You aren’t alone. And you’re not crazy.
New anxiety, broken sleep, heavier periods, hot flashes, a vanishing sex drive, a mood you don’t recognize. Many women start to feel these shifts between 35 and 45, often years before their last period. What you’re going through is common. It is not something you have to accept.
“What is happening to me?”
Many of these can begin with an early drop in progesterone, long before estrogen falls.
- New anxiety or depression
- Insomnia or waking at night
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Heavier or irregular periods
- Low libido
- Irritability or mood swings
- Vaginal dryness or painful sex
- Brain fog and forgetfulness
- Weight gain around the middle, despite healthy habits
- Bladder changes, joint aches, heart palpitations
Two stages, one transition.
What is perimenopause?
“Peri” means around. Perimenopause is the time surrounding a woman’s last period. For some women it lasts a couple of years; for others, as long as a decade. Hormones don’t fall in a straight line. They swing, and those swings can rock your world.
What is menopause?
Menopause is official one full year after your last period. By then, the ovaries have largely stopped producing estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. The average age has long been reported as 51, though many women seem to be making this transition earlier.
How do I know where I am?
If you’ve had a hysterectomy, an ablation, or an IUD, you may not have periods to go by. Labs such as FSH and estradiol help, but they aren’t the whole answer, especially during perimenopause, when levels can change from week to week. That is why it helps to see a provider who specializes in menopausal hormones.
We look for what's driving your symptoms.
Anxiety, poor sleep, and low mood in this stage can have a hormonal piece that’s worth understanding.
We start by finding out whether hormonal change is driving your symptoms. When it is, we can replace what your body used to make with bioidentical hormones, which are chemically identical to your own, alongside sleep, nutrition, and lifestyle changes that ease the transition.
You’ll have time to ask every question, understand your options and their risks, and make the decision that’s right for you, with your provider’s guidance. Then we monitor and adjust as you move through each stage.
Explore women’s hormone healthOptions that may be part of your plan.
Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and DHEA, systemic or vaginal, in the form that fits you.
For dryness, discomfort, and urinary symptoms.
Desire, arousal, comfort, bladder leaks, and orgasm.
When weight and energy change with your hormones.
Further reading on women's hormones.
Straight answers.
Am I too young for perimenopause?
Possibly not. Hormonal shifts often begin in the mid-30s to mid-40s, long before periods stop.
What are bioidentical hormones?
Hormones that are chemically identical to the ones your body makes. We explain every option, including its benefits and risks, before you decide.
Is it too late to start if I’m already in menopause?
Not necessarily. Timing matters, and it’s a conversation worth having with a provider who specializes in menopausal care.
Do you take insurance?
No. AgeWell is cash-pay, which lets us spend more time with you and personalize your care. Many patients check HSA or FSA eligibility with their plan administrator. Our team will explain costs before you begin.