Perimenopause symptoms: start with the one bothering you most

What is happening during perimenopause?

Perimenopause is the stretch of time before your final period, when hormone levels shift and cycles become less predictable. The National Institute on Aging describes this transition as commonly lasting several years and ending twelve months after your last period.

Because the pattern is different for everyone, the most useful approach is symptom-first: name the one that is costing you the most sleep, energy or patience, and work on that.

The symptoms women most often describe

These are the changes most commonly reported to clinicians during the transition.

• Hot flashes and sudden warmth
• Night sweats and broken sleep
• Trouble falling or staying asleep
• Mood changes, irritability or low mood
• Fatigue and lower daytime energy
• Brain fog, memory and concentration changes
• Irregular or changing periods
• Vaginal dryness and changes in libido

Where to go next by symptom

Each of these pages gives you the short version first, then the details worth knowing before you buy anything.

• Hot flashes: see our hot flashes answer page.
• Sleep: see perimenopause sleep problems.
• Mood: see mood changes in perimenopause.
• Energy: see perimenopause fatigue.
• Relief options generally: see natural menopause relief.

Building a routine you will actually keep

Small, repeatable habits beat an ambitious plan you abandon in a week: a consistent sleep and wake time, daily movement, a cool bedroom, and limiting alcohol and caffeine late in the day.

If you want to add a daily supplement to that routine, pick one you will remember. Our featured pick is Goli Ashwa Gummies, made with KSM-66® Ashwagandha Root Extract and Vitamin D, listed at $14.99 per bottle on Goli.com, with 10% off using code g-9259876e2a.