Tracking symptoms during perimenopause is a powerful tool—but what if you could also understand what your hormones are doing underneath the surface?
For many women, standard blood tests come back “normal.” That’s because most traditional practitioners are trained to spot only clinical imbalances, based on ranges that might be too broad or outdated for the nuanced transitions our bodies go through.
This is exactly where functional medicine shines. It helps us look beyond generic test results and detect subtle patterns—so we can take proactive steps before full-blown symptoms disrupt our lives.
Let’s explore the three key stages of perimenopause—and what your body may be trying to tell you.
This is often the first shift, and it can sneak up on you years before you even think about menopause.
If this sounds familiar, your progesterone may be declining while estrogen is still relatively stable.
At this stage, estrogen is no longer predictable. It’s up one month, down the next. And your body feels it.
This is often the time when women begin to suspect something is going on hormonally—but may be told it’s “just stress” or aging.
Estrogen finally starts to drop—and this combo is what leads to the most notorious symptoms.
This is the tail end of perimenopause—usually just a couple years before full menopause.
Not all women enter perimenopause at the same age or with the same symptoms. Here are a few major influences:
Family history matters. If your mother or older sisters started early or late, you may follow a similar pattern.
Thyroid conditions or diseases like rheumatoid arthritis can trigger ovarian insufficiency, speeding up the perimenopause timeline.
Undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, or surgical removal of the ovaries can induce very early perimenopause.
Genetic issues like Turner Syndrome or Fragile X can also disrupt ovarian function prematurely.
Smoking, chronic stress, or lacking key nutrients can accelerate hormonal decline and bring on symptoms earlier than expected.
Knowing where you are in your perimenopause journey puts you in control.
With the right support—nutrition, movement, testing, and emotional care—you can soften the impact of hormone shifts and stay connected to your body instead of battling it.
And remember: You don’t have to wait until you’re “bad enough” to get help. You deserve to feel good now.
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