What is Perimenopause? ( And How to Support Your Perimenopause Transition)
Perimenopause marks the transitional phase between regular menstrual cycles and the end of your periods. Not to be confused with Menopause, a mere 24-hour affair, celebrating the one-day anniversary of your last cycle.
During perimenopause, you start to lose your reproductive hormones, your cycles become irregular until eventually, they stop.
In the UK, menopause typically arrives at around 52, while perimenopause usually begins at approximately 43. However, hormonal shifts can kick in as early as your mid-30s.
So, if that extra cup of coffee or a bag of peanut M&Ms (just me?) has become your 3 pm ritual, your hormones might be trying to grab your attention.
Menopause is not a sign of being ‘old’ (there are even cases of people prematurely going through menopause in their 20s) and it's not a sign of your youth and vitality being over! It just marks the beginning of a different phase of your life cycle.
There are also medical reasons why you might experience menopause earlier than average like the surgical removal of the ovaries (oophorectomy) or in some cases it can be induced by chemotherapy.
So what happens in perimenopause and why do you need to know about it while you still have periods?
👉 How to Support Irregular Cycles and Perimenopause
Hitting the Hormonal Rapids
Also known as second adolescence, peri-menopause shares a similar hormonal roller coaster pattern to the mayhem you experience in your teen years.
If you've got kids going through puberty while you're navigating these choppy waters, you get a front-row seat to this particular blend of hormone crazy. Yay for relatability and mutual support, right?
Now let's get nerdy with the science bit (you know I love me some science)
The Perimenopause Sequence of Events
The key hormonal players in your cycle are Estrogen and Progesterone. With regular, ovulatory cycles, we stay balanced, and our inner ecosystem ticks over happily... until it doesn't.
During perimenopause, your brain goes through a recalibration process, adjusting to the reduced levels of estrogen and progesterone it has been accustomed to during your cycling years. But unlike Sat Nav, this recalibration can take up to 7 years!
Here’s a little overview of what to expect but please keep in mind, that these are based on averages, and what might be true for you will be different for someone else.
👉 Remember - There is a broad spectrum of what is considered normal when it comes to our cycles
Pre-Menopause - Late 30s to Early 40s
This is the stage before perimenopause officially kicks in and you may notice your hormone levels start to fluctuate (cue the Peanut M&Ms).
Early Perimenopause - Mid-40s
Estrogen and Progesterone start to get a bit wonky. This normally starts with -
- Shorter cycles 21-26 days (although not always, they can become longer)
- High and wildly fluctuating estrogen (hello second adolensance)
- The result? Hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings.
Mid Perimenopause - Late 40s
- Cycles tend to get longer as your periods become further and further apart.
- Less ovulatory cycles mean less progesterone (because we only make progesterone when we ovulate) and you might experience mood swings, sleep disturbances, hot flushes, night sweats and migraines.
Late Perimenopause - Early 50s
- Estrogen continues its slow exit, and you might encounter more intense symptoms, such as Sahara-like dryness in lady bits.
- Menstrual cycles start doing their own thing – less predictable and more distant.
Menopause (Around 52, on average)
Cue the drumroll – you've officially hit menopause when you've had a solid 12-months sans periods.
Post Menopause
Your periods take a permanent vacation, marking the post-menopausal era.
👉 Top 10 Hormones for Cycle Harmony (and how to support them)