National Menopause Foundation and Perry, the leading digital health platform focused on perimenopause, recently joining forces to designate September as Perimenopause Awareness Month and September 22 as World Perimenopause Day, it's time to address an issue that quietly impacts us all: how perimenopause is treated—or rather, not treated—by our healthcare system and society. Perimenopause is more than just a precursor to menopause; it’s a complex, often misunderstood phase that can start as early as your mid-30s.
This phase can span a decade or more, yet it often feels like we’re navigating it alone, with little guidance or support. It’s as if this critical stage in our lives has been swept under the rug, deemed too complex or messy for mainstream conversation. During a recent panel discussion titled, More Than Hot Flashes: Demystifying Menopause with The Midst, it became clear just how baffling this stage is—even for experts.
As Dr. Thara Vayali, co-founder and chief medical officer of hey freya, pointed out, “It’s important to know the difference, because otherwise, all the solutions out there for menopause, without an educated lens, start getting pushed down into perimenopause.” Unlike menopause or pregnancy, perimenopause doesn’t have clear boundaries, and its symptoms vary widely from woman to woman. But this lack of clarity doesn’t mean you should be left in the dark.
We’ve all been there—sitting in a doctor’s office, trying to explain symptoms that don’t fit into a tidy box, only to be told everything’s “normal” when it clearly doesn’t feel that way. Or maybe you’ve felt dismissed, like your concerns aren’t being taken seriously because perimenopause is just “part of getting older.” This is the reality for too many women, and it’s simply unacceptable.
Our healthcare system needs to do better.
Perimenopause should not be a mystery, and women shouldn’t have to fight to be heard. We deserve comprehensive care that acknowledges the unique challenges of this phase, from hormonal fluctuations to the emotional and physical toll our bodies take.
Let’s start the conversation. Share your experiences, ask questions, demand answers. If your healthcare provider isn’t giving you the attention and care you need, find one who will. And push for more education, both in the medical community and society at large, so that no woman has to navigate this journey feeling forgotten or alone. |
| Meet the Entrepreneur Revolutionizing Ovarian Health and Precision Medicine Flow Space Advisory Council member Dr. Piraye Yurttas Beim is the founder and CEO of Celmatix, a pioneering biotech company dedicated to transforming women's lives by advancing ovarian health. Back in 2009, when the idea of FemTech was still in its infancy, Beim launched Celmatix with a bold vision: to fast-track precision medicine specifically for women.
Under her leadership, Celmatix earned a spot on Fast Company’s 2017 list of Most Innovative Companies, thanks to its pioneering work in decoding the genetic factors that drive ovarian function. This research continues to shed new light on female biology and health, paving the way for innovations that could improve and extend ovarian function like we’ve never seen before.
In an interview for this newsletter, Beim discusses what she’s learned during her 20 years working in women’s health and what she’s most excited about for the future. |
What’s one surprising or little-known fact about ovarian health that you wish more people knew? There are a few reasons that I coined the term "ovarian health" back in 2019 to describe the new category of women’s health therapeutics that my company, Celmatix, was developing.
First of all, when most people think about the ovary, they think about babies. So everyone assumed that every drug we were developing was simply a fertility drug. What most people don't realize is that the ovary isn't just an “egg factory”—it’s the “central command” of a woman’s body, with important functions to help maintain health across a woman’s lifespan.
By creating first of their kind drugs to help optimize and extend ovarian function throughout a woman's lifespan, we are impacting a lot more than just fertility.
Also, ovaries were meant to last a lifetime. However, most people just accept that they stop working in midlife (or earlier), resulting in menopause. If we never brushed our teeth or went to the dentist, our teeth would fall out and stop working by midlife too.
For some reason, the ovary is the one vital organ that we neglect lifelong and then accept that it stops working during menopause.
Demographically speaking, menopause wasn't a problem in the past because ovaries lasted about as long as women were alive. But now that we are living longer, most women are living decades of their lives without the function of this vital organ. Many of them don't realize that the issues they are experiencing as they age like sleep issues, lower sex drive, thinning hair, dry skin, slower recovery from exercise and injuries, joint pain and brain fog are due to declining ovarian health through perimenopause—not just aging.
You’ve been at the forefront of women’s health for over two decades. What’s one trend or technology in the FemTech space that you’re most excited about for the future? The company I founded in 2009, Celmatix, was one of the first FemTech companies (in fact, the term FemTech wasn’t even coined until seven years later).
Over time, Celmatix has evolved from FemTech to FemPharma. Just like we were one of the first companies to build and leverage big datasets to create unique products for women’s bodies, now we are on the bleeding edge of a new wave of emerging drug companies that are starting with unique insights into female biology and building products purposefully for conditions that only or disproportionately impact women.
Data and better insights for women was the first big wave of innovation in the space, and now we are onto the second big wave, which is better therapeutic solutions for maintaining and improving whole body health (including the ovaries!) for women across their lifespans.
If Celmatix could collaborate with any fictional character or superhero to advance women’s health, who would it be and what would they bring to the table? It would be Kiều from the Vietnamese epic The Tale of Kiều.
Western literature is full of epic tales where men save the day, but I love The Tale of Kiều because it is very real about the trials and tribulations that women often face when they try to do something extraordinary. Kiều was clever, brave, creative in navigating setbacks, and tenacious, which is all of the qualities you need to advance innovation in an overlooked field like women’s health.
Her story inspires me and reminds me that women can accomplish anything they set their minds to. The road might be bumpier and longer, but persistence pays.
When you’re not busy advancing the future of women’s healthcare, how do you find flow? I find flow in nature. My favorite sound is the rustling of leaves in a forest. It’s even more magical to ride a trail through the forest on my bike. |
Flow Focus: Flying the Coop Although leaving home is an essential step for children to evolve and grow, 94% of parents admit they’re not quite ready for the enforced peace and quiet, according to a survey published by the Independent in 2021. While the empty nest phase can be emotionally challenging, it can also open the door to a new chapter of self-discovery and revitalized friendships.
This period can also be the perfect opportunity to reconnect with your partner. With the focus shifting from parenting back to your relationship, now’s the time to rekindle that spark, rediscover shared interests and enjoy some quality “just us” time.
And if you think you’re the only one who’s experiencing this, know that you’re not alone. Numerous celebrities have opened up about their journeys through empty nesting, proving that the transition can be both challenging and transformative, no matter who you are. |
SHOPPING Stacy London’s new clothing line at QVC. The style guru, who spent over a decade telling America what not to wear, is back with a fresh take on fashion. With inclusive sizing from XXS to 3X or 0 to 28 and prices ranging from $36 to $170, London’s pieces make it easy for women to customize their outfits, helping them feel stylish and put-together with minimal effort at any age.
LISTENING to classical music. A new study found that music boosts mood by strengthening the connections between brain regions associated with sound and pleasure. “Alexa, play Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins!”
CELEBRATING Halle Berry for her recent segment discussing menopause on Good Morning America. The 58-year-old Oscar-winning actress has been a fierce advocate for women’s health, and with nearly 3 million viewers, GMA might be the biggest platform yet to have this important discussion. “It's a normal stage of life,” Berry told Robin Roberts. “It's not a disease. Don't make it a negative.”
INCORPORATING a few of these microhabits into our day for calmer, healthier mornings. From taking a cold shower to ditching the caffeine in the morning, we’re leaning into these easy ways to start the day off right. |
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