7 Signs You Might Be in Perimenopause (And What To Do About It)

You might not have missed a period yet. You might still feel 'too young.' But perimenopause — the transition phase before menopause — can begin years before your last period, and the symptoms aren't always what you'd expect.

Here are seven signs that perimenopause might be starting, and what to do about each one.

1. Your sleep has changed. You fall asleep fine but wake at 3am, wired and unable to drift off. Or you're drenched in sweat. Fluctuating oestrogen disrupts your sleep architecture — it's not stress, it's hormones.

2. Your periods are... different. Heavier. Lighter. Closer together. Further apart. Irregular cycles are one of the earliest signs of perimenopause.

3. Brain fog has moved in. You lose words. You walk into rooms and forget why. Your concentration isn't what it was. Oestrogen plays a direct role in cognitive function — when it fluctuates, so does your brain.

4. Your mood has shifted. Anxiety that wasn't there before. Irritability that feels disproportionate. A sense of flatness or loss of joy. These aren't character flaws — they're neurochemical shifts driven by hormonal change.

5. You're gaining weight differently. Particularly around your middle. Even if your diet and exercise haven't changed. Declining oestrogen shifts how and where your body stores fat.

6. Your joints ache. Morning stiffness, sore knees, creaky shoulders. Oestrogen has anti-inflammatory properties — as it drops, joint discomfort often increases.

7. Your libido has vanished. Or your vaginal comfort has changed. Dryness, irritation, pain during intimacy — these are real medical symptoms caused by declining oestrogen in genital tissues.

What to do: Start tracking. Write down your symptoms, their severity, and when they occur. This data is incredibly valuable when you talk to a clinician. And if your GP dismisses you — find one who won't, or book a consultation with a menopause specialist.