8 signs you’re perimenopausal with menopause nutritionist Emma Bardwell

Where to find more from the editorial team and our experts at Get The Gloss:

[thisminimallife]

Palpitations, tinitus, weight gain, hot face, headaches, no libido, vag dryness, aching joints, congestion, dry nose and eyes. Crying for no reason, acne, burning mouth, fatigue, Brain fog, blurry eyes don’t want to drive long distance, new fear of flying - depression and anxiety 😢

[chelsea]

I would also add hair loss as a part of this list. Anyone else???

[reneeelizabethrainville]

I had all of these symptoms and went to multiple doctors who couldn’t find any problems. It never occurred to anyone to talk to me about perimenopause. It led to many years of deep depression. It is so important to have more people speaking about this. Thank you!

[crystalgrose]

1. If you’re in your late 30’s or 40’s.
2. Menstrual cycles start to become irregular.
3. Unexplained health symptoms.
4. Sexual intercourse becomes more painful.
5. Changes in skin.
6. Confidence levels starts to decrease.
7. Putting on weight that is hard to lose.
8. Brain fog.

[priscamwangi]

The brain fog is a bad experience, feeling like am losing my mind, i have booked an appointment to see a neurologist. Thanks for the insight!!

[SoNick]

I am almost 53. I have been experiencing all these symptoms over the past ten years. Still have a regular period and at ovulation still produce a sticky discharge. Lower libido and vaginal dryness are the most upsetting for my husband and I. This part of life really needs to get more air time! Knowing you are not alone (and not going crazy!) is so comforting. Thanks Emma!

[TheRealSubourbonMermaid]

I'm 2 months shy of 40, and the last 6 months have been a hormonal rollercoaster! I am sat here with tears dripping off my chin from the validation I'm feeling from this video. HALLELUJAH I'm not crazy, I'm just perimenopausal!

[maudyoxall]

I wish I'd had this info 8 years ago. I started having pins and needles in my hands and feet, especially at night. I went to the GP and was sent from one specialist to the other. Pins and needles are a sign of so many health issues like MS and Parkinson's and Diabetes, I remember being absolutely terrified. No-one, I repeat no-one, including a menopause specialist, knew that pins and needles can be the result of hormone fluctuations in peri-menopause! It would have been so good to have been told that this was a possibility. Also, at 42, I was repeatedly told that I was too young to have any symptoms. You are so right in saying that this topic needs more air-time! Thanks so much for posting.

[francisivanperez]

Me suffering, heart palpitation, anxious, anxiety insomia, depression its very hard on my part, im in 🇵🇭 lack of concentration, who of experiencing this im 47

[viroh]

The single most common thread I have observed is "hatred / anger towards the husband / and its uncanny how many divorces are triggered around this time. Happy to discuss.

[amandaswan]

Trauma related issues and stressful lives can exacerbate symptoms I’ve found, and we need to be kind to ourselves, rather than berate ourselves for not doing or being a certain way. It’s tough if your employer for example is making life difficult, I get that. We need to keep talking about this! ❤

[Maddie]

hormone replacement therapy is the best decision I ever made. I had some symptoms but they were very mild but when I started HRT the few symptoms I had disappear. I am very happy with my decision.

[marineb]

You nailed it! All very true! Plus panick attacks and fears. Plus like a wave in the brain that lasts few seconds, painless ( can’t explain the sensation)

[rossothecrimson]

I had to figure stuff out on my own and discovered that as we hit 30s/40s our nutrients and vitamins have dropped or are dropping significantly as well. Once I fixed those low levels and adjusted my diet (removed trigger/inflammatory foods, I felt way better and those symptoms went away....if I slip up I go right back to feeling like crap/weird.

[beezer]

Thank you so much for talking about this. I'm 41, almost 42, and I noticed fairly big changes in my cycle at 39, mainly just the length of my cycle and some additional fatigue and aches and pains I didn't have as much of prior. Since I have Endometriosis, I was concerned and I began asking my OBGYN for hormone tests for the past 2 years, and EVERY single time, the OBGYN says she'll run base checks, but they won't tell her anything. And alas, she never has any answers for me. Just single numbers that I don't understand. She says I might be in Perimenopause, but didn't give me much to go on other than a vague opinion of eat well, sleep and exercise. But that's what she's saying to every single other woman, so she's not of much help because we're all different! Now that I'm in my early 40's, I've got so many more symptoms - cycle length as mentioned...it used to be fairly regular my entire life, which is a blessing considering I have Endo...28 days and now it's about 20 days, so I never I never feel like I get a break like I used to feel. I have bad insomnia for about 10 days every month (usually before during and after my period), weight gain/difficult to lose, horrible hormonal headaches that make it difficult to function some days, nausea, increased digestive issues, fatigue (I'm exhausted more than normal and I have CFS from Epstein Barr Virus, so being tired is normal for me, but this is beyond tired), extra clumsy, and just feeling off most of the time.

From what I've been told, the women in my family go through menopause very early so I'm not surprised I started at 39. I got my period very young, had just turned 11 years old, and many of my friends didn't get theirs until 15. And without much assistance from my OBGYN, I'm just feeling stuck. I'm honestly getting really tired of "doctors" in general. They don't listen, act like they are annoyed they have to even see you, and send you away without helping most of the time. I just want to know more about what my personal body is going through. Like, am I estrogen dominant? I could be, but I'm not the expert, so I have no way to know that. I'm thinking of having a naturopathic doctor help me from now on. Do you think this would be a better option? I know there's things I can do, like changing some dietary things, but I just want to know what's going on my specifically in my body. Thanks so much for talking about this, it's something we don't see enough women bringing out in the open, so thank you! <3

[TonyaA]

I've been noticing changes since about age 35. Im now 39 went to my gynecologist and told him he wanted to put me on antidepressants/I refuse to take that as I have had bad experiences on those meds back in my early 20's...

My Grandmother went into menopause at like 42 and my cousin at like 36..

I have been having several and some you haven't mentioned that I've heard spoken of on other videos.

The doctors keep saying im to young, but not one of them ever did blood work ... Went to a fews docs... I have chosen to just place my life in God's hands and teust him to get me through it all healthy and safe.

I went from living normal life driving etc to being afriad to drive and go places. Anxious out of no where for no reason, hot flushes, wake up drinched in sweat, more stressed, tired all the time, sleep was a reck, heart palps and a few other things.

Some have gotten better. Im starting to go places again and driving a lil around my neighborhood/its a start . Sleep has gotten better, palps not that often anymore as it was, not as stressed and anxious as I was. Things have been getting better.

I just been relying on God to help me and heal me .. Oh and I did gain about 10 to 12 pounds in a few months time too..Periods have gotten a lil heaver at the first few days and some months are starting to get further apart a few were like 23 days. But most months my cycle still comes between every 25-27 days...

I send prayers to every woman going through perimenopause symptoms and pray God helps you through it healthy and whole in Jesus Christ Mighty Name..

[BixbyLBC]

I checked all the boxes on the symptoms checklist and as defeated as i feel at times, its comforting to know that women are coming out of the shadows and speaking up and raising awareness about perimenopause and menopause and how its affecting our quality of life. WOMENS HEALTH MATTERS 💯💯💯

[readyletstravel]

I am 44 and I started having bad anxiety, palpitations and pulsating tinnitus for the last 3 years now

[ClaireMonica-Art]

Thanks - this is a great breakdown - wish they would tell you about this more in school etc. Luckily I got pregnant at 42, gave birth at 43 and by 45 I was beginning to feel the changes - once I limit alcohol & sugar, get plenty of rest & consistent exercise I manage to keep the hot flushes etc at bay - 48 now and learning to listen to what my body needs more and more, including tons of water :)

[RebelAlliance]

Has anyone told you that you look like Lisa Eldridge? She's a British makeup artist who also does tutorials on YouTube.
I'm only in my early 40s, and my periods have begun to get out of whack, and oh yes, the dryness is real! I've had to start using a hyaluronic acid serum under my usual moisturiser, because all the healthy diet wasn't doing anything at all for the skin on my face! I take natural collagen, I eat a very good range of healthy oils and fats, including evening primrose, and I drink 2 cups of coconut water a day, as well as all the good, macro and micro nutrient/antioxidant rich foods, and I drink around 3ltrs of water a day. Yet my skin was extremely dehydrated, itchy and peely! It can still be if I stop using the hyaluronic acid serum for a few days... being a woman is great!