Hold On, Wait a Minute…Am I There Yet?
Hold on.
Wait a minute.
Could I be in perimenopause?
You went to bed perfectly fine, and now you are awake at 2:00 a.m. having a private meeting
with the ceiling.
Your period—the one that used to arrive like somebody with a standing appointment—has
suddenly decided that schedules are optional.
Then one day you’re standing in the kitchen thinking:
Why did I come in here again?
And why are you hot?
Nobody else is hot.
You ask, “Is it hot in here?”
Everybody says no.
Excuse me?
Welcome to the question many women eventually find themselves asking:
Am I there yet?
Maybe.
Perimenopause means “around menopause.” It is the transition leading up to menopause, when
changing ovarian hormone patterns may begin affecting your menstrual cycle and other aspects
of your health and well-being.
It commonly begins during the 40s, although some women notice changes earlier.
And here is something many women don’t realize:
You don’t have to stop having periods before the menopause conversation begins.
By the time you actually reach menopause—the point recognized after 12 consecutive months
without a menstrual period, assuming there is no other medical explanation; you have already
traveled through perimenopause.
So, What Should You Look For?
Every woman’s experience is different.
Your menstrual cycle may change. You may notice hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disruption,
mood changes, vaginal or sexual-health changes, headaches, difficulty concentrating, or changes
in energy.
Or you may experience relatively few symptoms.
There is no menopause competition here.
The goal is not to collect symptoms.
The goal is to learn your changing body.
Pay attention to its sounds, signs, and signals.
Track what is changing.
Ask questions.
And when something begins interfering with your sleep, health, relationships, work, or quality of
life, talk with a qualified healthcare professional.
Most importantly, don’t begin this season by declaring war on your body.
Your body is not your enemy.
Midlife is a different season, and different seasons sometimes require different ways of caring for
ourselves.
So perhaps instead of asking:
“What is wrong with me?”
Try asking:
“What is changing and what does my body need from me now?”
Now that’s a conversation worth having.
Your pause is not a problem. Your pause is vital.