What Are the First Signs of Perimenopause? 15 Symptoms to Look Out For
Have you noticed any changes to your periods, sleep, and mood lately? Perhaps you just don’t feel like yourself
Could hormones be the cause of these changes?
For women, hormonal changes may be a sign of perimenopause. This stage is what leads up to menopause.
Perimenopause affects all women differently. For some women, there are few signs of perimenopause. For others, there are several changes in the body during this time.
Recognising the signs of perimenopause will allow you to understand what is happening in your body and when to seek professional help.
What Is Perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the stage of life leading up to menopause.
At this time, the changing levels of hormones can impact a woman’s menstrual cycle, as well as result in various symptoms.
Menopause is reached after a woman has not experienced a menstrual cycle for 12 consecutive months. Postmenopause is the stage following menopause.
Perimenopause typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. During this time, women may experience perimenopause symptoms for several years. According to Healthdirect, perimenopause typically lasts between four and eight years.
It is also important for women to know that it is not necessary to experience all of the symptoms associated with menopause to be going through perimenopause.
15 Signs and Symptoms of Perimenopause
Changes to Your Period
One of the first signs of perimenopause that many women experience is a change to their period.
The changes to the period can include:
Periods that occur more or less frequently
Periods that last longer or shorter than normal
Periods that are heavier or lighter than normal
A change in the flow of your period from one cycle to the next
Periods that disappear altogether
These period changes are a result of the fluctuating hormone levels that occur during perimenopause. While these changes to the menstrual cycle are usually caused by perimenopause, there are other reasons for period changes, as well. Very heavy periods, periods that occur between periods, or periods that occur after intercourse can be the result of another issue altogether, and should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
Hot Flushes and Night Sweats
Hot flushes are one of the symptoms most commonly associated with menopause.
Hot flushes can cause a feeling of heat in the body, often accompanied by sweating or a flushing sensation. These can occur during the day, or can occur at night and interfere with sleep.
While many women do experience hot flushes, not all women do. Additionally, hot flushes are not typically among the first symptoms to appear with perimenopause.
Changes to Your Sleep
Many women report difficulty sleeping. These sleep difficulties may be caused by night sweats, but can also occur independently of experiencing night sweats altogether. Poor sleep can lead to feelings of tiredness during the day, difficulties concentrating, and changes in mood.
Feeling More Tired Than Usual
Many women feel tired during perimenopause.
It is possible that you feel like you are struggling to get through the day despite spending enough time in bed.
However, there are many causes of tiredness other than hormone imbalance alone. Conditions such as stress, anxiety, anaemia, thyroid problems and other health issues can also contribute to tiredness during perimenopause.
Brain Fog and Difficulty Concentrating
You may notice that you’re forgetting things or finding it harder to concentrate.
For some women, this type of brain fog is one of the first symptoms that they notice of menopause.
These types of brain fog symptoms may include:
Forgetting why you walked into a room
Struggling to find the right word
Losing your train of thought
Finding it harder to concentrate at work
Forgetting tasks you needed to complete each day
Easier to get distracted from tasks
Difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness and feeling mentally foggy are all symptoms that can occur during perimenopause and menopause.
Mood Changes
You may find that your mood has changed from what it once was during your younger years.
This can include:
Irritability
Mood swings
Feeling more emotional
Low mood
Feeling overwhelmed
Many women find that their mental health changes during this time. Changes in hormones can have a direct effect upon mental health and well-being.
Anxiety
Anxiety is another common symptom that some women experience during perimenopause. Many women report feeling more worried, tense, or even on edge during this time, often without any obvious reason for those feelings.
As with many symptoms associated with perimenopause, anxiety may have a variety of causes. However, if the anxiety impacts a woman’s everyday life, it is important to seek support for those symptoms.
Headaches or Migraines
Headaches and migraines can occur during perimenopause.
If you have significant changes to your headaches or if they are severe in nature, consult a healthcare provider to determine the cause of these headaches.
Aching Muscles and Joints
Aching muscles and joints can occur during perimenopause.
Stiffness and aches in areas of the body that were not previously associated with aches and pains can develop.
Muscle aches and joint pain are mentioned on the healthdirect website as one of the physical symptoms that can occur during perimenopause.
Changes in Sexual Desire
Women may experience changes in sexual desire during perimenopause and menopause.
For some women, the symptoms are related to hormonal changes. For others, sleep problems, stress, mood changes, relationship factors or symptoms in the genital area may be the cause.
A change in libido does not mean that you have to accept it on the behalf of women experiencing menopause.
Vaginal Dryness
Many women experience dryness within the vagina during menopause. This can lead to discomfort and pain during sexual intercourse.
Vaginal dryness is one of the symptoms associated with the menopause period. Treatments are available for vaginal dryness.
Changes in Weight or Body Composition
Some women find that their weight or body composition changes during the transition.
Weight gain is one of the recognised symptoms of perimenopause.
It is essential not to assume that a change in weight to women in perimenopause is due to the menopause.
Factors such as sleep, physical activity, nutrition, and stress can all play a role in a woman’s weight.
Breast Tenderness
Breast tenderness can occur during the perimenopause.
Due to the hormonal changes, the symptoms that women normally experience during their menstrual cycles may feel different during this phase of perimenopause.
Skin Changes
Some women experience changes to their skin during perimenopause, such as dry or itchy skin.
There are several reasons for these types of skin changes, so it’s important to discuss any changes a woman experiences to her skin with her healthcare provider.
Feeling Like You Don't Feel Like Yourself
This symptom can be difficult to describe.
A woman may feel different from head to toe, yet cannot describe the specific reason for such changes. Poor sleep, increased feelings of anxiety, difficulty in concentrating, and period changes are all symptoms that may be contributing to the way that a woman feels like she doesn't know who she is during perimenopause.
Perimenopause is not the same for all women, and women may experience some symptoms more than others during this period.
Can You Have Perimenopause Without Hot Flushes?
Yes.
While hot flushes are common during perimenopause, there are several other symptoms that can occur during this stage of the menstrual cycle.
Many women feel changes in relation to their periods, sleep, mood, energy, concentration, sexual health and physical well-being without experiencing hot flushes.
This is one of the reasons that perimenopause can be difficult to recognise.
How Do You Know If You Are Going Through Perimenopause?
There is no one specific symptom that indicates that a woman is going through perimenopause.
A healthcare professional will assess the woman’s age, symptoms, menstrual and medical history to arrive at the diagnosis.
For women over the age of 45 who also experience typical symptoms of perimenopause, a diagnosis can be made without performing specific tests.
Hormone levels can fluctuate considerably so a single test may not be reliable in illustrating where you are in the menopause process.
For women under the age of 45, further assessment may be appropriate.
When Should You Seek Support?
There is no reason to wait until the symptoms have become unbearable before seeking out support for the body and the symptoms that it is experiencing.
If any of the following symptoms are affecting you, it is worth discussing with a healthcare professional:
Sleep
Work / daily life
Relationships
Mood
Confidence
Sex
Physical comfort
General understanding of what is happening in the body
Healthdirect recommends that women who are experiencing perimenopause symptoms that are bothering them or affecting their daily life should see their doctor.
You Don't Have to Navigate Perimenopause Alone
Perimenopause is a natural part of the life cycle for women, but that doesn’t mean that women have to suffer through the symptoms that can negatively impact their quality of life during this time.
Understanding what is happening in the body is the first step towards managing perimenopause.
Healthcare professionals can assess the woman’s symptoms and contribute to a suggestion for managing those symptoms.
At Empower Menopause & Aesthetics, women can seek out personalised approaches to managing their perimenopause symptoms to help them better understand and manage their symptoms.
Book a menopause consultation with Empower Menopause & Aesthetics to discuss your individual symptoms and circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is usually the first sign of perimenopause?
Changes to your menstrual cycle can be one of the first noticeable signs, although symptoms vary between women.
What age does perimenopause usually start?
Perimenopause commonly occurs between 45 and 55, although the timing varies between women.
Can perimenopause cause anxiety?
Yes. Anxiety can occur during perimenopause, although anxiety has many possible causes and should be appropriately assessed.
Can perimenopause cause weight gain?
Weight gain can occur during perimenopause, although changes in weight can have many contributing factors.
Do I need a blood test to diagnose perimenopause?
Not necessarily. Perimenopause is commonly diagnosed based on symptoms, menstrual changes and medical history. Routine hormone testing is generally not required for typical presentations, although testing may be appropriate in some circumstances.
How long does perimenopause last?
Healthdirect states that perimenopause commonly lasts around four to eight years, although individual experiences vary.
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