If you're in your 40s and starting to feel like your body is playing tricks on you, you're not alone — and you don’t have to suffer in silence. What you're experiencing is real, common, and manageable. Let's dive into this wild ride called perimenopause, explore the symptoms, and learn how we can navigate it together with accurate testing, reliable information, and supportive guidance.
What exactly is perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the storm before the calm. It’s the transitional phase between your reproductive years and menopause. Perimenopause typically begins in your 40s but can start as early as your mid-30s, marking the period when your body starts to produce less estrogen. This hormonal shift leads to a variety of perimenopause symptoms, including the infamous irregular bleeding. Unlike menopause, which is defined by 12 consecutive months without a period, perimenopause is characterized by fluctuating hormones and unpredictable menstrual cycles. According to the North American Menopause Society, perimenopause can span 4 to 8 years on average.
What to expect from the symptom smorgasbord
Feeling “off”? You’re not imagining things. Here’s a comprehensive list of what you might experience:
In early perimenopause:
- Irregular periods: Your cycle might become unpredictable. Periods can be longer, shorter, heavier, or lighter.
- Sleep disturbances: Trouble falling or staying asleep, often due to night sweats.
- Mood changes: Increased irritability, anxiety, or depression.
- Weight gain: Particularly around the abdomen.
In late perimenopause:
- Decreased libido: A noticeable drop in sexual desire.
- Vaginal dryness: Leading to discomfort during sex.
- Memory problems: Difficulty concentrating or forgetting things more easily.
- Joint and muscle pain: Unexplained aches and stiffness.
- Fatigue: Feeling tired more often despite adequate sleep
- Hot flashes and night sweats: Sudden warmth spreading over your body, often accompanied by sweating.
You're not “crazy,” your hormones are
All these symptoms can make you feel like you're losing control, but these changes are real and have a biological basis. Hormone imbalances during perimenopause are responsible for these varied symptoms. While follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels are used as an indicator of whether you're in perimenopause, according to the Mayo Clinic, it’s fluctuating estrogen and progesterone levels that can disrupt the body’s regulation of many systems, leading to the symptoms listed above.
Here are a few ways you can take your power back:
Accurate testing
Understanding your hormone levels is the first step in regaining control. Proov Empower offers accurate, at-home testing that lets you monitor your hormone fluctuations without the need for constant doctor visits — or pricking your finger. Our (just pee) tests provide clear insights into what’s happening in your body, enabling you to make informed decisions about managing your symptoms and options.
Reliable information
Once you have your test results, the next step is understanding what they mean. Proov Empower translates complex hormone data into easy-to-understand insights, empowering you to take proactive steps toward symptom management. Our urine hormone tests are highly accurate, leveraging nearly a decade of expertise in supporting our fertility customers. Trusted for decades, urine hormone testing technology, like that used in pregnancy tests, has been optimized for reliability. For instance, if you’re experiencing night sweats, you might learn that they’re linked to estrogen dips, and you can explore lifestyle changes or treatments to mitigate this.
Supportive guidance
Navigating perimenopause can feel isolating, but you don’t have to do it alone. Proov Empower connects you with supportive experts who are always on hand to provide personalized advice and support tailored to your unique hormonal profile. In addition, Proov Empower gives you access to an online community of women who are going through the same thing. Sharing experiences and solutions can be incredibly validating and helpful.
Understand your options
The best part about understanding your hormones is that you can choose from a variety of options to manage your symptoms. You don’t have to just “tough it out.” Here are a few strategies:
- Lifestyle adjustments: Simple changes like regular exercise, a balanced diet, and stress management techniques can make a significant difference.
- Supplements: Certain herbal supplements can help support your body’s estrogen and progesterone production and metabolism and balance your hormones naturally. Always choose evidence-based products like those offered by Proov Empower (like Boost, Block, and Pro).
- Medications: In some cases, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) might be recommended by your doctor to alleviate severe symptoms.
- Alternative therapies: Acupuncture, yoga, and meditation are great complementary practices that can help manage stress and improve overall well-being.
Perimenopause can, indeed, be a drag, but it doesn’t have to be. With accurate testing, reliable information, and supportive guidance, you can navigate this transition with confidence and ease. Remember, you have the power to understand your body, manage your symptoms, and thrive during this phase of life. You’ve got this, and Proov Empower is here to support you every step of the way.
