Perimenopause is the transition leading up to menopause. The ovaries don’t stop suddenly. They slow down gradually, and this hormonal dance often begins in your 40s.
During this phase, estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate irregularly, which can make the menstrual cycle more unpredictable: longer or shorter, lighter or heavier, or even absent some months. These hormonal fluctuations also cause many symptoms: hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, joint pain, brain fog, and lower libido. Why? Because estrogen supports several systems in the body (the brain, skin, bones, and heart), so its fluctuations are felt everywhere.
Everyone’s journey is unique. Some people go through perimenopause in a few months; others experience this transition over several years. One thing is certain: you don’t have to navigate this alone.
Menopause is a specific moment: the day that marks 12 consecutive months without a period. Just one day, not a long stretch of time as many believe. Everything that came before was perimenopause. Everything that follows is the Second Spring.
The average age for menopause is around 51, but genetics, certain medical conditions, or cancer treatments can cause it to occur earlier. When it occurs before age 45, it is called early menopause. Before age 40, it is called premature menopause or premature ovarian insufficiency (POI).
There is also surgical menopause, which occurs immediately if the ovaries are removed during a hysterectomy, regardless of age. Some treatments for endometriosis, autoimmune diseases, or cancer can also bring on menopause earlier than expected.
No matter how you reach this milestone, it deserves to be acknowledged, not as an end but as a threshold into a new season of your life.
Postmenopause is everything that comes next. Once you’ve crossed the threshold of 12 months without a period, you enter this new season, which I call your Second Spring.
Most people continue to experience symptoms for about four years after their last period. For some, these symptoms evolve over time: hot flashes may subside, while restless sleep or new anxiety might emerge. One in ten people has symptoms for up to twelve years, and that’s completely normal.
What’s often overlooked is that, on average, you’ll spend a third of your life in postmenopause. It’s a long and beautiful season, a time of clarity, strength, and freedom that you deserve to experience fully, with the right tools and a genuine community around you.
