Is It Perimenopause? Here’s How to Tell
- Kary Florez
- Jul 19
- 2 min read
The Transition No One Warns You About (And How to Handle It)
Somewhere around 40, your hormones decide to remix the playlist. Periods start to change, moods feel different, sleep gets weird—and you start wondering: is this perimenopause?
The short answer: probably, yes. Perimenopause is the transition leading up to menopause (that official milestone when you’ve gone 12 months without a period). But perimenopause isn’t just about hormones winding down—it’s also about you leveling up. This stage is as transformative as adolescence, except this time, you’ve got wisdom on your side.
The Three Types of Menopause
Artificial menopause: Caused by surgery, chemo, or certain drugs. Symptoms can hit hard because there’s no gradual adjustment.
Premature menopause: When menopause comes early—30s or early 40s—often linked to stress, autoimmune conditions, or nutrient deficiencies.
Natural menopause: The slow, gradual path most women take, usually between 45 and 55. This is the perimenopause journey: cycles get irregular, symptoms show up, and your body learns a new rhythm.
The Symptoms of Perimenopause
Hormones don’t just quietly fade—they shift, dip, and swing before they settle. Here’s what can happen along the way, not to mention there are many other symptoms...
Low progesterone (estrogen dominance): breast tenderness, mood swings, fuzzy thinking, irritability, PMS, weight gain, restless sleep.
Low testosterone: loss of sex drive, low energy, subtle depression, less sensitivity, thinning pubic hair.
Low estrogen (later in the journey): hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, headaches, urinary issues, mood dips, lower energy.
Some women breeze through with almost no symptoms. Others feel like their bodies are suddenly foreign territory. Both are normal.
The Wisdom of This Transition
Menopause isn’t an ending—it’s a threshold. Yes, symptoms can be uncomfortable, but this is also the time when creativity, clarity, and a deeper sense of purpose often burst forward. It’s not about shrinking—it’s about expanding into who you’re meant to be.
My Bottom Line
Perimenopause is a physical transition, but also a personal initiation. Your hormones may shift, but your power grows. The best way to move through it? Understand what’s happening in your body, support it, and allow yourself to step into this new phase with curiosity instead of fear.
👉 Want guidance? You can join my menopause course (for yourself, for your partner who needs to understand what you’re going through, or even bring me in to your workplace for a talk). Because no woman should have to navigate this transition in silence.
Comments