Why Your Perimenopause Feels Worse: Understanding Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)

In this episode, I’m diving into something most women have never been told — why your perimenopause feels so much worse than your friends’, and why your symptoms don’t make sense no matter what you try.

I break down how Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) can amplify perimenopause symptoms and make everything feel more intense — the anxiety, the headaches, the swelling, the food reactions, the sudden sensitivities, ALL of it.

I’ll explain what mast cells actually are, how your hormones trigger them, and how this can create the perfect storm of symptoms during your 30s, 40s, and 50s. And of course, I’ll give you practical, simple strategies you can start using today to calm your body, reduce reactions, and finally feel more like yourself again.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, dismissed, or confused by your symptoms — this episode will help everything click.

Timestamps

00:00 Understanding Your Perimenopause Symptoms
00:49 Meet Your Host: Karen Oliver
00:56 Why Your Perimenopause Feels Worse
02:31 The Role of Mast Cells in Perimenopause
03:56 Symptoms of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
05:50 Identifying MCAS in Your Perimenopause
06:57 Effective Solutions to Calm Mast Cells
08:33 Final Thoughts and Coaching Offer