Perimenopause is the transition leading into menopause. During this stage, oestrogen can rise and fall before gradually declining, which is why symptoms can feel so unpredictable. One month you may feel like yourself. The next, your sleep, mood, skin, energy, or body shape may feel completely different.

Cleveland Clinic notes that perimenopause can last for years, and Mayo Clinic explains that once a woman has gone 12 months without a menstrual period, menopause has been reached. This is why support should not begin only after menopause. For many women, the changes start much earlier.

In your 30s, you may have been able to make a few adjustments and quickly feel back in control. A little more movement. A little less sugar. A new serum. A few good nights of sleep.

But in perimenopause, your body is working under a different hormonal environment. That means the same routine may not create the same response. Menopause-related hormonal changes can make weight more likely to gather around the abdomen rather than the hips and thighs. Age-related muscle loss can also slow how efficiently the body uses energy, making body changes feel harder to manage.

Perimenopause and menopause can affect the way fat is stored, the way skin behaves, the way fluid is held, and the way the body recovers. Research on menopause and body composition has found that menopause is associated with an increase in abdominal fat, even when lifestyle has not changed dramatically.

Skin is one of the places where hormonal change becomes most visible. Many women notice that their skin suddenly looks more tired, textured, pigmented, loose, or dull, even when they are using good products and following a consistent routine.

Herbody was created for women who want to age well, feel good in their body, and receive support that feels personal rather than generic. We look at the full picture.