For years, so many women have been quietly wondering the same thing: Why don’t I feel like myself anymore?

Maybe it starts with sleep. Or the mood swings. Or the brain fog. Or the frozen shoulder that seems to come out of nowhere. Or urinary symptoms. Or painful sex. Or a libido that has completely left the building. And because so many of these symptoms show up in the middle of very full lives, we tell ourselves we’re just stressed, just tired, just getting older, or just in a busy season.

But what if there is more to the story?

This week’s conversation with Sarah Norris is one I have been so excited to share because it is the kind of conversation I wish more women were having. Sarah is a nurse practitioner in urology and a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. She also happens to be my urology provider, which means I can say from personal experience that she has helped me understand my own body in ways I wish I had known years ago.

In this episode, Sarah and I talk about peri-menopause, post-menopause, hormone therapy, vaginal estrogen, testosterone, urinary symptoms, UTIs, painful sex, libido, sleep, bone health, heart health, and that very real feeling of not being able to put your finger on what’s wrong, but knowing something feels different.

One of the things I appreciated most about this conversation is how clearly Sarah explains topics that can feel awkward, intimidating, or even embarrassing. She takes things so many women are experiencing privately and makes them feel normal to discuss. And honestly, that matters. Because when we don’t talk about these things, women keep assuming they’re the only ones.

We also talk about how often women’s symptoms have been dismissed or misunderstood, and how important it is to ask better questions and advocate for ourselves. Not every provider is trained deeply in menopause care, and that doesn’t necessarily mean they are a bad provider. It may simply mean we need to build a healthcare team that includes the right people for the season we’re in.

This episode is not personal medical advice, and it is not meant to tell you what to do. My hope is that it helps you feel more informed, more curious, and more willing to start a conversation with your own healthcare provider about your body, your symptoms, and what may be right for you.

Because if you have been thinking, “I don’t feel like myself,” you are not alone. You are not broken. And you are absolutely allowed to ask questions until you get answers.

Resources:

Sarah Norris, ARNP, MSCP: https://www.mercycare.org/doctors/doctor-public-profile/sarah-norris/ 

The Menopause Society: menopause.org

Books:

Avrum Bluming, MD and Carol Tavris, PhD, Estrogen Matters
Mary Claire Haver, MD, The New Menopause…
Mary Claire Haver MD, The New Perimenopause…
Kelly Casperson, MD, The Menopause Moment…
Heather Hirsch, MD, The Perimenopausal Survival Guide…
Dr. Louise Newson, Preparing for Perimenopause and Menopause
Dr. Jessica Shephard, Generation M…
Stephanie Faubion, MD, The New Rules of Menopause…

Podcasts:

You Are Not Broken
The Dr. Louise Newson Podcast
The International Menopause Society Podcast
Menopause and Cancer
Hello Menopause
Menopause: Unmuted

Guest speakers to search for: Kelly Casperson, Corrine Menn, Heather Hirsch, Mary Claire Haver, Stacy London

Documentaries:

Balance: A Perimenopause Journey, Amazon Prime (Jan. 2026)
The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause (2024)
Your Fantastic Mood: Menopause, PBS (2023)
Sex, Myths and the Menopause (2021)