Are you in perimenopause? Signs & symptoms

You’ve probably heard about the menopause, but the perimenopause is the period before it and can last for up to 10 years.

Brace yourself – while most of us are aware of the menopause and the symptoms to expect, the perimenopause still remains a bit of a mystery.

Technically, it’s the period just before menopause and can affect your body from head to toe, for up to 10 years. It pays to prepare for the perimenopause, so here’s what you need to know.

Perimenopause vs menopause 

Perimenopause can begin in your early 40s, while the average age of true menopause in the UK is 51.¹

Every woman goes through this hormonal upheaval but not all of us will notice its effects.

That’s because the symptoms of perimenopause are often dismissed as natural signs of ageing, or as being caused by other health issues.

If you’re uncertain if it could be menopause or perimenopause that you’re experiencing, please speak to your GP or HCP, or use this article for some extra guidance.  

What is the typical age you start perimenopause?

We've mentioned when true menopause begins on average for people in the UK, but when is the typical age you start perimenopause?

GPs here in the UK state that the average perimenopause age is 45 years old, but it can begin for some people in their 30s.²

While these are listed as some of the most common signs of perimenopause, we’ve explained a couple of the slightly vaguer symptoms below:

How to help reduce the symptoms of perimenopause

You can manage your perimenopause symptoms in a number of ways, but one of the most common is by directly targeting the symptoms themselves.

Here are three perimenopause remedies that have been shown to help, alongside altering your diet and lifestyle habits:

What are the stages of perimenopause?

So, to recap on what you might experience and when, here’s an overview of the stages of perimenopause:

• From your late thirties to forties, your cycle will still be pretty regular, although some small changes may be happening
• During this time, your oestrogen and progesterone levels will go up and down, but generally your oestrogen levels start to decrease which throws off the balance with progesterone
• Because these two hormones are responsible for ovulation and menstruation, as time goes on, your periods will become more and more irregular
• Eventually, you will have your last ever period^17,18

After a year has passed, you’ll be classed as being in true menopause.

The final say

Perimenopause is the transitional stage before menopause, and everyone’s experience of it can be different. So, we hope you’re feeling a little bit more confident about the various stages and signs of perimenopause, and whether it’s what you’re experiencing or not.