What’s happening in your body when you reach peri-menopause?
Peri-menopause is defined as the time of hormonal fluctuation leading up to menopause (the point when you’ve gone 12 months without a period). During this transition, your ovaries become erratic producers of oestrogen and progesterone, causing widespread ripple effects throughout your body.
"Perimenopause is a neuroendocrine transition—meaning it affects both hormones and brain function.” (Greendale et al., 2019)
⚠️ Common Symptoms of Perimenopause
1. Irregular Periods
Cycles may become shorter, longer, heavier, lighter, or completely unpredictable. Skipping months is common—and so is bleeding that rivals a horror movie.
Cycle irregularity is the hallmark symptom of early perimenopause. (Santoro & Neal-Perry, 2022)
2. Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
These sudden heat surges, often followed by chills and sweat, can disrupt sleep and confidence. They’re caused by fluctuating oestrogen impacting the hypothalamus (your internal thermostat).
3. Sleep Disturbances
You might fall asleep easily but wake often—usually around 3–4AM. Hormonal changes, cortisol shifts, and thermoregulation all play a role.
4. Mood Swings and Irritability
You’re not "crazy." Oestrogen interacts with serotonin and GABA, two brain chemicals tied to mood and calm. As oestrogen declines, so can your sense of emotional stability.
Perimenopause is associated with feelings of depression, especially in women with prior history (Schmidt et al., 2015)
5. Brain Fog and Memory Lapses
Struggling to find words, focus, or remember why you walked into the kitchen? That’s hormonal, not cognitive decline. And yes—it’s real. Cognitive changes in perimenopause are subtle but measurable, especially in verbal memory and attention. (Epperson et al., 2013)
6. Weight Gain and Body Composition Changes
Hormonal shifts affect insulin sensitivity, fat storage, and muscle mass. Add sleep loss and stress, and suddenly the old tricks don’t work.
7. Vaginal Dryness and Libido Changes
Oestrogen maintains vaginal tissue elasticity and lubrication. Its decline can lead to dryness, discomfort, and reduced interest in sex—which is also impacted by fatigue and mood.
8. Gut Changes and Bloating
The gut microbiome is sensitive to oestrogen fluctuations. You may notice more bloating, food sensitivities, or changes in digestion.
The gut microbiota is impacted by ovarian hormones and may influence menopausal symptoms. (Vemuri et al., 2018)
🌀 You’re Not Alone—and You’re Not Broken
Perimenopause isn’t a pathology—it’s a transformation. But without support, it can feel like an unraveling. At MenoBiome, we take a systems-based approach that combines gut health, nutrition, and nervous system support to help you feel like yourself again—maybe even better.
📚 References
Greendale GA et al. “Menopause and the brain.” Endocrinology, 2019.
Santoro N, Neal-Perry G. “Perimenopause: the overlooked transition.” Endocrine Reviews, 2022.
Schmidt PJ et al. “Mood disorders during the menopausal transition.” Arch Gen Psychiatry, 2015.
Epperson CN et al. “Cognition and the menopause transition.” J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2013.
Vemuri R et al. “Role of the gut microbiota in postmenopausal health.” Maturitas, 2018.