Perimenopause

Perimenopause is the time during which a woman’s body makes a natural transition to menopause marking the end of the reproductive years. Once a woman has gone through 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, she’s officially reached menopause, and the perimenopause period is over. Women start perimenopause at different ages, some notice the signs in their 40s but other become aware of the changes as early as their mid-30s. On average, most symptoms last around 4 years, however, circa around 1 in every 10 women experience them for up to 12 years.

If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms you could be in perimenopause; extreme mood swings, feeling sad, lacking motivation, finding it difficult to concentrate, experiencing fatigue, having anxiety or panic attacks.
This period in a woman’s life also coincides with other important changes such as career adjustments, children leaving home, separation from a partner and death of one or both parents. It’s a time that can evoke childlessness, either voluntary or circumstantial. Women in perimenopause can be twice as likely to be diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) and four times as likely to develop depressive symptoms than those who haven’t yet entered this hormonal transition.

No matter at what point in this transition, I help women manage the process by offering a space to explore what is going on for them, physically and psychologically. By accepting and understanding what is happening we begin on the path where you’re better prepared to cope with the presented challenges. Together we’ll work on the possibility of coming out this phase significantly stronger, with a more hopeful future.