What exactly is perimenopause... and how do you know if you're in it?
For many women, perimenopause starts long before they realize what's happening. The changes can be subtle at first: disrupted sleep, mood shifts, weight gain, brain fog, anxiety, irregular periods, or simply feeling like something is "off." The challenge is that these symptoms often show up years before menopause, leaving many women confused, frustrated, and wondering why they don't feel like themselves anymore.
In this episode, Olenka breaks down what perimenopause actually is, how it differs from menopause, and why understanding the hormonal changes happening in your body can be so empowering. She explains why symptoms can vary so dramatically from woman to woman, why bloodwork doesn't always tell the whole story, and why so many women are told everything looks "normal" despite feeling anything but. If you've ever questioned whether your symptoms could be related to your hormones, this episode is the perfect place to start.
In this episode, we discuss:
• The difference between perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause
• Why perimenopause symptoms can begin years before menopause
• How declining ovarian reserve affects estrogen and progesterone levels
• Why bloodwork doesn't always provide the full picture of hormone health
• Common symptoms including sleep changes, anxiety, brain fog, weight gain, vaginal dryness, and irregular periods
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