It's time to bust some myths. Well, perhaps not myths, but reframing the terms we've grown accustomed to when it comes to the transition from a woman's child-bearing years to her final menstrual period.

You've probably heard this phase referred to as ‘menopause'. But that's not the whole story. Menopause effectively is a moment in time when you've officially had your last period, leading you into post-menopause.

So what is the phase leading up to this moment, with up to 34 symptoms (and counting!) that you could experience and lasting up to ten years? That's called .

Perimenopause Explained

Getting to grips with perimenopause means understanding that this is where your menopause journey begins, typically kicking off in your 40s, though for some women it can start earlier than expected. During this time, your ovaries are gradually winding down their production of estrogen and progesterone, which means your menstrual cycles start yo-yoing - becoming shorter, longer, or completely unpredictable from month to month. You might find yourself experiencing a whole range of perimenopausal symptoms that vary from woman to woman, including hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and those irregular periods that seem to have a mind of their own. These physical and emotional changes can sometimes throw your daily routine off balance or knock your overall well-being sideways. While perimenopause is simply your body's natural way of moving through reproductive aging, knowing what you're dealing with can help you feel more in control of what's happening to you. There are treatments such as hormone therapy and lifestyle tweaks that can help manage what you're going through, making this transition smoother and far more comfortable for you.

What happens to your body at perimenopause?

Perimenopause is when your ovaries begin to produce fewer hormones, slow down and, eventually, run out of eggs. This affects the level of hormones in your body, namely estrogen and progesterone, which can bring with it an array of symptoms, like moodiness and irritability, tender breasts, dry and itchy skin, and difficulties sleeping. Hormone changes, including fluctuations in hormone levels such as estrogen and follicle stimulating hormone, are characteristic of this stage. As ovarian function declines, these changes in hormone levels contribute to the onset of perimenopausal symptoms.

During this time, your periods can be erratic and irregular—heavier, lighter, shorter, longer or more painful. You may ovulate once or twice a month, and some months, you may not ovulate at all. Changes in the menstrual cycle and menstrual history are important indicators of perimenopause. This may go on for a short time or for many years.

This all means that your perimenopause experience is unique, and what your friend or sister may experience will probably be very different from your own. Early perimenopause can be associated with increased sleep disturbances and mood changes.

Culminating in the fluctuations and declining levels of estrogen and progesterone comes with its waves and stages of different and sometimes unpleasant symptoms, including hot flushes, brain fog, headaches and fatigue. These symptoms tend to come in waves and occur when your estrogen levels drop.

What are the most common perimenopausal symptoms?

There are 34 recognised symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, but with estrogen receptors all over your body, there are plenty more symptoms that can arise. You may feel or have felt just a handful of these, but some women will experience many, and it can be a challenging time. Perimenopause symptoms encompass a wide range of physical and emotional changes that women may experience during this transition. Some of the more common symptoms include:

• Irregular periods
• Hot flushes
• Mood swings
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Brain Fog
• Joint Pain
• Skin changes
• Vaginal dryness
• Diminished libido
• Weight gain
• Sleep disturbances
• Urinary symptoms

Vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats, are common during perimenopause, and some women may experience severe hot flashes that disrupt sleep and quality of life.

Abnormal bleeding, abnormal uterine bleeding, and irregular uterine bleeding patterns can also occur during perimenopause and may require medical evaluation.

Sexual dysfunction, including reduced libido and discomfort, is also a possible symptom during this transition.

Physical symptoms, sleep problems, and the severity of symptoms vary widely among women.

It’s important to note that no two women will experience perimenopause in the same way. You may also feel different symptoms at different stages and in varying severity. Please know this is normal and all part of your experience.

Bone health during perimenopause

When you're going through perimenopause, looking after your bones becomes something you really need to pay attention to, as your declining estrogen levels can cause your bone mineral density to take a bit of a hit. This drop in estrogen puts you at higher risk of developing osteoporosis and suffering bone fractures - not exactly what you want to be dealing with during this time of change. The good news is there are plenty of things you can do to give your bones the support they need: keeping up a healthy diet that's rich in calcium and vitamin D, along with regular weight-bearing exercise, can work wonders for maintaining your bone strength. For some women, hormone replacement therapy might be something your healthcare provider recommends to help preserve your bone mineral density and reduce that osteoporosis risk. It's also worth staying on top of regular check-ups and bone density screenings - these can help you keep tabs on how your bones are doing and catch any issues early, so you can stay strong and active as you navigate through this menopause transition.

Mood Changes and Perimenopause

Getting to grips with the mental health side of perimenopause can feel like navigating uncharted territory, but understanding what's happening in your body can help make sense of it all. Your hormones - particularly estrogen - are essentially yo-yoing during this time, and this hormonal rollercoaster can throw your brain's chemical messengers completely off balance, leading to mood swings that might feel totally out of character, bouts of the blues, and anxiety that seems to come from nowhere. If you're experiencing these emotional ups and downs, you're definitely not alone in this - it's one of those aspects of perimenopause that many women find particularly tough to navigate. Regular exercise can be a real game-changer for your mental wellbeing, along with stress-busting techniques and having a solid support network around you - these lifestyle approaches can make a world of difference to how you're feeling day-to-day. Don't hesitate to have an honest conversation with your healthcare provider about what's going on mentally; working together, you can find the right combination of strategies that'll help you feel more like yourself again during this transition.

How do I know when I'll move from perimenopause into the menopausal transition?

There’s currently no way to determine when this will happen for you, given the myriad of symptoms a woman can experience and our unique cycle, body makeup, genetics, and levels of hormones, which will fluctuate from one day to the next. Perimenopause is diagnosed primarily by evaluating your symptoms, but blood tests may be used to measure hormone levels and rule out other conditions, especially in women under 45.

The transition into menopause most often begins around our mid-40’s and lasts, on average, 5-7 years, but can be as long as 10 years. Menopause can also occur if you’ve experienced life-changing health events like radiation treatment, chemotherapy, or surgical removal of the uterus or ovaries, which can leave you experiencing menopause symptoms almost immediately. This type of sudden menopause can result from cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery, leading to abrupt hormonal changes.

You’ll know you’ve reached menopause and reached the end of your perimenopause one year after your last period. This is when you’ll officially be in the post-menopause phase—when your ovaries have stopped functioning, and you no longer produce enough hormones or have enough follicles (eggs) to release each month.

Early menopause and its implications

Getting to grips with early menopause means understanding what's happening when your body decides to hit the brakes on your reproductive years before you turn 40. This can be down to your genes throwing you a curveball, certain health conditions gatecrashing the party, or medical treatments like surgery or cancer therapy essentially pulling the plug on your ovaries. If you're navigating this earlier-than-expected transition, you're likely facing some unique challenges that can feel overwhelming - we're talking about your heart and bones being put at greater risk, plus changes in your sex life that nobody really prepared you for. Hormone replacement therapy often becomes your ally in this journey, helping to keep those troublesome symptoms in check while protecting your long-term health by maintaining your bone strength and keeping your cardiovascular system on track. You might also find yourself dealing with vaginal dryness and discomfort during intimacy, which can feel frustrating, but there's light at the end of the tunnel - treatments like vaginal estrogen or estrogen therapy can work wonders in relieving that dryness and getting your sexual function back on track. The key thing to remember if you're going through early menopause is that working closely with your healthcare provider to craft a personalised plan that addresses what you specifically need is absolutely crucial for supporting your overall well-being through this unexpected twist in your reproductive story.

What can I do to support myself through this transition?

There are plenty of lifestyle adjustments you can make which will all help in keeping any annoying and unpleasant menopausal symptoms under control.

From limiting your alcohol consumption to allowing yourself time to rest and exercise while removing stress from your life as best you can, a diet rich in whole foods, lean proteins, dairy, fruit and vegetables all help to assist you through this phase. You may also like to consider taking a natural menopause supplement to support your body through the many changes it's experiencing.

Our formulas are developed to address the most common symptoms and allow you to find the best combination to target your menopause pain points from mood swings and fatigue to insomnia and brain fog.

If something doesn't feel right, don't wait.

Are you concerned that the symptoms you’re experiencing are abnormal and are beginning to affect your quality of life? Don’t wait. You deserve to live and feel well through your menopause journey.

Get checked out by your GP or women’s health professional as soon as possible so you can isolate any underlying health issues and choose the right care pathway for you. Symptoms similar to perimenopause can also be caused by thyroid disease or polycystic ovary syndrome, so proper evaluation is important to ensure accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Discover our range of evidence-based supplements, developed with mind and body nutrients to address the most common symptoms and support your body and your needs before, during, and after this transitionary life stage. Comprehensive women's health care is essential during this period to address all aspects of well-being.