Symptoms of perimenopause

Every time I turn around there’s a new list of perimenopause symptoms popping up online. Some put the number of symptoms at over 50. Here’s a list of some of the more common ones.

 

  • changes in periods: longer cycle, shorter cycle, heavier or lighter bleeding

  • periods stopping

  •  hot flushes

  • night sweats

  •  brain fog

  • lack of concentration

  •  loss of confidence

  •  memory issues

  • depression

  • anxiety

  • panic attacks

  •  low mood

  • anger/rage

  • relapse or worsening of bipolar or OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder)

  • insomnia and sleep issues

  •  joint pain

  •  onset of osteoarthritis

  •  headaches

  •  migraines

  •  weight gain

  •  redistribution of weight (more around the trunk and waist)

  • IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and other gut issues

  • bloating

  • painful or dry vulva/vagina

 

  • pain during sex

  • recurrent UTIs (urinary tract infections)

  • overactive bladder

  • incontinence

  • loss of libido

  • dry skin (and increase in wrinkles) + acne

  • eyesight changes

  • hearing changes

  • dry eyes

  • fatigue and tiredness + breast pain

  • constipation

  • itching/crawling skin

  • loss of muscle mass

  • thinning hair

  • muscle aches

  • racing heart/palpitations

a word about this list…

It’s important to note: not everyone will experience everything on this list! Some people won’t experience any of it. Also important: not everything is perimenopause. Some of these symptoms can be caused by other (serious) things entirely. So it’s really important to get checked out if anything unusual is happening in your body. Don’t self diagnose!