Perimenopause: What It Actually Feels Like and What Your GP Can Do
For a long time, perimenopause was barely talked about. Women were told their symptoms were stress, or anxiety, or just part of getting older. A lot of them believed it, and a lot of them suffered through years of disruption without knowing there was another explanation, or that effective help existed.
That’s changing. But there’s still a significant gap between what women experience and what they know to ask for.
If you’re in your 40s and something has shifted, this is worth reading.
What Is Perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the transition phase leading up to menopause. It begins when your ovaries start producing less oestrogen and progesterone, and it ends 12 months after your last period, at which point you’ve reached menopause.
The average age menopause occurs in Australia is 51 to 52, but perimenopause can start in the early to mid-40s, and in some women even earlier. It can last anywhere from a few years to more than a decade.
What Does It Feel Like?
This is where it gets underappreciated. Perimenopause is not just hot flushes and irregular periods. The symptom picture can be wide-ranging, and many symptoms don’t obviously connect to hormones.
Common symptoms include:
Cycle changes Periods becoming irregular, heavier, lighter, closer together, or further apart.
Sleep disruption Difficulty getting to sleep, waking in the night, or waking early, often without an obvious reason.
Hot flushes and night sweats The classic symptoms, but not everyone experiences them. Night sweats can disrupt sleep significantly.
Mood changes Anxiety, irritability, low mood, or a sense of emotional fragility that feels out of character. Many women are treated for anxiety or depression during this period without anyone identifying the hormonal component.
Brain fog Difficulty concentrating, forgetting words, feeling mentally slower than usual. This can be distressing and is often attributed to stress or overwork.
Fatigue Deep, persistent tiredness that doesn’t resolve with rest.
Joint pain Aching joints, particularly in the hands, knees, and hips. Often attributed to aging without the hormonal connection being considered.
Vaginal and urinary changes Dryness, discomfort during sex, increased urinary frequency, or recurrent urinary tract infections. These symptoms are often under-reported because women feel embarrassed to mention them.
Reduced libido Changes in sexual desire are common and worth discussing openly with your GP.
Why It Gets Missed
A few reasons. Symptoms can start years before periods become irregular, so the hormonal connection isn’t obvious. Many symptoms, like anxiety, fatigue, and joint pain, are attributed to other causes first. And historically, perimenopause simply wasn’t discussed or well understood, even among healthcare professionals.
If you’re in your 40s and experiencing a cluster of the symptoms above, it’s worth raising perimenopause as a possibility with your GP even if your periods are still regular.
What Can Your GP Do?
Quite a lot, as it turns out.
Your GP can assess your symptoms, discuss whether hormone testing is useful in your situation (blood tests have limitations in perimenopause but can provide useful information), and rule out other conditions that can mimic perimenopausal symptoms like thyroid issues.
Treatment options include:
Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) Previously known as HRT. The evidence around MHT has evolved significantly in recent years. For most healthy women under 60, MHT is considered safe and effective for managing symptoms. It can also protect against bone density loss and reduce cardiovascular risk in the right candidates.
Non-hormonal options For women who can’t or prefer not to use MHT, there are other options including certain antidepressants, lifestyle strategies, and targeted treatments for specific symptoms.
Psychological support If mood changes are significant, our onsite psychologist can be part of your care plan.
You don’t need to just put up with how you’re feeling. There are real options, and your GP is the right first stop.
Book at Southport Metro Doctors
Our GPs provide comprehensive perimenopause and menopause care. No referral needed. We’re open 7 days a week at Australia Fair Metro Shopping Centre in Southport.
Book online or call us on 07 5612 7830.
This article is for general informational purposes only. Please speak with your GP for advice tailored to your personal health circumstances.