If you are over 40 you have probably heard doctors mention that you are in peri-menopause and wondered what it means since you feel fine. The other side of the picture is that society tends to blame every odd thing you do on ‘menopause’ without fully seeing that these two things are quite separate. While it’s true your hormones will be becoming increasingly variable, there is a great deal of popular misinformation about what is actually going on in our bodies.

Somewhere between the ages of 40 and the early 50’s the body’s production of hormone progesterone begins to die down while estrogen levels can soar. It isn’t yet menopause, but it is peri-menopause, and I’m guessing it is the symptoms these hormone fluctuations bring that have led you to this page.

The symptoms begin gradually and occur intermittently, bringing symptoms that go from psychological to physical. Because of the individual variations in frequency and variety of symptoms each women has, it can be difficult to know what is happening to you.

You may experience any or all of the following symptoms – unusual tiredness, anxiety, irritability, depression, increased allergic reactions, breast tenderness, ‘foggy’ thinking, depression, headaches, fat gain around the waist, a decrease in sex drive, insomnia, water retention and mood swings.

The hormonal imbalances that cause these symptoms can go on for several years, which is why many women can’t wait for their periods to end and stability to resume.

Menopause is technically the point where periods have ceased for one year, which is why it is more likely that peri-menopause is causing your symptoms. You should check with your doctor if any of your symptoms cause you distress.