11 Signs You Might Be in Perimenopause
Okay, so you’re over 40. Welcome to midlife. Whether you want to claim that title or not, I get it. And now you’re starting to wonder: “Wait… is this perimenopause?” Maybe your sleep suddenly fell apart. Maybe your anxiety showed up out of nowhere. Maybe your periods are acting weird (I know mine are!). Maybe you walked into a room and forgot why you were there while simultaneously wanting to fight everyone in the room. Cool cool cool. Also same. Today I want to walk you through 11 of the most common signs and symptoms of perimenopause, including what tends to happen earlier versus later in the transition. Because despite what many women are told, this is NOT just about hot flashes…
Low Melatonin, Hot Flashes, and Blood Sugar
Melatonin often gets billed as the “sleep hormone,” but that’s just scratching the surface. While it’s made in multiple places in the body, the melatonin produced in your brain’s pineal gland is the one that really gets around—it enters your circulation and influences everything from your temperature regulation to your metabolism. Here’s something fun: your body’s internal clock isn’t perfectly 24 hours. It runs a little short or a little long depending on the person. So every day, you have to reset your circadian rhythm—your internal timekeeper—using light, dark, and hormonal cues…
WTF Is A Hot Flash?
Isn’t it so rude when you’re sitting there minding your business and suddenly, out of nowhere, the surge of heat comes from your inner core!? Like…how? And why? You’re not alone. Studies estimate that over 70% of women going through the menopausal journey experience what’s called “vasomotor symptoms.” This is a fancy term for hot flashes and/or night sweats. In fact, some women experience these symptoms for YEARS - the average being 7.4 years depending on the woman. In this article, I cover…