Perimenopause: The Rollercoaster No One Warned You About

If you’re in your late 30s or 40s and feel like your body has suddenly decided to betray you – welcome to perimenopause. One minute, you’re fine. The next, you’re sweating through your sheets at 3 a.m., irrationally furious at your partner for breathing too loudly, and wondering why your jeans suddenly hate you (or why you left the TV remote in the fridge). Sound familiar?

You’re not alone. As a woman with a family history of early menopause myself, I know all too well how debilitating and volatile it can be – disrupting your sleep, mood, energy levels, and even your confidence. But because it’s not talked about enough, many women are left feeling confused, frustrated, and unsupported. Let’s change that.

The Common Signs and Symptoms

Most of us expect hot flushes and irregular periods, but

perimenopause comes with a whole host of symptoms that can be quite sudden, dramatic and often unpredictable, leaving you feeling like you’re falling apart. Some of the more well-known ones include:

• Hot flushes and night sweats (because apparently, sleep is optional now)

• Irregular periods that can be anything from skipping months to surprise visits when you least expect them

• Mood swings that leave you feeling like a human yoyo

• Fatigue (the kind that makes getting through the day feel like wading through treacle)

• Brain fog and an inability to concentrate, even on things you’re interested in

• Weight gain (especially around the middle)

• Low libido

  
  

Some Of the Less Well-Known Symptoms

We have oestrogen receptors all over our body which means that when our hormone levels fluctuate, we can end up feeling it everywhere, and you may experience some unpleasant symptoms you weren't expecting. 

These are just some of the sneaky symptoms you might not even realise can be linked to perimenopause:

• Increased anxiety and a sudden need to overthink every decision you’ve ever made

• Joint pain and stiffness that leaves you feeling like the tin man from wizard of Oz

• Digestive issues such as bloating, IBS-like symptoms and random food intolerances

• Heart palpitations (which can be terrifying but are often harmless)

• Hair loss or hair thinning

• Skin changes, such as decreased elasticity

• Increased body odour

• Urinary tract infections which can be recurrent, or thrush

• Headaches or migraines

• Increased sensitivity to alcohol and caffeine (even a small glass of wine can feel like a heavy night out)

Why Blood Tests Might Not Help

Most women head to their GP when their symptoms start, only to be told their hormone levels are ‘normal’ – which is beyond frustrating when you feel anything but.

The problem is that oestrogen levels don’t just steadily decline during perimenopause; they fluctuate wildly. One day, your body is flooded with oestrogen, the next, it’s scraping the bottom of the barrel. Because of this, a single blood test is often useless in diagnosing perimenopause. Instead, tracking your symptoms over time can often be a much more reliable indicator.

The Oestrogen Rollercoaster

Before oestrogen levels drop for good, they can surge unpredictably, leading to some pretty unpleasant symptoms. These hormone spikes can cause intense PMS, migraines, breast tenderness, and worsening anxiety. It’s like puberty all over again, but with more responsibilities and less patience.

And let’s not forget that this transitional stage of life varies from woman to woman, starting at different ages and lasting anywhere between one year right up to ten or more.

The Bone Density Issue

Another thing that often flies under the radar is bone density. Oestrogen plays a vital role in keeping our bones strong, so when levels start fluctuating and eventually dropping, bone loss speeds up. This can increase the risk of osteoporosis, making bones more fragile. It’s why women are at a much higher risk of fractures later in life, especially in the hips, wrists, and spine.

The good news is that supporting your bones now – before significant decline happens – can make all the difference in helping to maintain bone strength, and help reduce the risk of fractures down the line.

Finding Your Way Through Perimenopause

While it might feel like your body is working against you, nutrition and lifestyle changes can have a powerful effect on balancing hormones, supporting your bones, and alleviating the symptoms that are wreaking havoc on your daily life.  And no, this doesn’t mean overhauling your entire lifestyle or following rigid rules – the best approach is one that fits into your life and works with your body, not against it.

If you’re ready to feel better, without the fads, confusion, or overwhelm, I’d love to help.  Drop me a message and let’s chat about how you can be truly supported in navigating this phase of life.