5 Sneaky Signs You're in Menopause

5 Sneaky Signs You’re in Perimenopause (and What to Do About It)

How to Thrive Through Menopause with Nutrition, Movement, Sleep, and Support

For many women, their 30s and 40s bring more than just career growth and family milestones. Suddenly, sleep feels elusive, moods swing unexpectedly, and weight creeps up despite eating the same. If you’ve chalked it up to stress or aging, you’re not alone—but there’s something bigger at play: perimenopause.

This midlife transition isn’t something that happens overnight. In fact, menopause and the years surrounding it span nearly one-third of a woman’s life. Yet, most women are blindsided by it, with little education or support. But here's the truth: you don’t have to suffer through it. You can thrive.

Understanding the Stages: What Is Perimenopause?

What is Menopause?Menopause marks the natural end of a woman’s reproductive years, officially defined as the point when you’ve gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. It typically occurs between ages 45 and 55, though the transition can begin much earlier.

Menopause isn’t a sudden event—it’s the culmination of hormonal shifts that begin during perimenopause. As levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone decline, the body experiences a wide range of physical and emotional changes, from hot flashes and weight gain to mood swings and memory lapses. While menopause is a normal life stage—not a disease—it can significantly impact quality of life without the right support. Understanding and managing these shifts holistically is key to thriving through this phase, rather than just surviving it.

Menopause isn't a moment—it's a transition. And like any major life stage, it comes with phases:

1. Perimenopause

This can begin as early as your mid-30s, but more commonly starts in your 40s. It's the 5–10 years before your period stops completely. During this time, hormone levels—especially estrogen and progesterone—fluctuate wildly, causing a cascade of symptoms.

2. Menopause

Defined as 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, typically around age 51. At this point, estrogen production has significantly declined.

3. Postmenopause

This is everything after that one-year mark. Symptoms may lessen, but the effects of low hormones persist—like bone loss, gut changes, and increased risk of chronic illness.

Sneaky Symptom

#1: Brain Fog & Forgetfulness

You walk into a room and forget why. You lose your train of thought mid-sentence. You question if you're developing early dementia—but it's likely your hormones. Estrogen directly impacts cognitive function, memory, and clarity.

As levels decline, neurotransmitter activity is disrupted, especially serotonin and dopamine, which help with mood and focus. You may also feel:

• Low motivation

• Trouble concentrating

• Word recall issues

Sneaky Symptom

#2: Sudden Anxiety or Mood Swings

If you feel like your emotions are riding a rollercoaster, blame the estrogen-progesterone imbalance. These hormones affect your brain chemistry and GABA levels, a calming neurotransmitter.

You might feel:

• Irrational irritability

• Waking up with anxiety

• Crying over things that never used to faze you

• Increased tension or panic

Sneaky Symptom

#3: Weight Gain, Especially Around the Middle

Perimenopausal weight gain is not your fault—it’s hormonal. Estrogen drops, insulin sensitivity declines, and cortisol becomes dominant. This leads to:

• Belly fat accumulation

• Slower metabolism

• Carb and sugar cravings

• Muscle loss

Sneaky Symptom

#4: Sleep Disruptions and Night Sweats

Poor sleep is one of the most frustrating symptoms—and it makes everything else worse. Progesterone is a natural sedative, and when it declines, so does deep sleep. Combined with cortisol spikes and night sweats, you wake up exhausted.

Did you know:

Poor sleep leads to increased cortisol, insulin resistance, inflammation, and mental fatigue—a perfect storm for burnout.

Sneaky Symptom

#5: Bloating, Food Sensitivities & Digestive Issues

Hormones don’t just affect your mood and metabolism—they affect your gut. Estrogen helps regulate gut motility, microbiome diversity, and intestinal lining integrity. When it dips, you may experience:

• Bloating

• Irregular BMs

• Food sensitivities

• Gas or indigestion

• Leaky gut

Your immune system, 70% of which lives in the gut, also becomes more reactive. Hello, histamine issues and autoimmune flares.

So What’s Actually Happening to Your Body?

Hormones

• Estrogen declines erratically, affecting mood, weight, bone health, and cognition

• Progesterone plummets, impacting sleep and anxiety

• Testosterone decreases, reducing muscle mass, libido, and motivation

• Cortisol rises, increasing belly fat and inflammation

Immune System

• Increased inflammation

• Elevated histamine

• Heightened autoimmunity risk

• Increased food intolerances

Gut Health

• Decreased microbial diversity

• Slower digestion

• Increased gut permeability (“leaky gut”)

• Impaired nutrient absorption (especially magnesium, B12, D)

Why Functional Nutrition is Key in Menopause

Most women are offered one of two things: hormone replacement therapy or nothing at all. While HRT may help some, it doesn’t address the root cause.

As a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P), I’m trained to:

• Interpret hormone and gut testing (like the DUTCH test and GI-MAP)

• Identify imbalances beyond symptoms

• Use data-driven protocols for food, lifestyle, and supplements

• Restore balance naturally

• Help you build resilience in your hormone, immune, nervous, and digestive systems

If you are looking for answers and know that having a plan will help you, book a free call to discuss how our programs can help you!