Perimenopause got you like…what the fu*k? What’s with all the symptoms?! And how do you actually deal with them so you can get on with, you know, actually living life? Strap in, grab a cuppa and get some clarity with Valerie.

Perimenopause is the transitional phase leading up to menopause. You officially enter the menopause on the year anniversary of going 12 consecutive months without your period.  This can take 4 to 10 years, though some women can experience symptoms for just a few months, while others might have to put up with them for over a decade.

There is no perimenopause playbook - every single woman will have a different experience and symptoms will fluctuate widely both between individuals and also at different stages of the transition.

After lots and lots (and lots) of conversations with women and perimenopausal experts, we were seeing that ALL the symptoms of perimenopause can really contradict each other. Making what we’re calling a perimenopause paradox.

You remember every date and appointment in extreme detail. AND you get confused trying to remember what you were literally just doing.

You feel hornier than you have in your entire life. AND your vagina is drier than the Sahara Desert. 

We’re exploring the quite frankly fu*ked up world of the perimenopause paradoxes - and how multiple things are true AT THE SAME TIME.

There are 48 confirmed symptoms of the perimenopause and likely many more (because surprise, surprise, there has been very little research done into the space). 

Because of this lack of information many women are not aware of how and when they are in perimenopause and how best to manage it.

This is where we come in.

During perimenopause, the crazy fluctuation in Oestrogen and the eventual decline of our reproductive hormones impacts all areas of our body. This includes the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal body systems, the brain, the skin and hair and mental health. Yep, and there’s more, not forgetting our libido takes a dive, our vaginas feel unusual, and our general self-confidence implodes.

Often these symptoms are swept under the carpet and tolerated due to busy work lives, multi-tasking mums, extended responsibilities, and often a mixture of all of these. For this reason, women often put off seeking advice. They can feel totally overwhelmed by the symptoms that they simply can’t see the ‘wood for the trees’ or feel that their symptoms aren’t the same as their friends.

Among these recognised symptoms women often report feeling fatigued and lethargic, sleep issues, low and variable mood, anxiety, hot flushes, night sweats, itchy skin and joint pain.

Taking a holistic approach to perimenopause is recognised widely and promoted, especially as HRT is not always an option or a preferred method of management.