Understanding Your Body Through Perimenopause and Menopause

Menopause is an inevitable stage of life that women are asked to endure quietly. As you go through the middle ages, you become familiar with irregular periods, hot flushes, and sleepless nights – symptoms that are transitional in nature. The reality is that menopause comes in different phases and is a complex process that affects virtually every woman. If you’re someone experiencing these changes and want to learn more about this phase of life, join us as we discuss everything there is to know about perimenopause and menopause.

What is perimenopause and menopause?

Most people tend to believe that menopause is a singular point in time when a woman stops getting your periods. However, it is better described as a culmination of multiple changes the body undergoes upon entering the 40s. It begins with perimenopause, during which the ovaries gradually produce less oestrogen and progesterone.

What makes perimenopause particularly difficult is its unpredictable nature. You may likely experience your hormone levels fluctuating more wildly than ever before. As a result, most women going through this stage have different experiences. This phase can last anywhere from a few months to ten years, with most women experiencing it for 4 to 8 years. Once you reach your twelfth month without a period, you’re officially considered in the postmenopausal phase – most often called menopause by women.

How does our body respond to perimenopause?

You may not realise it, but there are oestrogen receptors in nearly every system of your body – from your brain to your muscles and everything in between. So when you go through perimenopause, you’ll typically feel its effects throughout the body, and not just your reproductive system. A recent study states that menopause represents a critical window for our long-term health, a stage that affects everything from cardiovascular function to cognitive performance.

The problem is that it’s not the same for every woman, and the severity and combination of symptoms vary vastly across individuals. While some women may sail through menopause with ease, others may find their daily lives significantly affected. Regardless of where you fall on this spectrum, researchers have identified a few common symptoms that most women experience to varying degrees. Let’s explore what they are and how they may affect your personal lives.

What are the common symptoms of perimenopause?

Hot flushes and night sweats

These two are perhaps the most notorious of all the menopause symptoms, with hot flushes in particular affecting more than 80% of all women. A hot flush occurs when a decline in oestrogen affects your hypothalamus, your body’s internal thermostat. The hypothalamus assumes that your body may be overheating and can respond in two ways: dilating blood vessels and triggering sweat to cool you down. When this happens at night, it is called a night sweat. For women experiencing night sweats, drenched sheets, and sleep disruptions, these episodes last anywhere from 30 seconds to 10 minutes.

Sleep problems

Beyond the issue of night sweats, the lower progesterone levels in our bodies during perimenopause also affect the production of sleep-inducing neurochemicals. Not only that, but oestrogen decline can also worsen sleep apnea or trigger restless leg syndrome. The result is waking up in the middle of the night, racing mind, even on days when you feel utterly exhausted.

Brain fog

Oestrogen plays a significant role in our cognitive function, particularly in the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory formation. During perimenopause, you’re likely to experience mental lapses, such as walking into a room and completely forgetting why you’re there or finding yourself grasping for words to communicate. Thankfully, these are usually temporary, and your cognitive sharpness returns once the hormone levels stabilise after menopause.

Weight and shape changes

Even if you don’t change your diet, exercise routine, or lifestyle in general, you may notice your body redistributing fat differently. It is often noted that declining oestrogen levels can cause the body to shift its fat storage from the hips and thighs to the abdomen. Furthermore, the body’s metabolism also slows down during perimenopause, meaning you burn fewer calories at rest than you did in your 30s.

Vaginal and urinary changes

A decrease in oestrogen level thins down the vaginal walls and reduces natural lubrication – a condition called vaginal atrophy or genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). This can make intercourse uncomfortable and increase our susceptibility to urinary tract infections. The tissues supporting the bladder also weaken due to this decline, leading to stress incontinence when you do anything to put pressure on the organ.

Skin and hair changes

Oestrogen helps maintain collagen production and skin thickness. As its levels drop, our skin tends to become drier, less elastic, and more prone to wrinkles. In the same vein, our hair may also thin on the head while, frustratingly, appearing in new places such as our chin. Some women also notice their hair texture changing, becoming drier and less shiny than before.

Joint and muscle pain

If your knees, shoulders, or hands suddenly ache more than before, the oestrogen decline may be the culprit once again. You see, this hormone has anti-inflammatory properties that help maintain joint cartilage. Its loss can trigger inflammation and stiffness, leading many women to confuse these symptoms with those of early arthritis.

Bone density loss

This is one of the most serious long-term consequences of menopause, as oestrogen plays a significant role in regulating the cells that build and break down bone tissue. Without it, bone breakdown accelerates while bone formation slows down, leading to decreased bone density. In fact, it is said that women can lose up to 20% of their bone density in five to seven years following menopause, significantly increasing osteoporosis risk.

Cardiovascular Changes

Before menopause, women actually enjoy relative protection against heart disease compared to men of the same age, as oestrogen helps keep blood vessels flexible and maintains favourable cholesterol ratios. But after menopause, the risk of cardiovascular diseases tends to take a sharp rise. At the same time, your blood pressure might increase, and your cholesterol profile may also shift in an unfavourable direction. This is why keeping tabs on your heart health becomes even more critical during this phase.

When should you seek professional support for menopause?

While knowing and understanding your body during this time is fine, working through all the problems on your own is less than ideal. Suppose any of the symptoms mentioned above are significantly disrupting your quality of life. In that case, it is recommended that you seek guidance from a good gynaecologist in London or your local area to explore treatment options for your situation. Beyond any symptom management, this professional guidance will also ensure that you’re taking appropriate steps to protect your long-term health – whether it’s monitoring bone density, managing cardiovascular risk factors, or simply addressing bodily changes that may otherwise slip under the radar.

Bottom Line

In the end, perimenopause and menopause should be treated as nothing more than a biological transition. This phase is not a sign of declining health or the end of your youthful side. It is simply another chapter in your life’s story – one you can navigate by adjusting to the changes your body experiences, whether that means making favourable lifestyle adjustments, exploring treatment options, or simply knowing that what you’re experiencing is normal.

Though some of these symptoms may feel overwhelming to endure on your own, you’re far from alone. Help is always there if you need it – whether through your partner, a friend, or a gynaecologist. Just be patient with yourself and listen to your body’s needs. With the correct information and support, it can be a phase you glide through with grace, awareness, and confidence.