Have you noticed a lot of little changes in the way your body feels, how you look, the thoughts you have, your default emotions,, the way you sleep, the amount you pee, the amount you bleed during your period…..? A collection of small changes could be your body signalling to you that it is preparing to make shifts into Perimenopause. 

You may have noticed that the word Perimenopause has had a prominent airing of late. What is the Perimenopause period and why is it so important in your Menopause journey?

The word ‘Menopause’ has been the term used for the midlife transition of women for donkey years. However, Menopause isn’t actually the transition period. Perimenopause is. 

Menopause is, in reality, only one day in your life – marking 12 months since your last period. That’s it. ONE DAY! Everything that comes before it is better known as Perimenopause. And everything that comes after this day is known as Post Menopause. 

With this in mind, the most obvious sign that you may be heading towards Menopause would be a change in your menstrual cycles. If Menopause marks 12 continuous months of no periods, then you will notice that your periods start to drop off. 
BUT………. it’s not that simple! The process of the changes leading up to the 12 months of no periods  may take between 5-10 years.You may experience missing a couple of months of periods, and then get a bleed the next month.  This means that your 12 month timer of no periods begins all over again – remember that the 12 months have to be continuous. 

Of the many women I have spoken to, the common assumption that they have reached menopause is signalled by an absence of periods and Hot Flushes that come leaping out from nowhere. Perimenopause however has a plethora of symptoms, all linked to the changing hormones, that you may be suffering, without knowing you are transitioning. 

If you are just waiting for the hot flushes and no periods, you may be missing out on recognising important symptoms that could provide you with a great opportunity to help you form a healthier plan of support through this stage of your life. 

 PERIMENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS – What have I been missing and what should I be looking out for?

There will be different symptoms related to different stages through the Perimenopause as your hormone levels change.

Early Perimenopause symptoms will have a different presentation to late Perimenopause due to the dominance of oestrogen as the progesterone levels begin to drop. Early Perimenopause symptoms include:

• more frequent periods = shorter cycles
• heavier menstrual flow
• irrittability
• rage / flying off the handle at simple things
• breast tenderness of swelling
• bloating
• weight gain