What Is Perimenopause? Symptoms, Signs and When It Starts
Have you noticed that you just don't quite feel like yourself lately? Maybe your periods have changed. Perhaps they're coming more frequently, are heavier or lighter, or you've started going months without one.
Maybe you're more tired than usual. Your sleep isn't what it used to be. You're feeling more anxious, emotional or irritable, or you're struggling with brain fog and concentration.
Or perhaps your body is changing in ways you can't quite explain, even though you feel like you're doing all the things you've always done.
And you may have found yourself wondering: “Is this just because I'm getting older?”
For many women, the answer may be perimenopause.
The first thing I want you to know is this: You are not imagining it. And you are not alone.
So, what is perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the stage of life when your body begins transitioning towards menopause.
During this time, your ovaries start producing the hormones oestrogen and progesterone differently. These hormones don't simply decrease in a straight line. They can fluctuate, sometimes quite dramatically and it can feel like feel like you're on a hormonal roller coaster.
For some women, the changes are subtle. For others, they can have a huge impact on how they feel physically and emotionally.
One thing that often surprises women is that you can still have regular periods and be experiencing perimenopause.
Your periods don't have to stop before hormonal changes and symptoms begin.
When does perimenopause start?
There isn't one particular age when perimenopause begins. Every woman's experience is different. For me, it started in my early 40s. For a friend of mine, it didn't start until her early 50s.
My first signs weren't hot flushes. It was my emotional state and anxiety, along with my period suddenly coming every two weeks for about a year. Looking back, I can see that my body was trying to tell me something, and this is one of the reasons perimenopause can be so confusing. The first signs don't always look like the menopause symptoms we've heard about.
You might notice changes in your sleep, mood, energy, concentration or body long before you ever experience a hot flush. You might even never get a hot flush.
What can perimenopause feel like?
There are many possible symptoms, and every woman's experience is different.
You might notice:
Changes to your menstrual cycle
Hot flushes or night sweats
Poor or disrupted sleep
Tiredness or low energy
Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
Anxiety, irritability or mood changes
Headaches
Changes in libido
Vaginal dryness
Joint or muscle aches
Changes in body composition
Difficulty maintaining muscle
Heart palpitations
Changes to your bladder
Hair thinning or loss
Dry or itchy skin
Tinnitus
You certainly don't have to experience all of these. You may have just a few symptoms, or symptoms that aren't even on this list. Your experience is your experience.
Wondering if this sounds like you?
Understanding perimenopause is a good first step. If you’d like to explore the changes you’re experiencing and what support might look like for you, I’d love to have a chat. Sometimes, the first step is simply having someone who listens without judgement, understands what you're going through, and helps you find a place to start.
You don’t have to change everything at once. Sometimes, it starts with one conversation.
Comments