Most women begin to experience hormonal shifts in their mid-thirties to their early-to-mid forties.
Most women I talk to have either NO idea that perimenopause exists or think it refers to the three or four months before menopause. But perimenopause can begin five to ten years (or more) before the onset of menopause. Since the average age of menopause is around age 51, perimenopause can begin as early as age 35 in some women.
When women seek help from their doctor, they are often dismissed and told that their symptoms are simply “part of aging.” They are given “the pill” to deal with their irregular periods, an antidepressant to help with anxiety and mood issues, and advised to get to the gym or to quit eating junk food to address their weight gain.