What Exactly Is Perimenopause?
If there's one thing I've realised from learning more about this stage of life, it's this: many women enter perimenopause without really knowing what to expect.
We know that menopause is when menstruation stops. This is the simplest explanation.
But perimenopause, the transition phase before menopause, can last up to 8 to 10 years before menopause actually occurs.
During perimenopause, which Dr Mary Claire Haver describes as the Zone of Chaos, hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone become increasingly unpredictable, and the effects can show up in ways that don't immediately seem hormonal at all: brain fog, anxiety, poor sleep, mood changes, joint aches, palpitations, changes in body composition and many more.
Which is why, so many women in their 40s seem to describe similar experiences:
"Maybe I'm just stressed."
"Maybe I'm just getting old already lah."
"Why don't I feel like myself anymore?"
And then you finally start connecting the dots.
Discovering the Perimenopause Rollercoaster
My Blog Posts
I thought estrogen was just a reproductive hormone. Here's what I learnt about estrogen's role in brain fog, mood, sleep and other perimenopause changes.
Why do anxiety, irritability, and poor sleep feel different in perimenopause? Here's what I learnt about progesterone and feeling less steady in midlife.
Feeling flat, less motivated or low in energy? Here's what I learnt about testosterone in women and how it may affect drive, strength, and midlife.
Aha. No wonder lah!
Perimenopause Deserves More Conversations
Awareness matters because recognising that these changes could be related to perimenopause gives us more context. It helps us ask better questions, seek appropriate support and have more informed conversations about what is happening to our bodies.
If you're wondering whether some of the changes you’ve been experiencing could be related to perimenopause, you can also reach out to Menopause Asia.
It is a digital platform that connects women with independently licensed doctors, reliable information and practical midlife health resources, with the aim of making menopause support easier to access and navigate. Menopause Asia itself is not a healthcare provider; medical consultations are provided independently by licensed healthcare professionals.
Sometimes, knowing what might be happening is already a very useful first step.
So this September, maybe tell another woman what you've learnt too.
Because the more openly we talk about perimenopause, the less likely someone else is to spend years thinking: "What on earth is wrong with me?"
❤️ Share this with a woman who might need her own Aha, No Wonder Lah moment.
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