The Truth About Perimenopause

Perimenopause is the stage of life before menopause when your ovaries and eggs begin to struggle with ovulation.

This transition can begin in your mid-30s and last into your 50s. For decades, women have been told to expect hot flashes, mood swings, and weight gain “when menopause hits.”

The reality is that most of these symptoms begin in perimenopause, often years before your final period. They are not random or inevitable. They are signals of shifting hormone patterns and how well your nervous system can adapt to those changes. And yes, while fear and mis information is literally EVERYWHERE regarding Perimenopause…it’s nothing to be fear! So long as you are informed on what is happening in your body and why.

When Balance Shifts:

As ovulation becomes less consistent, progesterone drops. Estrogen may still rise, often in unpredictable spikes, and without enough progesterone to balance it, symptoms appear. Testosterone, which supports energy, muscle, and libido, also begins to decline. Cortisol, the stress hormone, often rises or becomes unstable, adding to sleep disruption, belly fat storage, and mood swings.

The result is a body that feels unpredictable. Some cycles may feel normal, while others are heavier, shorter, or skipped. Symptoms can vary from month to month because hormone levels are no longer following the same steady rhythm.

Common Signals of Perimenopause

• Irregular or heavier cycles

• Breast tenderness

• Mood swings, irritability, or heightened anxiety

• Hot flashes or night sweats

• Weight gain, especially around the midsection

• Brain fog and fatigue

• Lower energy or libido

There is very little research on this stage of life when our hormones begin to fluctuate. It can feel frustrating to explain symptoms to a doctor who may not see the full picture, especially when those symptoms are often worsened by low progesterone, unbalanced estrogen, declining testosterone, and unstable cortisol.

By learning what is happening in your body and understanding which hormones are shifting and how those changes show up, from estrogen dominance to low progesterone, dropping testosterone, and nervous system stress, you give yourself the tools to move through this season with greater stability, energy, and clarity..