Understanding the Symptoms: It's More Than Hot Flashes
Perimenopause is marked by fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone, which can cause a wide array of symptoms. According to the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), common physical changes include irregular periods, sleep disturbances, hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, vaginal dryness, and fatigue (NAMS, 2022). But beyond the physical, many women experience emotional and cognitive symptoms, such as increased anxiety, mood swings, irritability, and even memory lapses.
Dr. Jen Gunter, OB-GYN and author of The Menopause Manifesto, emphasizes that “perimenopause affects the brain just as much as the body. Women aren't going crazy—they're dealing with major neuroendocrine shifts that deserve clinical attention and compassion.” Yet, these symptoms are often misattributed to stress or aging, delaying proper diagnosis and care.
The Shame Factor: Why Women Stay Silent
Many women report feeling embarrassed or ashamed to talk about perimenopause, particularly when their symptoms impact their relationships, careers, or sense of self. A 2021 survey conducted by the British Menopause Society found that over 47% of women said perimenopause negatively affected their work, yet the majority had never spoken to their employer about it.
Dr. Louise Newson, a menopause specialist and founder of the Newson Health Menopause & Wellbeing Centre, believes stigma plays a significant role. “We still live in a culture where aging, especially in women, is taboo. Women often feel dismissed by healthcare providers and unsupported by workplace policies,” she says. This silence can lead to delayed treatment, misdiagnoses (often as depression or burnout), and further emotional distress.
How to Handle It: Medical and Lifestyle Strategies That Help
Perimenopause is not something women have to endure silently or "tough out." There are effective tools for managing symptoms, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT), non-hormonal medications, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dietary changes, and targeted supplements. A 2022 study in The Lancet Healthy Longevity showed that individualized HRT significantly improved quality of life and reduced vasomotor symptoms in midlife women, especially when started early in the transition phase.
Lifestyle strategies like resistance training, stress reduction practices (such as yoga or meditation), and gut-supportive nutrition can also reduce inflammation and stabilize mood. Sleep hygiene, alcohol moderation, and maintaining social connections are essential for supporting both mental and physical resilience during this hormonal transition.
What Every Woman Should Know
Perimenopause is not a disease—it’s a biological life stage that deserves the same visibility and care as adolescence or pregnancy. Women should not feel shame for experiencing symptoms, asking for help, or seeking treatment options. Instead of brushing off symptoms as “just hormones,” it’s time for a broader shift in how society, healthcare, and media talk about midlife women.
This is also a prime opportunity for brands in women’s wellness, hormone health, mental health support, sleep aids, sexual wellness, supplements, clean beauty, and digital health tracking tools to show up for this powerful yet underserved demographic.
📚 Sources
North American Menopause Society (NAMS). (2022). Understanding Perimenopause and Menopause. https://www.menopause.org
Gunter, J. (2021). The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism. Kensington Publishing.
Newson, L. (2022). Managing Menopause in the Workplace: A UK Survey of Experiences. British Menopause Society. https://www.thebms.org.uk
The Lancet Healthy Longevity. (2022). Hormone therapy and quality of life during menopausal transition. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhl
Harvard Health Publishing. (2023). Managing the Physical and Emotional Symptoms of Perimenopause. https://www.health.harvard.edu
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