The founding question behind Women Living Better was whether perimenopausal symptoms could start before very noticeable menstrual cycle changes (aka “skipped” periods). Once we launched this website, WLB community members shared their more common perimenopause experiences (e.g., night sweats) and less common experiences (e.g., sudden anger, feeling less able to cope) with us in open response forms. They also shared things like, “I feel like I can’t calm down on the inside” and “I feel like I’m in a constant state of fight or flight.” We incorporated all of this lived experience into our research. Thank you for helping us fill the perimenopause knowledge gaps. We have more to do.
Our Research Over Time
2016
Kickoff survey
Key question: Is there a need for more information about perimenopause?
430 participants
2020
Understanding women’s experience in the years learning up to menopause
Key question: How do symptoms compare before and after noticeable menstrual cycle changes?
3200+ participants
2025
Mood Experiences on the path to menopause
Key question: What mood changes arise and when on the path to menopause?
3500+ participants
Status: Data analysis in process
2026
Our Transitions: A pilot wearables study
Key question: Can information from wearables help us close the long-standing knowledge gap surrounding the lived experience of perimenopause?
250 participants
Actively recruiting.
Our Published Research & Scientific Posters
“Not feeling like myself” in perimenopause — what does it mean? Observations from the Women Living Better survey
Coslov N, Richardson MK, Woods NF. "Not feeling like myself" in perimenopause - what does it mean? Observations from the Women Living Better survey. Menopause. 2024 May 1;31(5):390-398.
Symptom experience during the late reproductive stage and the menopausal transition: observations from the Women Living Better survey
Coslov N, Richardson MK, Woods NF. Symptom experience during the late reproductive stage and the menopausal transition: observations from the Women Living Better survey. Menopause. 2021 Jul 26;28(9):1012-1025.
Seeking Health Care for Perimenopausal Symptoms: Observations from The Women Living Better Survey
Richardson MK, Coslov N, Woods NF. Seeking Health Care for Perimenopausal Symptoms: Observations from The Women Living Better Survey. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2023 Apr;32(4):434-444.
Perimenopause meets life: observations from the Women Living Better Survey.
Woods NF, Coslov N, Richardson MK. Perimenopause meets life: observations from the Women Living Better Survey. Menopause. 2022 Dec 1;29(12):1388-1398.
Effects of bothersome symptoms during the late reproductive stage and menopausal transition: observations from the Women Living Better Survey.
Woods NF, Coslov N, Richardson MK. Effects of bothersome symptoms during the late reproductive stage and menopausal transition: observations from the Women Living Better Survey. Menopause. 2023 Jan 1;30(1):45-55.
Symptom experience during the late reproductive stage versus the menopausal transition in the Spanish-language Women Living Better survey.
Cortés YI, Coslov N, Richardson MK, Woods NF. Symptom experience during the late reproductive stage versus the menopausal transition in the Spanish-language Women Living Better survey. Menopause. 2023 Mar 1;30(3):260-266.
Anticipated age of perimenopausal experiences, stress, satisfaction, and health and well-being: observations from the Women Living Better Survey.
Woods NF, Coslov N, Richardson M. Anticipated age of perimenopausal experiences, stress, satisfaction, and health and well-being: observations from the Women Living Better Survey. Menopause. 2023 Aug 1;30(8):807-816.
Transitioning to the menopausal transition: a scoping review of research on the late reproductive stage in reproductive aging.
Woods NF, Mitchell ES, Coslov N, Richardson MK. Transitioning to the menopausal transition: a scoping review of research on the late reproductive stage in reproductive aging. Menopause. 2021 Jan 15;28(4):447-466.