If you’ve ever thought, “What in the world is happening to my body?” you’re not alone.
Perimenopause is one of those seasons nobody really prepares us for. It sneaks in quietly, sometimes as early as your mid-to-late 30s, and lingers anywhere from a few years to over a decade. So many women arrive at this transition blindsided, confused, and often dismissed by providers who chalk it up to stress, aging, or anxiety.
Let’s peel back the layers of what perimenopause really is and the most common symptoms women experience.
So, what exactly is perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the transition period before menopause. Menopause is officially defined as going 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period.
During this phase, your hormones, especially estrogen and progesterone, begin to fluctuate. And not in a neat, predictable way. Some months they are high, other months they plummet, and your body feels every single wave.
This is why symptoms can feel inconsistent or even contradictory. One month your cycle is heavy and long, the next it is light and short. Some days your mood feels steady, and the next you are crying in the Costco parking lot for no reason.
Common Symptoms of Perimenopause
Every woman’s experience is different, but here are some of the most common signs I see in my practice and some I have lived in my own body:
1. Irregular Periods
Cycles may become shorter, longer, heavier, or lighter. It is often the first red flag that your hormones are shifting.
2. Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
That sudden boiling-from-the-inside feeling? That is estrogen at play. It can hit during the day or wake you up drenched at 3 a.m.
3. Sleep Disturbances
Even without night sweats, many women struggle to fall or stay asleep. This lack of rest only makes fatigue and mood swings worse.
4. Mood Changes
Irritability, anxiety, or sadness that seem to come out of nowhere. Hormone fluctuations can impact your brain chemistry and emotional regulation.
5. Brain Fog
Forgetting why you walked into a room, losing your train of thought mid-sentence, or feeling mentally sluggish are all common.
6. Weight Changes
Many women notice stubborn belly fat or find that their usual routines just do not work anymore. Hormones affect metabolism, fat storage, and insulin sensitivity.
7. Libido Shifts
For some, sex drive decreases. For others, it fluctuates wildly. Vaginal dryness or discomfort can also appear during this time.
8. Physical Changes
Skin may feel drier, hair may thin, and joints may feel achier. These are subtle signs that hormones touch nearly every system in your body.
Why this matters
The most important thing to know: you are not broken.
Your symptoms are real, even if your labs look “normal.” And you do not have to suffer in silence or accept that this is just how it is.
Perimenopause is a natural season of life, but it does not mean you should not have options. There are always strategies, holistic, non-hormonal, and hormonal, that can help you find relief and regain balance.
Final Thoughts
If you are in this season, please know you are not alone. Millions of women are navigating perimenopause, but too few are talking about it openly.
The more we share, the more we normalize this transition, and the more empowered we all become to seek care, ask questions, and find what works best for our unique bodies.
Want to learn more? Grab my free guide: The Essential Guide to Managing Perimenopause Symptoms. It breaks down treatment options in plain language so you can start making informed decisions today.