You're sleeping badly but you can't work out why. You walked into the kitchen and forgot what you came for, again. Your jeans fit differently, your patience is shorter, and you feel like a slightly foggier version of yourself.
If this sounds familiar, you're not imagining it, and you're definitely not alone.
What is perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the transition leading up to menopause, when your hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone, start to fluctuate. It usually begins in your 40s, though it can start earlier, and it can last for several years.
Menopause itself is a single point in time: 12 months after your last period. In Australia, the average age is around 51. Everything after that is postmenopause.
Because hormone levels rise and fall unpredictably during perimenopause, symptoms can come and go, change month to month, and look different for every woman.
Common signs of perimenopause and menopause
Changes to your cycle. Periods may become irregular, heavier, lighter, closer together or further apart. This is often the first sign.
Hot flushes and night sweats. Sudden waves of heat, often in the face and chest, sometimes followed by chills. At night, they can wake you drenched.
Sleep changes. Trouble falling asleep, waking at 3am, or waking up unrefreshed, sometimes even without night sweats.
Brain fog. Losing words, forgetting tasks, struggling to concentrate. It's one of the most common and most unsettling symptoms, and it's real.
Fatigue. A tiredness that a good night's sleep doesn't fix.
Mood changes. Irritability, anxiety, low mood or feeling emotionally "not yourself".
Body changes. Weight shifting to the middle, losing muscle and strength more easily, and joints that ache more than they used to.
Other changes. Dry skin, thinning hair, headaches, heart palpitations, vaginal dryness and lower libido are all common too.
You might experience a few of these or many. Some women sail through; others find the changes hard to live with. Both are normal.
You're not alone
Every woman who reaches midlife will go through menopause. Yet many women say they had no idea what was happening, or that they felt dismissed when they asked for help. That's starting to change, as more women speak openly, more research focuses on women's health, and more support becomes available.
When to talk to your doctor
If symptoms are affecting your sleep, work, relationships or wellbeing, book in with your GP. They can talk through what's happening, rule out other causes and discuss options that suit you. Keeping a simple diary of your cycle and symptoms for a few weeks can make that conversation easier.
Looking after yourself through the transition
Strength training, good sleep habits, protein-rich meals and staying connected with the people around you all help you feel more like yourself. At BHV Co, we create products designed specifically to support women through this stage, because menopause is real, and so is feeling like yourself again.
