Are you in your early 40s and feeling a little off? Maybe you are exhausted despite sleeping, your favourite jeans suddenly fit differently, or you are experiencing stubborn brain fog during important meetings. You might even find yourself snapping over something trivial, only to burst into tears moments later.

If you mention this to your doctor, they might say, “You’re too young for menopause; it’s probably just stress.” But here is what they should be telling you: You are likely entering perimenopause.

Perimenopause is the transitional stage that can begin up to a full decade before your final period. Think of it as puberty in reverse. Instead of ramping up, your reproductive hormones are winding down, creating a chaotic roller coaster of estrogen spikes and progesterone drops.

This phase is arguably the most overlooked stage of a woman’s life, yet it is when symptoms are often the most intense. You might still be getting your period, making the diagnosis confusing, but the internal hormonal shifts are profound. From unpredictable cycles and unexpected hot flashes to anxiety, disrupted sleep, and frustrating weight gain, the changes are real, biochemical, and incredibly common, affecting over 85% of women.

You do not have to navigate this hormonal turbulence in the dark. It is time we start talking about the transition no one prepared us for.

Check out this comprehensive guide to understand exactly what is happening inside your body, how to recognise the signs, and most importantly, what you can do to feel like yourself again.