For many women,perimenopauseremains a mysteryuntil the symptoms hit.
What is perimenopause?
Perimenopause,the transition leading up to menopause, is often misunderstood.
While menopause officially begins after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual cycle (it’s technically just one day!
), perimenopause can last anywhere from five to 10 years.
Symptoms vary widely, from subtle cycle changes to severe disruptions in mood, sleep, and physical health.
Younger women are experiencing symptoms too
One of the most surprising findings?
In fact, 40% of women aged 3640 also reported a medical confirmation of perimenopause.
Despite the average onset of perimenopause being around 47.5 years, this study suggests symptoms canappear much earlier.
These include:
Why is perimenopause often overlooked?
Despite experiencing significant symptoms, younger women are less likely to connect their health concerns to perimenopause.
A major reason for this isa lack of awareness and educationsurrounding this transition.
Unlike pregnancy or menopause, perimenopause remains largely under-discussed in medical and public health conversations.
Additionally, the study found thatclinicians may not always recognize perimenopause in younger patients.
The takeaway
These findings highlight an urgent need for better perimenopause education.
