What is Perimenopause — And Why No One Talks About It

Victoria Harris
Jul 13
3 min read

What Is Perimenopause — And Why No One Talks About It

Perimenopause marks one of the most misunderstood and under-discussed transitions in a woman’s life. While menopause often takes centre stage, it’s the years leading up to it—perimenopause—that often bring the most disruption, confusion, and missed opportunities for support.

What Is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause is the biological phase before menopause, during which your ovaries gradually reduce estrogen and progesterone production. This process can begin in your late 30s or early 40s and may last anywhere from four to ten years.

It officially ends 12 months after your final menstrual period, at which point you enter menopause. But for many women, the symptoms of perimenopause begin long before they realise what’s happening.

Hormones don’t decline in a straight line—they fluctuate unpredictably. One week your cycle seems normal; the next, it’s heavy, erratic, or missing altogether. These hormonal surges and crashes affect every system in the body, from brain to bones.

Common Symptoms of Perimenopause

The hormonal shifts during this phase can lead to over 60 recognised symptoms, including:

Irregular or heavy periods
Hot flushes or night sweats
Mood swings, anxiety, or irritability
Poor sleep or early waking
Low libido
Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
Weight gain, especially around the abdomen
Joint pain or stiffness
Fatigue that doesn’t resolve with rest
Increased urinary tract infections or vaginal dryness

These symptoms are often dismissed as "just stress," "a bad cycle," or even early signs of aging—but they can all be linked back to the neuroendocrine shifts happening in the background.

Why No One Talks About It

Despite being a universal phase of life for women, perimenopause is rarely discussed openly. Here’s why:

1. Lack of Education

Perimenopause isn’t covered in school health classes or most mainstream media. Many women haven’t even heard the term until they’re living it.

2. Medical Gaps

Because there’s no formal test or diagnostic criteria, perimenopause often gets missed—or misdiagnosed. Women are prescribed antidepressants, sleeping pills, or told their bloodwork is "normal," even when their symptoms are debilitating.

3. Cultural Silence

For decades, menopause and anything related to aging has been wrapped in stigma. Women were told to tough it out, stay quiet, and carry on—leaving generations unsupported.

🧠 In fact, research shows that over 65% of women report receiving little to no education about menopause from their healthcare providers. (PMID: 32925455)

Why Recognition Matters

Understanding that you're in perimenopause is a game-changer. When women know what’s going on, they can make empowered decisions and get the support they need.

Because while hormonal changes are natural, suffering through them is not.

With the right tools, we can reduce symptoms, protect long-term health, and dramatically improve quality of life in midlife and beyond.