Most women have never heard of perimenopause. The ones who have usually don't realize it can begin in their late 30s, years before any change in their menstrual cycle. And the symptoms — sleep disruption, mood swings, weight shifts, brain fog, anxiety — are so wide-ranging that even physicians routinely miss them. In this episode of Cascaid Effects, host Alex Galeazzi sits down with Dr. Candace Westgate, a board-certified OB-GYN, to unpack one of the most misunderstood transitions in a woman's life. They cover: — What perimenopause actually is, and when it really begins — Why women experience three major hormonal transitions in a lifetime, and men experience one — The three earliest symptoms Dr. Westgate sees in her clinic before periods even change — The 2 to 3am awakening, and why it's not just about hot flashes — Hormonal chaos vs. hormonal flatline: the clinical difference between perimenopause and menopause — Why so many women see five, six, even eight specialists before getting the right answer — How a woman's pregnancy and postpartum history predicts her perimenopausal experience — Why Dr. Westgate calls the menstrual cycle a vital sign — Sleep as a superpower, and the difference between sleep quantity and sleep quality — Dr. Westgate's personal story: turning 40, a cancer diagnosis, and what she learned about her own body If you're a woman in your 30s, 40s, or 50s — or you love one — this is the conversation you've been looking for. — 🎙 Subscribe to Cascaid Effects — Cascaid Effects is produced by Cascaid Studios.