Governor Pritzker signed three menopause bills into law on August 7, 2026. Together they change what insurance covers, what you can ask for at work, where you can find reliable information, and what the next generation of clinicians learns in school. All three name perimenopause alongside menopause, which matters if you are in your forties and wondering whether any of this applies to you yet. Each one has a different start date. Here is what changes and when. 1.) The Illinois

One of the questions we hear most often is, "Why is all my weight going to my stomach?" Many women notice this change during menopause. They haven't completely changed the way they eat or exercise, but their waistline starts to look different. It can be frustrating, but these changes are about more than appearance.

Many women notice changes in their skin during menopause. Skin may feel drier than it used to. Fine lines and loss of volume become more noticeable. Skin can feel thinner, more sensitive, or less resilient than it once did. As estrogen levels decline, the skin produces less collagen and retains less moisture. Over time, this can affect the skin barrier, texture, firmness, and overall skin health. These changes are common, but that doesn't mean you are imagining them. While th

The idea for the Chicago Menopause Collective started with conversations. Jill was hearing the same concerns from women in her coaching practice. Dana was hearing many of those same concerns from patients.