Perimenopause Is Not a Secret Club for Women Over 50
For years, society told us that menopause is something that happens to women at 50, maybe 55, maybe when we start wearing linen pants and gardening gloves. We were promised plenty of warning. There would be signals. A letter might arrive in the mail. A bird might land on the windowsill and give us a knowing nod.
This was supposed to be a later life event.
Then suddenly you are in your thirties or early forties, minding your own business, drinking your iced coffee, living your life, and your body taps you on the shoulder with the enthusiasm of a plot twist you did not ask for.
Surprise. You have entered perimenopause.
The thing nobody talked about.
The thing nobody prepared you for.
The thing society pretends does not happen until you are blowing out 50 candles and joining a book club against your will.
What Is Perimenopause and Why Nobody Warned You
The stigma around menopause has always been loud.
The stigma around perimenopause is practically silent.
Nobody tells you that your late thirties or early forties might come with a new level of chaos. You think you are just stressed. You think you just need more sleep. You think your jeans shrunk in the wash.
No one tells you that perimenopause can begin 10 or more years before menopause, quietly changing how your body responds to food, stress, sleep, and exercise.
This is not imagination.
This is hormonal transition.
Why Perimenopause Feels So Confusing
The moment you say the word menopause, people look at you like you are auditioning for senior citizen status. Especially men.
Men can be bald at 22 and still refer to themselves as boys.
Meanwhile, a woman in her forties says “perimenopause” and suddenly society starts talking slower.
The math is not mathing.
This confusion comes from outdated thinking. Menopause has been framed as decline, as the end of something, as a woman losing her relevance or spark.
That idea is wrong.
Perimenopause Is Not Decline. It Is Awareness.
If anything, perimenopause is when women become experts in their own lives.
You start knowing yourself in a way you never did in your twenties.
You stop tolerating things that waste your time.
You get clearer. Straighter. Sharper.
If that is decline, then bring it on.
The real issue is not age.
It is education.
Women in their late thirties and forties are building careers, raising children, lifting weights, dating, running businesses, and quietly wondering why their body feels unfamiliar.
Not because they are failing.
Because nobody explained what was happening.
Perimenopause Is the Start Up Phase, Not the End
Perimenopause is not the older sister of menopause.
It is the start up phase.
It arrives early.
It arrives uninvited.
And it arrives with energy.
It is your body saying something is changing and that change is normal.
You are shifting.
You are evolving.
You are adapting.
That is power, not decline.
Why We Need to Talk About Perimenopause Earlier
Imagine if society caught up.
Imagine if perimenopause was discussed with honesty instead of whispers.
With education instead of embarrassment.
With humour instead of fear.
Imagine if younger women knew what was coming so they could prepare instead of panic.
Menopause is not just for women over 50.
Perimenopause is real.
It happens earlier than expected.
And it deserves a rebrand.
We are not declining.
We are upgrading.
And the world would notice if it stopped whispering and started listening.
Frequently Asked Questions About Perimenopause
What age does perimenopause usually start?
Perimenopause can begin in a woman’s late thirties or early forties, sometimes even earlier. Symptoms may appear years before menopause officially begins.
What are common signs of perimenopause?
Common signs include changes in energy, sleep disruption, mood changes, weight gain, changes in menstrual cycles, reduced stress tolerance, and feeling less responsive to diet or exercise, physical pain like frozen shoulder!
How long does perimenopause last?
Perimenopause can last anywhere from several years to over a decade. It continues until menopause is reached, which is defined as 12 consecutive months without a period.
Is perimenopause the same as menopause?
No. Perimenopause is the transitional phase leading up to menopause. Menopause marks the end of menstrual cycles, while perimenopause is the hormonal shift that happens before that point.
Can you prepare for perimenopause?
Yes. Understanding what is happening, supporting muscle and metabolism, managing stress, and adjusting nutrition and training can make the transition far smoother.
About the Author
Kel is an ex elite athlete with a background in beach volleyball and the Queensland Firebirds, as well as a former Queensland Fire Department firefighter. She understands what it takes to perform at peak physical and mental levels, and what it feels like when that performance suddenly disappears.
After gaining more than 20 kilograms during perimenopause, Kel experienced firsthand how industry myths, over complicated supplement routines, advice that normalised decline, and marketing designed to keep women stuck can leave women overweight, depressed, and disconnected from their bodies.
Today, Kel is dedicated to cutting through the noise. Through evidence based nutrition, muscle first ageing principles, and real world experience, she helps midlife women rebuild strength, confidence, and trust in their bodies again.