What is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause is the transitional phase leading to menopause when your progesterone is dropping, and your estrogen levels are fluctuating wildly and slowly declining as well.

If you’re in your forties, or even your late thirties, you have started noticing things feel… different. Maybe your sleep isn’t as restful, your periods are more unpredictable, or your emotions feel like a rollercoaster. These subtle and not-so-subtle changes could mean that you’re entering perimenopause.

It’s not always easy to tell at first, so here’s how to know if this is what you’re experiencing.

Signs Your Body Might Be Entering Perimenopause

• Your periods feel off: Sometimes shorter, sometimes longer, maybe heavier or lighter, or just plain unpredictable.
• Hot flashes and night sweats: Do you find yourself sweating out of the blue, especially at night?
• Mood swings: Feeling more irritable, anxious, or emotional than usual?
• Brain fog: Forget where you left your keys (again)?
• Sleep troubles: Tossing and turning, or waking up in the middle of the night.
• Fatigue: Even after rest, you feel drained.
• Weight changes and cravings: Especially around your midsection.
• Breast tenderness or sensitivity that wasn’t there before.
• Lower libido: Or sometimes, a surprising increase.

Every woman’s experience with perimenopause is different. Some glide through it with mild symptoms, while others feel like their world has been flipped upside down. The difference often depends on several factors:

• Your general health and self-care practices
• Your nutrition and lifestyle habits
• Your menstrual history and genetics
• Whether menopause occurs naturally or through surgery

On average, this natural perimenopause transition can last between 2 and 10 years. And once you go a full 12 months without a period, you officially step into menopause.

Knowledge and Good Preparation are Key to Thriving Through Perimenopause

1. Track Your Symptoms for Clarity:

through these 3 steps:

• Step 1: Track your Perimenopause symptoms: Click here to download your “Perimenopause Symptoms Tracker”.

• Step 2: Write down the symptoms you experience and note the intensity.
  • How many symptoms are you experiencing?
  • Are they mild, moderate, or severe?
• Step 3: Pay attention to patterns, knowing what’s happening helps you feel in control and makes it easier to create a health plan, work with a coach, or confidently advocate for yourself at doctor visits.

Important Notes:

• Note #1: Not every symptom you are experiencing can be attributed to Perimenopause. Some of these symptoms could indicate an underlying health issue that needs further examination.

• Note #2: If you are not having periods and are not in situations such as pregnancy, hysterectomy, or using a hormonal IUD, it’s important to investigate further to determine whether you are in early menopause or experiencing other health challenges.

2. Should You Speak with Your Doctor?

It’s always a good idea to consult with your doctor. Hormone tests, for estrogen, progesterone, and FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), can offer insights, but because hormone levels fluctuate so much during Perimenopause, the results may not always be definitive.

Tracking your symptoms and reviewing your overall health & menstrual history often provides more reliable clues for understanding what your body is going through. This proactive approach can help you advocate for yourself more effectively when discussing your health with your doctor.

Your Transition, Your Opportunity

Yes, perimenopause can feel frustrating, but it’s also an opportunity. This is the perfect time to invest in Self-care, Nutrition, Lifestyle Changes, and building habits that will support your health for the years to come. To have more insights, read “Why holistic approaches, like Nutrition, Exercise, Fasting, and Stress Management, are not just supportive, but critical for women’s health“.

You don’t have to go through it alone, there are resources, support groups, and experts who can help you navigate this stage with ease and grace.

With the right guidance and a bit of self-compassion, you can move through this transition feeling empowered, supported, and ready for your next beautiful chapter of life.

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