[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":892},["ShallowReactive",2],{"post-perimenopause-symptoms-nobody-warned-you-about":3,"related-posts-perimenopause-symptoms-nobody-warned-you-about":865},{"author":4,"body":5,"content":854,"excerpt":854,"keywords":854,"mainImage":855,"publishedAt":854,"shortDescription":858,"slug":859,"tags":860,"thumbnailImage":862,"title":864},"My Village",[6,17,26,32,52,60,68,76,84,92,100,104,113,121,129,137,147,155,163,171,179,187,195,203,211,219,232,244,256,268,280,292,304,316,324,332,344,356,368,380,392,404,416,424,432,440,460,468,480,492,504,516,524,536,548,560,572,584,596,604,612,620,628,636,644,648,656,668,680,692,704,712,720,735,750,765,780,795,810,825,840],{"_key":7,"_type":8,"children":9,"markDefs":15,"style":16},"6399ae467017","block",[10],{"_key":11,"_type":12,"marks":13,"text":14},"c87c2cf1cd2e","span",[],"You Probably Know About Hot Flashes. Here's What No One Told You.",[],"h2",{"_key":18,"_type":8,"children":19,"markDefs":24,"style":25},"5910ddb7f20d",[20],{"_key":21,"_type":12,"marks":22,"text":23},"a3494eb23e07",[],"If you have spent any time on perimenopause corners of the internet, you have seen the memes. The ones about rage-cleaning at 2am. About forgetting a word mid-sentence and standing there like your brain just buffered. About sweating through a shirt while simultaneously freezing. They are funny because they are accurate, and because laughing at something is sometimes the only reasonable response when your body is doing things nobody warned you about.",[],"normal",{"_key":27,"_type":28,"asset":29},"eff689915e05","image",{"_ref":30,"_type":31},"image-9da67ad2019e1bfc3b97474f5b5725c675e29208-1234x1922-png","reference",{"_key":33,"_type":8,"children":34,"markDefs":48,"style":25},"efe3126cc079",[35,39,44],{"_key":36,"_type":12,"marks":37,"text":38},"c7e8e7c7fed4",[],"But even the memes don't cover everything. (",{"_key":40,"_type":12,"marks":41,"text":43},"be5d947389fe",[42],"ad2fa8b8cafc","This one comes close though.",{"_key":45,"_type":12,"marks":46,"text":47},"acc5fc0b37e1",[],")",[49],{"_key":42,"_type":50,"href":51},"link","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002FMommyNeedsATequila\u002Fvideos\u002Fmemes-perimenopause-humor-reels-viral-funny\u002F1106848221545455\u002F",{"_key":53,"_type":8,"children":54,"markDefs":59,"style":25},"2d80ec2de2f2",[55],{"_key":56,"_type":12,"marks":57,"text":58},"5282b20284f7",[],"Hot flashes. Night sweats. Irregular periods. These are the symptoms most women know to look for in perimenopause. But ask women who are actually living through it, and the list gets a lot longer, and a lot more surprising.",[],{"_key":61,"_type":8,"children":62,"markDefs":67,"style":25},"dc6f2072a48f",[63],{"_key":64,"_type":12,"marks":65,"text":66},"3f82b5063b66",[],"Itchy ears. Ringing sounds. Bloating that came out of nowhere. A crawling feeling on your skin. The sense that you are suddenly clumsy in ways you weren't before. A smell sensitivity that makes you leave the room. Digestive symptoms that your healthcare provider attributed to everything except hormones.",[],{"_key":69,"_type":8,"children":70,"markDefs":75,"style":25},"811351307c3c",[71],{"_key":72,"_type":12,"marks":73,"text":74},"a10abbb37236",[],"These are not random coincidences. They are part of the same hormonal story.",[],{"_key":77,"_type":8,"children":78,"markDefs":83,"style":25},"c253a479080c",[79],{"_key":80,"_type":12,"marks":81,"text":82},"b40413e783b1",[],"Estrogen and progesterone receptors are found throughout the body, not just in the reproductive system. When these hormones begin to fluctuate during perimenopause, virtually every system in the body can be affected. The symptoms that follow are real, they are documented, and they deserve to be taken seriously.",[],{"_key":85,"_type":8,"children":86,"markDefs":91,"style":25},"724b3c6c5000",[87],{"_key":88,"_type":12,"marks":89,"text":90},"4d909ec53048",[],"",[],{"_key":93,"_type":8,"children":94,"markDefs":99,"style":16},"9315d3e0f510",[95],{"_key":96,"_type":12,"marks":97,"text":98},"a827349657db",[],"The Symptom Categories Most Women Don't Expect",[],{"_key":101,"_type":28,"asset":102},"c6557996fb75",{"_ref":103,"_type":31},"image-3bc55da49ec45c12acad2a46da88a4f3dd537347-1616x1102-png",{"_key":105,"_type":8,"children":106,"markDefs":111,"style":112},"33c5de84f7cc",[107],{"_key":108,"_type":12,"marks":109,"text":110},"89dbc27c531b",[],"Your Gut",[],"h3",{"_key":114,"_type":8,"children":115,"markDefs":120,"style":25},"591c68d48a9b",[116],{"_key":117,"_type":12,"marks":118,"text":119},"6c18b31cff64",[],"Digestive changes are among the most common and least discussed perimenopause symptoms. A 2025 study presented at The Menopause Society's Annual Meeting found that among nearly 600 perimenopausal and menopausal women, 94% reported digestive health symptoms. The most common were bloating (77%), constipation (54%), stomach pain (50%), and acid reflux (49%). Despite this, only 33% had received a formal IBS diagnosis. A large majority (82%) said their symptoms began or worsened specifically at perimenopause or menopause.",[],{"_key":122,"_type":8,"children":123,"markDefs":128,"style":25},"650cd76eb8d4",[124],{"_key":125,"_type":12,"marks":126,"text":127},"a1589b6a1629",[],"The connection is biological. Estrogen and progesterone influence gut motility (how quickly food moves through your digestive tract), the gut microbiome, and the gut-brain axis. As these hormones fluctuate and eventually decline, digestion can slow down or become unpredictable, bloating can increase, and sensitivity to foods you previously tolerated can develop.",[],{"_key":130,"_type":8,"children":131,"markDefs":136,"style":25},"e142c2fb9294",[132],{"_key":133,"_type":12,"marks":134,"text":135},"ed283e44dd01",[],"Symptoms that may be hormonal in origin:",[],{"_key":138,"_type":8,"children":139,"level":144,"listItem":145,"markDefs":146,"style":25},"b15f9abd325a",[140],{"_key":141,"_type":12,"marks":142,"text":143},"17837eee1628",[],"Bloating (new or worsened)",1,"bullet",[],{"_key":148,"_type":8,"children":149,"level":144,"listItem":145,"markDefs":154,"style":25},"91694eb3e4b8",[150],{"_key":151,"_type":12,"marks":152,"text":153},"d0022e7b9e2d",[],"Constipation or changes in bowel habits",[],{"_key":156,"_type":8,"children":157,"level":144,"listItem":145,"markDefs":162,"style":25},"5504019ad998",[158],{"_key":159,"_type":12,"marks":160,"text":161},"c4dc9b6742ac",[],"Acid reflux\u002FGERD worsening",[],{"_key":164,"_type":8,"children":165,"level":144,"listItem":145,"markDefs":170,"style":25},"0ae0b6bc6aa4",[166],{"_key":167,"_type":12,"marks":168,"text":169},"eb2fe5e47497",[],"Nausea",[],{"_key":172,"_type":8,"children":173,"level":144,"listItem":145,"markDefs":178,"style":25},"595d5c27f175",[174],{"_key":175,"_type":12,"marks":176,"text":177},"2f7812e6ed5f",[],"Increased gas",[],{"_key":180,"_type":8,"children":181,"level":144,"listItem":145,"markDefs":186,"style":25},"5064e822dfdd",[182],{"_key":183,"_type":12,"marks":184,"text":185},"bec9ef5eb7cc",[],"New food intolerances",[],{"_key":188,"_type":8,"children":189,"level":144,"listItem":145,"markDefs":194,"style":25},"ef940d3382c5",[190],{"_key":191,"_type":12,"marks":192,"text":193},"fdc9064efc4a",[],"Increased cortisol, which slows digestion and contributes to constipation",[],{"_key":196,"_type":8,"children":197,"markDefs":202,"style":25},"62b572b85ce3",[198],{"_key":199,"_type":12,"marks":200,"text":201},"62b917263330",[],"If you have been managing digestive symptoms without anyone mentioning hormones as a possible factor, you are not alone. According to the same study, 58% of women who sought professional support for digestive symptoms found the care they received inadequate.",[],{"_key":204,"_type":8,"children":205,"markDefs":210,"style":112},"1ad8b75ea33a",[206],{"_key":207,"_type":12,"marks":208,"text":209},"b978c75b094f",[],"Your Skin, Hair, and Senses",[],{"_key":212,"_type":8,"children":213,"markDefs":218,"style":25},"86bb16c20b4c",[214],{"_key":215,"_type":12,"marks":216,"text":217},"4be259f8329c",[],"Estrogen plays a role in collagen production, skin hydration, and the health of mucous membranes throughout the body. When levels fluctuate, the effects show up in places most women don't expect.",[],{"_key":220,"_type":8,"children":221,"markDefs":231,"style":25},"51e4bbee1d51",[222,227],{"_key":223,"_type":12,"marks":224,"text":226},"ffa396211155",[225],"strong","Skin crawling (formication):",{"_key":228,"_type":12,"marks":229,"text":230},"3c80346a6295",[]," The sensation of something crawling on your skin, known clinically as formication, is a recognized perimenopause symptom. It is caused by changes in the nervous system's sensitivity as estrogen fluctuates. It sounds alarming. It isn't dangerous.",[],{"_key":233,"_type":8,"children":234,"markDefs":243,"style":25},"b4ae054f3dfc",[235,239],{"_key":236,"_type":12,"marks":237,"text":238},"b788926e1757",[225],"Itchy ears:",{"_key":240,"_type":12,"marks":241,"text":242},"0ebc94c9ae6a",[]," Declining estrogen affects the mucous membranes throughout the body, including inside the ear canal. As those membranes dry out, itching follows. Some women also experience a sensation of fullness or pressure in the ears.",[],{"_key":245,"_type":8,"children":246,"markDefs":255,"style":25},"bcabc470386d",[247,251],{"_key":248,"_type":12,"marks":249,"text":250},"0f240db69595",[225],"Tinnitus (ringing or humming in the ears):",{"_key":252,"_type":12,"marks":253,"text":254},"93e28ed5591b",[]," Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone receptors are present in the cells of the ear and along the auditory pathway. As these hormone levels shift, some women experience new or worsening tinnitus. A population study found that women who used hormone therapy had a lower risk of developing tinnitus, which suggests a hormonal connection.",[],{"_key":257,"_type":8,"children":258,"markDefs":267,"style":25},"91aca638abb7",[259,263],{"_key":260,"_type":12,"marks":261,"text":262},"bf1a979a2fbd",[225],"Burning mouth:",{"_key":264,"_type":12,"marks":265,"text":266},"baf51db37690",[]," A burning or tingling sensation on the tongue, gums, or inside the mouth can occur as hormone receptors throughout the mouth are affected by changing estrogen levels.",[],{"_key":269,"_type":8,"children":270,"markDefs":279,"style":25},"b63d8f07c2d9",[271,275],{"_key":272,"_type":12,"marks":273,"text":274},"1d000e621d4d",[225],"Changes in smell and taste:",{"_key":276,"_type":12,"marks":277,"text":278},"4985bc768b29",[]," Hormone fluctuations can affect the brain pathways that control smell and taste. Some women notice a heightened sensitivity to certain smells, a reduced sense of smell, or a changed sense of taste.",[],{"_key":281,"_type":8,"children":282,"markDefs":291,"style":25},"96fea82294de",[283,287],{"_key":284,"_type":12,"marks":285,"text":286},"edbc67f1b473",[225],"Brittle hair and nails, hair thinning:",{"_key":288,"_type":12,"marks":289,"text":290},"e9abac623af5",[]," Estrogen supports hair growth cycles. As it declines, hair can thin, become more brittle, or fall out more than usual.",[],{"_key":293,"_type":8,"children":294,"markDefs":303,"style":25},"1ecf6bbb29e5",[295,299],{"_key":296,"_type":12,"marks":297,"text":298},"d5687e544729",[225],"Skin changes:",{"_key":300,"_type":12,"marks":301,"text":302},"a0ee3faeb308",[]," Dryness, new rashes, worsening skin conditions, and changes in skin texture are all connected to estrogen's role in collagen and hydration.",[],{"_key":305,"_type":8,"children":306,"markDefs":315,"style":25},"66f62d7b33b5",[307,311],{"_key":308,"_type":12,"marks":309,"text":310},"dd469928a09b",[225],"Increased hair growth on face, neck, and chest:",{"_key":312,"_type":12,"marks":313,"text":314},"942c90934269",[]," As estrogen declines, the relative influence of androgens (male hormones present in all women) increases. This can lead to new or increased facial and body hair.",[],{"_key":317,"_type":8,"children":318,"markDefs":323,"style":112},"6155ae281d29",[319],{"_key":320,"_type":12,"marks":321,"text":322},"27e55cc3ef3d",[],"Your Nervous System and Musculoskeletal System",[],{"_key":325,"_type":8,"children":326,"markDefs":331,"style":25},"152c6b3faf76",[327],{"_key":328,"_type":12,"marks":329,"text":330},"3dc2c555d15c",[],"Estrogen has an anti-inflammatory effect throughout the body. It also supports nerve function and muscle health. When it fluctuates, the effects reach further than most people realize.",[],{"_key":333,"_type":8,"children":334,"markDefs":343,"style":25},"dcc2ca144ffa",[335,339],{"_key":336,"_type":12,"marks":337,"text":338},"38013f14759e",[225],"Joint pain and stiffness:",{"_key":340,"_type":12,"marks":341,"text":342},"384981002958",[]," Sometimes called \"menopause arthritis\" informally, joint discomfort, frozen shoulder, and increased inflammation are commonly reported during perimenopause and linked to declining estrogen's anti-inflammatory role.",[],{"_key":345,"_type":8,"children":346,"markDefs":355,"style":25},"2488ef22ab3c",[347,351],{"_key":348,"_type":12,"marks":349,"text":350},"f7440940461d",[225],"Increased tendon and ligament injury:",{"_key":352,"_type":12,"marks":353,"text":354},"cd79f0100f7f",[]," Research has identified a higher rate of tendon and ligament injuries in perimenopausal women, connected to estrogen's role in maintaining the elasticity of connective tissue.",[],{"_key":357,"_type":8,"children":358,"markDefs":367,"style":25},"d3b9c5163b15",[359,363],{"_key":360,"_type":12,"marks":361,"text":362},"e0cbd8926f49",[225],"Muscle mass loss (sarcopenia):",{"_key":364,"_type":12,"marks":365,"text":366},"fc6df0145757",[]," Estrogen supports muscle maintenance. As levels decline, some women notice a change in muscle tone or strength, even without changing their activity levels.",[],{"_key":369,"_type":8,"children":370,"markDefs":379,"style":25},"76753f0684b0",[371,375],{"_key":372,"_type":12,"marks":373,"text":374},"6ad570e0297a",[225],"Tingling extremities:",{"_key":376,"_type":12,"marks":377,"text":378},"8dfc512f77e5",[]," A pins-and-needles sensation in the hands or feet can occur as estrogen fluctuation affects nerve sensitivity.",[],{"_key":381,"_type":8,"children":382,"markDefs":391,"style":25},"fe70549bb4d4",[383,387],{"_key":384,"_type":12,"marks":385,"text":386},"be5189acd1f4",[225],"Dizziness and balance changes:",{"_key":388,"_type":12,"marks":389,"text":390},"017d5e186f1c",[]," Estrogen and progesterone affect the function of the balance centers in the brain and the inner ear. Women in perimenopause may notice more frequent light-headedness or a subtle change in spatial awareness and coordination (proprioception).",[],{"_key":393,"_type":8,"children":394,"markDefs":403,"style":25},"13193c10135f",[395,399],{"_key":396,"_type":12,"marks":397,"text":398},"bf050b35ffa8",[225],"Restless Leg Syndrome:",{"_key":400,"_type":12,"marks":401,"text":402},"0fe845bbfa02",[]," New or worsening Restless Leg Syndrome has been reported in perimenopause, linked to changes in the dopamine pathways that estrogen helps regulate.",[],{"_key":405,"_type":8,"children":406,"markDefs":415,"style":25},"c4b1f2ef7094",[407,411],{"_key":408,"_type":12,"marks":409,"text":410},"2db4fbc443e3",[225],"Headaches and migraines:",{"_key":412,"_type":12,"marks":413,"text":414},"9e7013fb5756",[]," Estrogen influences the brain's pain pathways. Fluctuating estrogen is a well-documented migraine trigger, which is why headaches can become more frequent or more severe during perimenopause.",[],{"_key":417,"_type":8,"children":418,"markDefs":423,"style":112},"67e6bb32698d",[419],{"_key":420,"_type":12,"marks":421,"text":422},"fd34d2a9202b",[],"Your Cognition",[],{"_key":425,"_type":8,"children":426,"markDefs":431,"style":25},"5b4721e32f3a",[427],{"_key":428,"_type":12,"marks":429,"text":430},"e709eaf2c781",[],"Brain fog, word-finding difficulty, memory lapses, and slower processing are among the most disorienting perimenopause symptoms, and among the most commonly dismissed. The SWAN study confirmed small but reliable declines in verbal memory and processing speed during the perimenopause transition, independent of normal aging.",[],{"_key":433,"_type":8,"children":434,"markDefs":439,"style":25},"aea3fc8784cc",[435],{"_key":436,"_type":12,"marks":437,"text":438},"5b9176938f50",[],"These are not mood symptoms. They are cognitive symptoms with a distinct biological mechanism: estrogen supports synaptic density and glucose metabolism in the brain, and fluctuating levels disrupt both.",[],{"_key":441,"_type":8,"children":442,"markDefs":457,"style":25},"ba8d9f998738",[443,447,453],{"_key":444,"_type":12,"marks":445,"text":446},"bd3a4bdf5855",[225],"For a full breakdown of what is happening and what actually helps, read our post on ",{"_key":448,"_type":12,"marks":449,"text":452},"5bed59e7082b",[225,450,451],"em","5a33117f51d4","\"Brain Fog in Perimenopause: What's Happening and What to Do\"",{"_key":454,"_type":12,"marks":455,"text":456},"7f5263d3c242",[225],".",[458],{"_key":451,"_type":50,"href":459},"http:\u002F\u002Fmeetmyvillage.com\u002Fblog\u002Fbrain-fog-in-perimenopause-what-s-happening-and-what-to-do",{"_key":461,"_type":8,"children":462,"markDefs":467,"style":112},"5458d3656389",[463],{"_key":464,"_type":12,"marks":465,"text":466},"44d7ba206492",[],"Your Mood and Emotional Changes",[],{"_key":469,"_type":8,"children":470,"markDefs":479,"style":25},"5c27423c6676",[471,475],{"_key":472,"_type":12,"marks":473,"text":474},"9bb3b1b2eaa0",[225],"Intolerance to some people and situations:",{"_key":476,"_type":12,"marks":477,"text":478},"d381c4bcca5e",[]," This one is rarely named directly, but many women describe a lowered threshold for noise, crowds, conflict, or emotional demands during perimenopause. This is not a personality shift. Estrogen influences the brain's stress response system, and as it fluctuates, the nervous system becomes more reactive.",[],{"_key":481,"_type":8,"children":482,"markDefs":491,"style":25},"cf42df573d67",[483,487],{"_key":484,"_type":12,"marks":485,"text":486},"cd080172b672",[225],"Social withdrawal:",{"_key":488,"_type":12,"marks":489,"text":490},"90779c85693e",[]," Some women notice they pull back from social situations they previously enjoyed. This can be connected to both hormonal shifts in mood regulation and the exhaustion of managing multiple symptoms at once.",[],{"_key":493,"_type":8,"children":494,"markDefs":503,"style":25},"788130d35272",[495,499],{"_key":496,"_type":12,"marks":497,"text":498},"5606ac731d32",[225],"Unexplained irritability:",{"_key":500,"_type":12,"marks":501,"text":502},"de9d6b03ed7d",[]," Distinct from mood swings, some women experience a persistent low-level irritability that is unlike their previous emotional experience. This is frequently tied to hormonal fluctuation and sleep disruption.",[],{"_key":505,"_type":8,"children":506,"markDefs":515,"style":25},"8d2042d51336",[507,511],{"_key":508,"_type":12,"marks":509,"text":510},"ab3f5be99738",[225],"Sensitivity (teeth, skin, to sound):",{"_key":512,"_type":12,"marks":513,"text":514},"b7013e973f4b",[]," Heightened sensory sensitivity across multiple systems, teeth sensitivity, skin that is more easily irritated, and noise sensitivity, can all be connected to changes in the nervous system driven by fluctuating hormones.",[],{"_key":517,"_type":8,"children":518,"markDefs":523,"style":112},"981f2807a8b2",[519],{"_key":520,"_type":12,"marks":521,"text":522},"157aa754c022",[],"Your Body Systems",[],{"_key":525,"_type":8,"children":526,"markDefs":535,"style":25},"9ff83d39564a",[527,531],{"_key":528,"_type":12,"marks":529,"text":530},"38a2523d580c",[225],"Heart palpitations:",{"_key":532,"_type":12,"marks":533,"text":534},"54e4665ad328",[]," An irregular or racing heartbeat is a recognized perimenopause symptom caused by rising FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) as the body tries to stimulate ovulation. It is worth having checked by a healthcare provider to rule out other causes, but it is commonly hormonal.",[],{"_key":537,"_type":8,"children":538,"markDefs":547,"style":25},"320433b060e5",[539,543],{"_key":540,"_type":12,"marks":541,"text":542},"9d3755a37d4b",[225],"Swelling of hands and feet:",{"_key":544,"_type":12,"marks":545,"text":546},"a360549697de",[]," Fluctuating estrogen affects fluid balance in the body. Some women notice puffiness or swelling, particularly in the hands and feet, that is not explained by other causes.",[],{"_key":549,"_type":8,"children":550,"markDefs":559,"style":25},"ea7309672119",[551,555],{"_key":552,"_type":12,"marks":553,"text":554},"44babbbfbf93",[225],"Thyroid changes:",{"_key":556,"_type":12,"marks":557,"text":558},"ba44f9ae21ea",[]," Perimenopause can coincide with or unmask thyroid issues. The two can share symptoms (fatigue, weight changes, mood shifts), and it is worth discussing thyroid function with your healthcare provider if you are experiencing these.",[],{"_key":561,"_type":8,"children":562,"markDefs":571,"style":25},"54fa16a90569",[563,567],{"_key":564,"_type":12,"marks":565,"text":566},"7975bed2b126",[225],"Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs):",{"_key":568,"_type":12,"marks":569,"text":570},"5f83c0445fb2",[]," As estrogen declines, the tissue of the urethra and bladder thins, reducing the protective environment that helps prevent UTIs. Women who rarely had UTIs before perimenopause may find they become more frequent.",[],{"_key":573,"_type":8,"children":574,"markDefs":583,"style":25},"a326214ec22f",[575,579],{"_key":576,"_type":12,"marks":577,"text":578},"f0aea8e674e9",[225],"Stress incontinence:",{"_key":580,"_type":12,"marks":581,"text":582},"152d08663693",[]," Pelvic floor changes related to hormonal decline can contribute to leaking when you sneeze, cough, or exercise.",[],{"_key":585,"_type":8,"children":586,"markDefs":595,"style":25},"1b0877f18396",[587,591],{"_key":588,"_type":12,"marks":589,"text":590},"d7b3626ea922",[225],"Gum and dental changes:",{"_key":592,"_type":12,"marks":593,"text":594},"c7db99ade09f",[]," Estrogen receptors are present in gum tissue. Some women notice increased gum sensitivity, bleeding gums, or changes in dental health during perimenopause.",[],{"_key":597,"_type":8,"children":598,"markDefs":603,"style":16},"ec7b2df008c2",[599],{"_key":600,"_type":12,"marks":601,"text":602},"99d4019f6b6e",[],"Why These Symptoms Get Missed",[],{"_key":605,"_type":8,"children":606,"markDefs":611,"style":25},"8fadaaea507c",[607],{"_key":608,"_type":12,"marks":609,"text":610},"5088fa18cb45",[],"Two things contribute to underdiagnosis of these less-recognized symptoms.",[],{"_key":613,"_type":8,"children":614,"markDefs":619,"style":25},"ac0cc580b15e",[615],{"_key":616,"_type":12,"marks":617,"text":618},"8690f1451549",[],"First, many of these symptoms look like other conditions. Digestive symptoms get attributed to diet or IBS. Joint pain gets attributed to aging. Tinnitus gets investigated as a hearing issue without anyone asking about hormonal status. Mood changes get treated as anxiety or depression without the underlying hormonal picture being considered.",[],{"_key":621,"_type":8,"children":622,"markDefs":627,"style":25},"a6c8c20a0faf",[623],{"_key":624,"_type":12,"marks":625,"text":626},"b9e9a771e536",[],"Second, many healthcare providers are not trained to connect these symptoms to perimenopause. Only 31% of U.S. OB\u002FGYN residency programs have a dedicated menopause curriculum, and only 6.8% of residents across relevant specialties felt adequately prepared to manage women experiencing menopause. This means that even when women raise these symptoms, they are often not recognized as part of a hormonal transition.",[],{"_key":629,"_type":8,"children":630,"markDefs":635,"style":25},"e626ba3c019d",[631],{"_key":632,"_type":12,"marks":633,"text":634},"db86c6109e31",[],"This is why tracking matters. When you can show a pattern of symptoms across time, across your cycle, and across different body systems, it becomes much harder for anyone to attribute them to coincidence or \"just aging.\"",[],{"_key":637,"_type":8,"children":638,"markDefs":643,"style":16},"1acef8235261",[639],{"_key":640,"_type":12,"marks":641,"text":642},"608f36051593",[],"What to Do With This Information",[],{"_key":645,"_type":28,"asset":646},"d31b008da39a",{"_ref":647,"_type":31},"image-3c7cdb6ca40832518131d80861490bd3578aebaf-896x1200-png",{"_key":649,"_type":8,"children":650,"markDefs":655,"style":25},"3f9174fba92e",[651],{"_key":652,"_type":12,"marks":653,"text":654},"e521eeb92c41",[],"If you recognize yourself in this list, a few things are worth doing:",[],{"_key":657,"_type":8,"children":658,"markDefs":667,"style":25},"8ca4ddb7e2ea",[659,663],{"_key":660,"_type":12,"marks":661,"text":662},"8945f35981a7",[225],"Start tracking.",{"_key":664,"_type":12,"marks":665,"text":666},"9d9a0ebc5c98",[]," Not just the obvious symptoms. All of them. Digestive changes, skin sensations, joint discomfort, mood shifts. Track timing, severity, and any patterns you notice in relation to your cycle. Over weeks and months, the picture becomes clearer.",[],{"_key":669,"_type":8,"children":670,"markDefs":679,"style":25},"d79e2afe97f9",[671,675],{"_key":672,"_type":12,"marks":673,"text":674},"c607c3641ea4",[225],"Bring your records to your healthcare provider.",{"_key":676,"_type":12,"marks":677,"text":678},"b0f01f839d87",[]," Patterns documented over time are much more useful in a clinical conversation than a list of symptoms described from memory. Your data tells a more complete story than any single appointment can capture.",[],{"_key":681,"_type":8,"children":682,"markDefs":691,"style":25},"84c8fe00b5a8",[683,687],{"_key":684,"_type":12,"marks":685,"text":686},"cc7876d13403",[225],"Ask specifically about perimenopause.",{"_key":688,"_type":12,"marks":689,"text":690},"b37eb881e86e",[]," If multiple systems of your body are behaving differently than they used to, and you are in your late 30s or 40s, it is worth asking whether perimenopause could be the connecting thread.",[],{"_key":693,"_type":8,"children":694,"markDefs":703,"style":25},"bf8f3da2581d",[695,699],{"_key":696,"_type":12,"marks":697,"text":698},"8b46f7ddb333",[225],"Rule out other causes where appropriate.",{"_key":700,"_type":12,"marks":701,"text":702},"6d71ca81f6b7",[]," Some of these symptoms overlap with thyroid conditions, vitamin deficiencies, and other health issues. That is worth ruling out, not instead of considering hormones, but alongside it.",[],{"_key":705,"_type":8,"children":706,"markDefs":711,"style":25},"c363e67e2f47",[707],{"_key":708,"_type":12,"marks":709,"text":710},"ea9ae1d129ae",[],"My Village is built to help you track all of it, not just the symptoms that make the headline lists. Because the full picture of what you are experiencing is what matters.",[],{"_key":713,"_type":8,"children":714,"markDefs":719,"style":25},"c4a59e7b728e",[715],{"_key":716,"_type":12,"marks":717,"text":718},"30f296557b6d",[225],"References used in this post:",[],{"_key":721,"_type":8,"children":722,"level":144,"listItem":145,"markDefs":732,"style":25},"15e68f68a45c",[723,727],{"_key":724,"_type":12,"marks":725,"text":726},"93e47ee8d863",[],"The Menopause Society — Digestive Health Issues More Common During Perimenopause and Menopause (2025): ",{"_key":728,"_type":12,"marks":729,"text":731},"e309557e0d0f",[730],"b7ecf9469f57","menopause.org",[733],{"_key":730,"_type":50,"href":734},"https:\u002F\u002Fmenopause.org\u002Fpress-releases\u002Fdigestive-health-issues-more-common-during-perimenopause-and-menopause",{"_key":736,"_type":8,"children":737,"level":144,"listItem":145,"markDefs":747,"style":25},"d22d7c5db094",[738,742],{"_key":739,"_type":12,"marks":740,"text":741},"742e9523a9ec",[],"Canadian Digestive Health Foundation — Understanding Perimenopause and Gut Health: ",{"_key":743,"_type":12,"marks":744,"text":746},"04d225679143",[745],"4938e9f0d211","cdhf.ca",[748],{"_key":745,"_type":50,"href":749},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdhf.ca\u002Fen\u002Funderstanding-perimenopause-and-gut-health\u002F",{"_key":751,"_type":8,"children":752,"level":144,"listItem":145,"markDefs":762,"style":25},"f0062b9b23bc",[753,757],{"_key":754,"_type":12,"marks":755,"text":756},"1d5744654a2b",[],"Cleveland Clinic — Navigating Digestive Issues During Menopause: ",{"_key":758,"_type":12,"marks":759,"text":761},"4f5f37c9edbd",[760],"f2a315209b6e","my.clevelandclinic.org",[763],{"_key":760,"_type":50,"href":764},"https:\u002F\u002Fmy.clevelandclinic.org\u002Fpodcasts\u002Fbutts-and-guts\u002Fnavigating-digestive-issues-during-menopause",{"_key":766,"_type":8,"children":767,"level":144,"listItem":145,"markDefs":777,"style":25},"85f77cbb842f",[768,772],{"_key":769,"_type":12,"marks":770,"text":771},"ae1893d49e38",[],"Dr. Louise Newson — 10 Surprising Menopause Symptoms: ",{"_key":773,"_type":12,"marks":774,"text":776},"8f2eefb9f386",[775],"164e5ae1c896","drlouisenewson.co.uk",[778],{"_key":775,"_type":50,"href":779},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.drlouisenewson.co.uk\u002Fknowledge\u002F10-surprising-menopause-symptoms",{"_key":781,"_type":8,"children":782,"level":144,"listItem":145,"markDefs":792,"style":25},"bebc65d42564",[783,787],{"_key":784,"_type":12,"marks":785,"text":786},"d4c654f46067",[],"MBody Health — Itchy Ears in Perimenopause: ",{"_key":788,"_type":12,"marks":789,"text":791},"e4115e51b3bf",[790],"b632b4b45a58","mbody.health",[793],{"_key":790,"_type":50,"href":794},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.mbody.health\u002Fperimenopause\u002Fsymptoms-treatment\u002Fitchy-ears-in-perimenopause-heres-how-to-find-relief",{"_key":796,"_type":8,"children":797,"level":144,"listItem":145,"markDefs":807,"style":25},"d37d5c21cec3",[798,802],{"_key":799,"_type":12,"marks":800,"text":801},"b75671fdd089",[],"Mayo Clinic News Network — Global Study Identifies Gap Between Expectations and Experience in Perimenopause (2026): ",{"_key":803,"_type":12,"marks":804,"text":806},"4edb614e6fad",[805],"30f19b9271c5","newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org",[808],{"_key":805,"_type":50,"href":809},"https:\u002F\u002Fnewsnetwork.mayoclinic.org\u002Fdiscussion\u002Fglobal-study-identifies-gap-between-expectations-experience-in-perimenopause\u002F",{"_key":811,"_type":8,"children":812,"level":144,"listItem":145,"markDefs":822,"style":25},"9417ac744273",[813,817],{"_key":814,"_type":12,"marks":815,"text":816},"49ea2d1d9d5a",[],"Yale Medicine — Why Gastrointestinal Problems Often Affect Women Differently: ",{"_key":818,"_type":12,"marks":819,"text":821},"4bd57366f4e8",[820],"9c57295aadce","yalemedicine.org",[823],{"_key":820,"_type":50,"href":824},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.yalemedicine.org\u002Fnews\u002Fwhy-gastrointestinal-problems-often-affect-women-differently",{"_key":826,"_type":8,"children":827,"level":144,"listItem":145,"markDefs":837,"style":25},"bdb4f2e071a1",[828,832],{"_key":829,"_type":12,"marks":830,"text":831},"4024decb7c0e",[],"Allen et al. — Needs assessment of menopause education in U.S. OB\u002FGYN residency programs, Menopause (2023): ",{"_key":833,"_type":12,"marks":834,"text":836},"4508c4b61dc3",[835],"06d6ddb6d903","pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov",[838],{"_key":835,"_type":50,"href":839},"https:\u002F\u002Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002F37738034\u002F",{"_key":841,"_type":8,"children":842,"level":144,"listItem":145,"markDefs":851,"style":25},"b5bca5031aee",[843,847],{"_key":844,"_type":12,"marks":845,"text":846},"c16f2b407b98",[],"Kling et al. — Menopause Management Knowledge in Postgraduate Residents (2019): ",{"_key":848,"_type":12,"marks":849,"text":836},"7def7f0fc263",[850],"a8d62ce279b4",[852],{"_key":850,"_type":50,"href":853},"https:\u002F\u002Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002F30711122\u002F",null,{"_type":28,"asset":856,"caption":858},{"_ref":857,"_type":31},"image-52564c4729a909572220a18974e8cb19afb89d14-1200x800-png","Hot flashes get all the attention. But perimenopause can also cause itchy ears, digestive changes, skin crawling, tinnitus, and dozens of other symptoms most women never connect to their hormones. Here's what the research says.","perimenopause-symptoms-nobody-warned-you-about",[861],"Empowerment",{"_type":28,"asset":863},{"_ref":857,"_type":31},"So It Wasn't Just You. Here Are the Perimenopause Symptoms Nobody Warned You About.",[866,875,884],{"keywords":854,"mainImage":867,"publishedAt":854,"shortDescription":871,"slug":872,"tags":873,"title":874},{"_type":28,"asset":868,"caption":870},{"_ref":869,"_type":31},"image-1910f3a466d408dbecef3bfa1ae1ae54f0282359-1461x1076-png","Practical tips for preparing for appointments, asking the right questions, and making sure your concerns are heard.","Dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told you're \"too young\"? You're not alone. Here's how to prepare for appointments, ask the right questions, and make sure your perimenopause symptoms are actually heard.","advocating-for-yourself-at-the-doctor-s-office",[861],"Advocating for Yourself at the Doctor's Office",{"keywords":854,"mainImage":876,"publishedAt":854,"shortDescription":879,"slug":880,"tags":881,"title":883},{"_type":28,"asset":877,"caption":879},{"_ref":878,"_type":31},"image-5495f07d839e961714d6a2a8c033ee08e5f49459-6016x4016-jpg","Forgetting words, losing your train of thought, struggling to focus? Brain fog during perimenopause is real, and it has a biological basis. Here's what the research says and what actually helps.","brain-fog-in-perimenopause-what-s-happening-and-what-to-do",[882],"Empowerment ","Brain Fog in Perimenopause: What's Happening and What to Do",{"keywords":854,"mainImage":885,"publishedAt":854,"shortDescription":888,"slug":889,"tags":890,"title":891},{"_type":28,"asset":886},{"_ref":887,"_type":31},"image-d9d03e4c24956ed971d3bbabd857fcb63ee8fdba-1264x842-png","Perimenopause can start years before menopause, but many women don't recognize the signs. Here's what to look for and how to track changes.","understanding-perimenopause-the-full-picture",[882],"Understanding Perimenopause: The Full Picture",1779490877626]