BETTER! Building bodies women can trust with Dr. Stephanie Estima You've Seen 10 Doctors & Still, No Answers: Your Guide to Perimenopause with Dr. Mary Claire Haver
Mar 30, 2026
Mary Claire Haver, a board-certified OB-GYN and menopause specialist who runs a midlife-focused practice and wrote The New Perimenopause. She explains the hormonal "Zone of Chaos" that causes brain fog, mood swings, and sleep loss. Short, practical tips on preparing for clinic visits, recognizing misdiagnosis, links to ADHD and bone loss, and how to calm hormonal chaos without quick fixes.
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Rule Out Other Causes Before Labeling Perimenopause
- Rule out mimics before diagnosing perimenopause with targeted blood work for thyroid, autoimmune conditions, inflammation, and nutritional deficiencies.
- Make a clinical diagnosis based on symptom constellation rather than a single hormone test.
I Don't Feel Like Myself Is A Valid Diagnostic Signal
- The single most common patient description in perimenopause is I don't feel like myself, which reliably signals clinically significant change.
- If symptoms are significant enough to raise with a clinician or partner, they merit evaluation.
Misdiagnosis Led To Unnecessary Hysterectomy Example
- Mary Claire shares a composite story of a healthy woman misdiagnosed, overtreated, and pushed into a hysterectomy she didn't need.
- Hysterectomy can shorten ovarian function by ~4 years due to decreased blood flow and surgical trauma.
