Episode 17: Perimenopause and Menopause – Breaking the Silence, Understanding the Science
Published June 18, 2026
In this episode of the UB Medicine Podcast, host Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, dean of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and vice president for health sciences at UB, explores perimenopause and menopause — an inevitable stage of life that affects half the population, yet remains widely misunderstood.
Joined by Sarah L. Berga, MD, chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the conversation seeks to bring clarity, context and science to a topic often shaped by confusion and myth.
Together, they discuss why menopause is not a single moment but part of a longer, highly individualized reproductive lifespan. The conversation unpacks common symptoms such as sleep disruption, mood changes, and brain fog, and explains how hormonal fluctuations, not just decline, drive many of these experiences.
The discussion underscores the need for better awareness across the health care system and encourages listeners to seek informed, personalized care. With a focus on evidence-based medicine and patient empowerment, this episode offers practical insight for women navigating midlife health.
