What Is Perimenopause? What Every Woman Over 40 Should Know
Let’s talk about perimenopause…
Picture it; Sicily…Wait, sorry that’s wrong. Picture it; you’re in your early 40s, living your life, minding your business, maybe even thriving. You’ve finally figured out how to fill in your brows, you know your angles for Zoom, and you’ve accepted that you’ll never fully understand TikTok—and that’s fine! You’re vibing. You’re good.
Then BAM. Out of nowhere, this hormonal chaos goblin called perimenopause busts through the door like it owns the place. And spoiler alert: it did not RSVP.
Welcome to the weirdest party crasher of your life.
So, What Is Perimenopause Anyway?
Think of perimenopause as menopause’s slightly unhinged opening act. It’s the time leading up to menopause (which is officially when you haven’t had a period for 12 months straight), but it comes with its own chaotic energy.
Hormones are fluctuating like a DJ on molly, and your body is like, “Oh, you wanted stability? LOL okay.”
Signs You’ve Been Personally Victimized by Perimenopause
Let’s do a little check-in. Any of these sound familiar?
- Random hot flashes in the middle of a very important meeting
- Sleep? What sleep?
- Your mood swings now come with sound effects and theme music
- One day your period is three days long, the next it’s a Quentin Tarantino bloodbath (too much?)
- Anxiety? Irritability? Crying at a Folgers commercial? Cute.
If you nodded yes to literally any of those, congratulations: you may be entering your Peri Era™. Welcome. We have snacks. (Just kidding, we forgot where we put them and they’d probably give us heartburn anyway.)
You’re Not Losing It—It’s Hormones, Baby
One of the most frustrating parts of perimenopause is how sneaky and gaslight-y it is. You start to question your own reality:
“Was I always this sweaty?”
“Why do I feel like I’m both furious and exhausted?”
“Am I losing my mind or just my estrogen?”
This is why we need to talk about it. Because for some reason, we were all given a 7th grade puberty talk complete with cartoon ovaries, but no one circled back to say, “Hey, in your 40s your body’s going to get weird again. Here’s a heads up and maybe a Xanax.”
What You Can Do (Other Than Move Into a Cave and Wait It Out)
Let’s be clear: perimenopause is a season, not a life sentence. There are things you can do to feel better, more grounded, and less like you’re on a hormone-fueled tilt-a-whirl. A few of my faves:
🛌 Prioritize Sleep (Yes, Even If It’s Hard)
Start winding down like your phone’s on 3%—cool room, no screens, magnesium, eye mask, whatever works (for me, it’s the Hatch Restore)
🥗 Watch What You Eat (Ugh I Know, But Hear Me Out)
More protein, fewer processed carbs, and foods that help regulate blood sugar = a more stable mood and less middle-aged rage.
💪 Move That Beautiful Body
It doesn’t have to be CrossFit. Walking, yoga, dance parties in your kitchen—anything that gets your blood flowing and your endorphins up.
🧠 Get Support
Therapist, doctor, friends, that one girl in your group chat who sends voice memos at 3am about chin hair. We all need our team.
💊 Talk to Your Doctor About HRT or Supplements
Perimenopause is not the time to white-knuckle it through. There are real, safe, helpful options. Ask questions. Be annoying. Advocate for yourself.
The Bottom Line
Perimenopause is not a moral failing. You’re not weak, lazy, or dramatic. You’re a fully functioning human navigating a wild hormonal rollercoaster while still showing up to meetings, feeding people, maybe dating, maybe raising kids, maybe running the PTA or plotting your quiet escape from it.
You are doing GREAT. Even if you’re sweaty and slightly homicidal while doing it.
So the next time your body surprises you with a rogue period, a 3am wakeup, or a hot flash in the Target checkout line, just remember:
You are not alone. You’re just in your Peri Era. And there’s power in knowing that—even if it’s uninvited.
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