After Grace and Frankie debutted, the conversation about women’s wellness and taboo topics like perimenopause and menopause took off. Today’s topic is perimenopause, a period of time that precedes menopause and is marked by hormonal changes that can cause symptoms such as mood swings and hot flashes. Completely normal, it’s the less talked about pre-cursor to menopause. 

Perimenopause is the transition period before menopause.

Perimenopause is the transition period before menopause. Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when her reproductive system stops working. During perimenopause, your ovaries make less estrogen and progesterone, which can cause uncomfortable symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness.

Perimenopause lasts anywhere from 6 to 10 years on average but can start as early as age 35 or as late as 55; there are no hard-and-fast rules about when it begins or ends–it’s different for everyone! Some women may not even know they’re going through perimenopause until they get their first period after stopping birth control pills (which can trigger irregular menstrual cycles).

It’s a time when your ovaries release fewer eggs and produce less progesterone and estrogen.

The ovaries are the female reproductive organs. They produce eggs, which are released into the fallopian tubes. The ovaries also produce estrogen and progesterone, hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.

As you approach menopause, your ovaries release fewer eggs and produce less progesterone and estrogen. This can cause hot flashes as well as other symptoms like night sweats, sleep problems or vaginal dryness.

About 3 out of 4 women have some symptoms during perimenopause.

Perimenopause is a normal part of aging. It occurs when your body’s hormone levels change and ovulation stops, which can happen years before you reach menopause.

Perimenopause symptoms are not always the same for every woman and may include:

  • Hot flashes and night sweats
  • Mood swings and depression * Trouble sleeping * Weight gain or loss

Perimenopause can happen between the ages of 35 and 54.

The average age at which you begin to go through perimenopause is 47, but it can happen any time between the ages of 35 and 54. Some women experience perimenopause at an earlier age than others and others experience it later.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes or night sweats, check out our guide on how to deal with menopause symptoms!

Perimenopause may last anywhere from a few months to several years.

Perimenopause may last anywhere from a few months to several years. The average is about 5 years, but it can be as short as 1 year or as long as 10 years.

The symptoms of perimenopause can last for up to 10 years and may get worse before they get better. In fact, you might experience periods where your symptoms are more severe than usual and then periods when they seem to disappear altogether–this is normal! It’s also normal for you not only to have different kinds of symptoms at different times in your life but also for these symptoms themselves to change over time (e.g., hot flashes one month vs night sweats another).

To cope with this roller coaster ride:

  • Stay informed by talking with other women who’ve been through this process; they’ll likely have some good advice on how best not just cope but thrive during these turbulent times!

Symptoms; It Depends

You may experience a variety of symptoms during perimenopause. These include hot flashes and night sweats, mood swings and depression or anxiety, trouble sleeping and weight gain or loss. Other symptoms include headaches, bloating, vaginal dryness and a decrease in sexual desire.

If you’re experiencing these types of changes in your body and mind, it’s important to talk with your doctor about them so that they can help guide you through this transition safely.

Discuss with your Doctor

If you have any questions or symptoms that interfere with your well-being, speak to a doctor. Whether it’s hot flashes that interfere with sleep. There are many different treatment options, including hormone therapy and nonhormonal therapies. It’s important to get treatment if you have symptoms because they can be relieved by these methods. Hormone therapy can actually reset your aging by flooding your system with depleted hormones. No, it isn’t just progesterone and estrogen that changes, other markers do as well. A good doctor will run your bloodwork and identify gaps to make you feel better. 

Perimenopause is a natural part of life, and it’s important to remember that it doesn’t have to be scary. If you’re experiencing symptoms, talk with your doctor about treatment options. Remember that there are treatments available for most symptoms, so don’t suffer in silence!