Why we’re here

At Periwinkle, we help women find the support, connection, vocabulary, and occasional laugh they need to thrive in perimenopause.

Founded by passionate patient advocate Jen Sweeney, Periwinkle was founded on the premise that every stage of women’s sexual and reproductive health should be celebrated and not stigmatized.

We do this by combining real, honest, shared experiences with well-researched and clinician-supported information—so that you can make the best decisions for your health and wellbeing.

We firmly believe that

• All of us—especially women in midlife—deserve health care that meets our needs.

• Midlife is one of the most powerful times in a woman’s life—if we know how to wield it.

• Women are stronger when we share in and support a collective experience.

• We have the power to change the conversation—with every conversation.

Periwinkle is a movement of women and health care providers who want to close the gap between understanding and care. Together, we’ll create the resources we need to survive this metamorphosis—and come out better for it.

We are committed to:

• Sharing information so we can advocate for ourselves (and each other!)

• Helping the medical community evolve in how it cares for women in perimenopause and beyond.

• Exploring ways clinicians and patients can work together to flip the script on perimenopause.

• Understanding the physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, and financial impact of perimenopause—and providing a way for women to thrive throughout it.

The Periwinkle Promise

Together we’ll explore every aspect of perimenopause and beyond and take control of our wellbeing—mind, body, and soul—by remaining rooted in these 5 principles:

Practical Advice

No-nonsense, research-based answers and explanations.

Permission to Speak Freely

We work hard to create an inclusive, compassionate community that encourages real dialogue around tough and taboo topics

Proactive Information

We’re helping you take control now, so that you are better prepared for yourself—and for others.

Positive, Powerful Impact

Perimenopause should be celebrated—not stigmatized. Mid-life can be one of the most productive, creative, and influential times in a woman’s life, and we want you to own the experience!

Personal Stories

Every woman, every body, every experience is different - we’re here for all of it.

Jen’s story

Four years ago, I felt like something was terribly wrong with me.

When I started my perimenopause journey, I felt overwhelmed, confused, and alone.

And that was super weird.

I mean, haven’t BILLIONS of women gone through this? As an unavoidable part of life?

So, like the avid researcher I am, I sought out resources to help me understand what was going on in my body (and mind and life), but I didn’t find much—and what I did find was either too clinical, assumed too much, or was entirely too vague.

I’ve been a patient advocate for 20 years, and I’ve navigated the health care system time and again on behalf of myself and others. I fully understand the patient journey and the paths to improve it. So I started there.

Then I reached out to hundreds of women and listened to their stories, most of whom asked me to write a guide about perimenopause and to send them advanced copies because they needed answers yesterday.

Next I interviewed clinicians and providers to fully understand the gap and read every book I could find, as well as hundreds of articles.

In the end, I wrote the Guide I wished I’d had.

Periwinkle Is Born!

I was finishing my last chapter when it struck me—this Guide was just the beginning.

Our knowledge and understanding of perimenopause and women’s sexual health will continue to grow and evolve—and our conversations along with it. So I built Periwinkle to pick up where my Guide leaves off.

Because we all want to live in a world that respects (and even celebrates) every phase of women’s health—and we can’t wait for it to get here.

I’ll say that again—we cannot wait for it to get here.

Because it’s not enough to know we deserve better. It’s not even enough to demand better.

We’re going to have to build it. You and me. Starting now.

Bring it on, ladies.