Perimenopause is the transitional phase leading up to menopause, marking the time when a woman's body starts to undergo changes in hormone levels. This period can begin several years, even up to 10 years, before the onset of true menopause.

It is normal that often in a woman as early as 35 years old can experience some occasional peri-menopausal symptoms. The average age of menopause is 51 years of age but some women will experience menopause as early as 45 years of age and as late as 55 years of age. 

Perimenopause

During perimenopause, estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate, which can lead to a variety of symptoms, including:

  • Irregular menstrual cycles (changes in flow, length of the cycle, or length in between the cycles) 

  • Hot flashes 

  • Night sweats

  • Mood changes, such as irritability, anxiety, depression

  • Sleep disturbances

  • Changes in libido

  • Vaginal dryness

  • Pain with intercourse

  • Unexplained weight gain 

  • Hair loss 

  • Brain fog

These symptoms can vary in intensity and duration from one person to another. Not every woman will experience a triad of the same symptoms.  Eventually, perimenopause ends when a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, signaling the start of menopause. 

Decline in Estrogen directly affects: 

  • A loss of bone density increasing the risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures

  • An increased risk of cardiovascular issues as estrogen is cardioprotective by maintaining healthy blood vessels and cholesterol levels 

  • A decrease in vaginal lubrication and elasticity causing dryness, discomfort with intercurse, and increased susceptibility to infections. 

  • An increase in urinary issues such as urgency, frequency, incontinence, and discomfort with urination 

  • Increase in memory issues, cognition, difficulty with concentration 

  • Changes in metabolism

  • Increase in thinner, less elastic skin giving way to more sagging and wrinkled skin 

When to Seek Help?

If you have specific concerns or symptoms, it's a good idea to consult a healthcare provider for personalized advice and management options. You are NOT alone in this and do not let anyone tell you that what you are experiencing could not possibly be related to perimenopause. Often I am seeing clients who were told they are "too young" for perimenopause and that is simply not the case.