Every year, National Perimenopause Awareness Month puts a spotlight on a stage of life that millions of women move through, often quietly, and often without answers. Perimenopause is the transition leading up to menopause, and for many women it is confusing, frustrating, and far more disruptive than anyone warned them it would be. This month is a reminder that perimenopause deserves real conversation, real recognition, and real care.
What Is Perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the natural transition before menopause, when the ovaries gradually make less estrogen and progesterone and hormone levels begin to fluctuate. It can start years before periods stop for good, sometimes as early as a woman’s late 30s or early 40s, and it can last anywhere from a few years to a decade. Menopause itself is diagnosed after 12 months without a period, but the perimenopausal years leading up to it are when many of the most noticeable symptoms appear (Crandall et al., JAMA, 2023).
Perimenopause Symptoms and Signs to Know
Perimenopause looks different for every woman, but common symptoms and signs include:
- Irregular periods – cycles that get shorter, longer, heavier, lighter, or unpredictable
- Hot flashes and night sweats – the hallmark vasomotor symptoms, experienced by more than half of women and often lasting several years (Crandall et al., JAMA, 2023)
- Sleep problems – trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking drenched in sweat
- Mood changes – anxiety, irritability, low mood, or feeling “not like yourself”
- Brain fog and memory lapses – trouble concentrating or finding words
- Fatigue – persistent tiredness that sleep doesn’t fully fix
- Vaginal dryness and discomfort during sex – part of the genitourinary changes of this stage
- Urinary changes – urgency, frequency, or more frequent urinary tract infections
- Weight changes and body-shape shifts – often around the midsection, even without changes in diet or activity
- Joint aches, headaches, and changes in libido
Because these symptoms overlap with so many other conditions, they are easy to dismiss or misattribute, which is exactly why awareness matters.
Why Perimenopause Isn’t Talked About Enough
Despite affecting nearly every woman, perimenopause remains under-recognized and under-discussed. In a large US study of more than 7,600 women, about one in three were unsure of their own reproductive stage, and uncertainty peaked among women ages 40 to 44. The most common reason was simple confusion, difficulty interpreting their own bodily changes and telling perimenopause apart from other causes, followed by knowledge gaps and, for some, dismissive or unhelpful healthcare encounters (Xu et al., Menopause, 2026).
The silence isn’t accidental. Research shows that stigma, cultural taboos around menstruation and aging, and a long standing lack of funding for women’s health research all leave women underinformed and unsupported. Too many are told to simply “put up with it,” which can take a real toll on mental health, relationships, and quality of life (Peters et al., Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2026). National Perimenopause Awareness Month exists to change that, by naming these symptoms out loud and reminding women they don’t have to navigate this stage alone.
Why Early Recognition Matters
Perimenopause isn’t just about managing hot flashes. This transition is also linked to longer-term changes in heart, bone, and metabolic health. Recognizing symptoms early opens the door to relief and to proactive care that protects your health for decades to come. Effective, evidence-based options exist, from lifestyle strategies to hormone therapy and non-hormonal treatments, and the right plan is different for every woman.
You Can Come to Maze Women’s Health
You don’t have to guess, and you don’t have to suffer in silence. At Maze Women’s Health, our team listens, takes your symptoms seriously, and builds a personalized plan to help you feel like yourself again. Whether you’re dealing with hot flashes, sleep problems, mood changes, or simply questions about what’s happening in your body, we’re here to help.
This National Perimenopause Awareness Month, take the first step. Book your Consultation at Maze Women’s Health and start the conversation your health deserves.
Sources
- Crandall CJ, et al. Management of Menopausal Symptoms. JAMA. 2023.
- Xu Y, et al. Exploring Prevalence and Drivers of Perimenopause Uncertainty Among US Women. Menopause. 2026.
- Peters K, et al. “Just Put Up With It”: Women’s Experiences of Perimenopause and Menopause. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2026.