Is This Perimenopause?
Perimenopause, the 'Pause, is one of the least understood transitions in a woman's life. Not because it’s not important, but because the information never quite made it down the generational line. Our mothers didn't have it. So neither did we.
If you have Googled your symptoms at 2am, been told, “It’s just stress,” or “you need to sleep better,” been handed an anxiety prescription, or quietly wondered what is happening to you, you are in the right place. We are happy to share a full symptom checklist, inclusive of many systems, many categories, like the ones everyone knows and the ones nobody talks about. Check what you're experiencing and bring it to your doctor.
I went through perimenopause without knowing what it was. I lost my mom twenty years ago, right as it was starting, and there was no one in my family who had gone through menopause naturally. I was done by 45 and had no idea what had happened to me. The more I’ve learned, the more I want to share. That is part of the purpose of AliBee.
Women will spend more than half of their lives in menopause or postmenopause. And yet 94% received no education about it in school. 40% felt misdiagnosed when they sought care. More than half received a mental health diagnosis after symptoms began.
Here is what the 'Pause can look like. (A note before you scroll. This list is long and some of it is surprising in that it’s individually just common stuff. If you have health anxiety, read it the way you would read a map, it shows you what's there, not where you have to go. Having a few of these symptoms does not mean anything is inherently wrong. It may simply mean your hormones are shifting, which is normal, common, and manageable. The goal of this list is to help you connect dots that might otherwise take years to connect, and to give you something concrete to bring to your doctor.)
What You Probably Already Know
Hot flashes. Night sweats. Mood swings. Irregular periods. Sleep that used to come easily and now doesn't. Weight changes and slower metabolism. Anxiety. Fatigue that isn't fixed by sleep. Low libido. These are the symptoms most doctors ask about and most women recognize. If you're experiencing these, you're in good company and in the right place.
Your Cycle Is Changing
Shorter cycles. Longer cycles. Erratic cycles. Heavier periods. Spotting between periods. Skipped periods. Breast soreness that shows up unexpectedly. There is nothing consistent except inconsistency.
Your Body Is Talking
These are the ones that send women to orthopedists, neurologists, and cardiologists before anyone thinks to check their hormones.
New joint pain with no prior injury. (Like that frozen shoulder thing?) Electric shock or zap sensations under the skin. Heart palpitations. Tingling or numbness in the hands and feet. Random bruising. Dizziness or balance issues. Nausea that feels like morning sickness. Strange unexplainable weight gain. New or worsening migraines. Ocular migraines. Random sinus issues. Internal tremors or vibrations. Restless legs at night. Muscle cramps. Hot feet. Shortness of breath. Muscle weakness. Frequent urination or urgency. Urinary leaking. Recurrent UTIs. Pelvic pain. Hip pain. TMJ or jaw pain. Isn’t it glamorous to be a woman? (It is!)
Your Skin, Hair, and Nails
Dry, flaky patches on your forhead or face. Itchy skin, especially legs and arms at night. Sudden sensitivity to products you have used for years. Body odor changes. Dry eyes. Hair thinning or texture changes. Acne or new skin breakouts. Skin thinning. Brittle nails. Slower wound healing.
Your Senses Are Off
Phantom smells, cigarette smoke, something burning, something completely random that isn't there. Metallic taste in your mouth. Ringing, buzzing, or whooshing in your ears. Burning mouth or tongue. Voice changes or vocal fatigue. An itch between the back of your throat and your nose - the worst!. Sound sensitivity. Itchy ears.
Your Sleep and Mood
Waking at 3am and unable to fall back asleep. Rage that arrives without warning. Crying for no reason. Emotional flooding, overwhelmed by things that never bothered you before. Doom or dread with no clear cause. Loss of motivation or joy. Depression that doesn't match your life. Irritability that wasn't there before.
Your Mind
Brain fog. Forgetting words mid-sentence. Walking into a room and forgetting why. Reading the same sentence twice. Difficulty concentrating. Reading the same sentence twice. (Sorry, just having a little fun.) Memory gaps that feel alarming.
Things You Wouldn't Connect
Tooth decay, new cavities, or gum sensitivity. Constipation or digestive changes. Bloating that won't quit. Pregnancy-like cravings. Vaginal dryness or discomfort. New or worsening allergies. Sleep apnea. High cholesterol. Diabetes risk increase. Grief about your body changing. Fear or anxiety about what's happening. Feeling like yourself but also not.
What To Tell Your Doctor
Bring the list. Ask specifically about perimenopause. Request an FSH test, estradiol, progesterone, thyroid panel (TSH, Free T3, Free T4), vitamin D, and B12. Track your symptoms for two to three months before your appointment if you can, the pattern matters more than any single symptom.
Perimenopause can begin in the mid-30s. If the women in your family had hysterectomies, you may not have a family roadmap to reference. You may need to advocate for yourself. You're allowed to.
Tracy | Certified Menopause Coach | AliBee Founder alibeeshop.com | @hithere.alibee
This checklist is for awareness and education. It is not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider about your symptoms and treatment options.
