The Learn library
Perimenopause, explained the way you deserved the first time.
Plain answers to the questions nobody sat you down and explained. Written to be useful, not scary. Not medical advice, information you can bring into an appointment.
What is perimenopause? A plain-English explainer
The transition years before menopause, what's happening hormonally, why the symptoms are so varied, and how to tell if you're in it.
Read →When does perimenopause start? Age, timing, and early signs
Typical ages, what 'early' means, and the first symptoms that show up years before most doctors bring it up.
Read →Perimenopause symptoms: the full list nobody handed you
A grouped, plain-language guide to the wide range of perimenopause symptoms, including the strange ones like frozen shoulder and itchy ears.
Read →How long does perimenopause last?
The typical length, why it varies so much, and what marks the shift into menopause.
Read →Perimenopause vs menopause: the difference, in plain English
They're related, but they're not the same. Here's what actually distinguishes them, hormonally, symptomatically, and on paper.
Read →Perimenopause brain fog: causes, timeline, and what helps
Why perimenopause brain fog happens, how it differs from dementia, and the levers with the biggest impact on cognitive symptoms.
Read →Perimenopause hot flashes and night sweats: causes and treatment
The KNDy-neuron story behind vasomotor symptoms, common triggers, and both hormonal and non-hormonal options that work.
Read →Perimenopause mood swings, anxiety, and rage
Why the hormonal shifts of perimenopause hit mood so hard, and the treatment options with the best evidence.
Read →Perimenopause and frozen shoulder: the hidden connection
Why adhesive capsulitis peaks in the perimenopause window, the three-phase timeline, and treatments that shorten the course.
Read →Perimenopause itchy ears: the symptom nobody warned you about
The dryness cluster (ears, eyes, mouth, skin) driven by estrogen decline, and how to treat itchy ears without making them worse.
Read →Perimenopause treatment: HRT, supplements, and lifestyle
A balanced overview of hormone therapy, evidence-based supplements, and lifestyle changes that actually move the needle in perimenopause.
Read →HRT for perimenopause: a plain-English guide
What HRT actually is, who it's for, the real risks (not the 2002 headlines), and how to talk to your doctor about starting hormone therapy.
Read →Perimenopause night sweats: why they happen and what stops them
The 3am wake-up explained, why night sweats wreck sleep architecture, the bedroom setup that helps, and the treatments with real evidence.
Read →Perimenopause weight gain: causes and what actually helps
Why the scale creeps up in the 40s, the four forces driving it, and the strategies that actually work at this life stage.
Read →Perimenopause insomnia: causes and treatments that work
Why sleep breaks in perimenopause, the 3 a.m. wake-up explained, and the interventions with the strongest evidence.
Read →Perimenopause anxiety: why it hits now and what actually helps
The hormone-driven anxiety that appears in the 40s, even without a prior anxiety history, and the treatments that work.
Read →Perimenopause supplements: what works and what doesn't
An honest, evidence-ranked guide to perimenopause supplements: what has real evidence, what's marketing, and what to skip.
Read →Perimenopause stages and age chart
The four stages of perimenopause with typical ages, the STRAW+10 framework clinicians use, and what usually shows up when.
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More on the way. If there's a symptom or question you'd like us to cover next, email hello@perislayer.com.