Let’s get one thing straight: “menopause” is not a long journey through hormonal hellfire.
Menopause is just one single day – the day you’ve gone 12 consecutive months without a period. That’s it. A moment. A milestone. Maybe a cake is involved.
The real drama? That happens before and after menopause. That’s where the hormonal rollercoaster truly lives – perimenopause and postmenopause. Let’s break it all down in stages:
Stage 1: Early Perimenopause
AKA: “Is it me or is everything just…weird?”
This charming phase typically kicks off in your late 30s to early 40s (surprise!) and comes bearing gifts like:
• Periods suddenly pulling a Houdini act (then showing up like a horror movie)
• Mild hot flushes
• Brain fog (Wait, what was I saying?)
• Mood swings you could ride at a theme park
• Fatigue that feels like you’ve been up all night clubbing… except you were in bed by 9
• Fertility is still technically on the table, but there can be complications
Pro tip: Start tracking symptoms (even the “weird ones” like tingling hands or itchy ears). You’re not losing it – you might just be early perimenopausal.
Stage 2: Peak Perimenopause
AKA: “Full-blown hormonal chaos.”
Usually hits around your mid-to-late 40s. This is where things get… spicy.
• Hot flushes become hot infernos
• Sleep? What sleep?
• Mood swings go from rom-com to full drama series
• Periods arrive whenever they damn well please (every 18 days? every 60? Both?)
Oestrogen’s on a wild ride, and you’re just along for the trip. One day you feel like a rock star, the next you’re crying because your toast is slightly too dark.
Heads up: This is often the most intense phase – remember you’re not broken, but alot of things are changing.
Stage 3: Late Perimenopause
AKA: “We’re almost there… maybe?.”
Typically in your late 40s to early 50s, this is the home stretch. Your periods are packing up and leaving the group chat.
• Months might go by without a period
• Symptoms like vaginal dryness, low libido, and joint aches step into the spotlight more
• You may feel both done and very not done at the same time
Once you hit 12 months with no period—congrats! You’ve officially reached menopause. Give yourself a round of applause (or at least a quiet celebratory cuppa in peace).
Stage 4: Postmenopause
AKA: “Menopause happened. Now what?”
This is the stage you live in forever after menopause. Don’t panic – many women find things settle here. Hormone levels are low but stable, and symptoms may improve. However…
• Some symptoms (like vaginal dryness or urinary stuff) may persist
• Risks of conditions like osteoporosis increase – time to be proper besties with calcium and weight-bearing exercise
• Libido might return… or not. Both are valid!
Final thoughts
The journey through perimenopause and beyond isn’t a straight line. Don’t take the ‘ages’ as absolute, they differ dramatically depending on the person. Symptoms vary wildly depending on genetics, health history, and your personal hormonal cocktail.
What’s normal for your bestie might not be normal for you – and that’s totally fine. I only realised I was perimenopausal when I started to keep a diary of ‘random things’ (like pins and needles) – the list of symptoms is vast so a lot of women don’t even realise they’re at that stage!
So, if you’re in your late 30s or early 40s and just feeling off, don’t dismiss it. You’re not going crazy. You might just be perimenopausal.
This article is for general information only and is not intended medical advice. Everyone’s experience of perimenopause and menopause is different. Where supplements or treatments are mentioned, evidence can be mixed and what helps one person may not help another. Always check with a healthcare professional, especially if you have health conditions or take medication.
Last reviewed: Feb 2026
Next review due: August 2026