How do I know if I’m in perimenopause?

Perimenopause is defined as the period of time leading up to menopause. A woman is said to be in menopause when she hasn’t had a period for 12 consecutive months. On average, women hit menopause in the UK at around the age of 51. Symptoms of menopause, known as the perimenopause stage, can begin around the age of 35. During this time, a woman’s ovaries gradually produce less oestrogen. There are changes to other hormones too: progesterone, testosterone, FSH and LH. It’s important to remember that this is ‘normal’. It’s a natural stage of life where you are released from reproduction.

What are the Symptoms of Perimenopause?

Some women breeze through menopause without much problem, but around 60-70% of women do experience symptoms, sometimes severely. Here are some of those symptoms:

Irregular periods, often shorter cycles than before.
heavier, more painful periods
breast tenderness
headaches
joint pains
emotional: irritability, weepiness, aggression, panic attacks, forgetfulness, low self-esteem
tiredness, insomnia, poor quality sleep and waking up in the night
night sweats
daytime hot flushes
hair thinning
fluid retention and bloating before periods
bladder irritation, increased urgency, needing to go to the toilet during the night
loss of libido and vaginal dryness
weight gain especially around the belly area

If you’re concerned about your symptoms, always check with your doctor. However, there are a lot of natural solutions, through diet and lifestyle changes, to help ease your symptoms. If you’re interested to find out more, jump on a free, 30-minute discovery call with me, I’d love to hear from you.

Book Your Free Discovery Call Here

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace advice given by your primary care provider. Please see your doctor if you’re considering making substantial changes to your diet and lifestyle.