The Journey to Menopause: Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions

Perimenopause is the natural transition leading up to menopause, marking the gradual change in your body’s hormone levels.

For most women, it begins in their mid-40s, though some may notice changes earlier or later. This phase can last several years, often leaving women feeling emotionally and physically “off” without realizing what’s happening.

Menopause itself is defined as the point when you’ve gone 12 consecutive months without a period. Everything leading up to that, including the first year after your final menstrual period, falls under the perimenopause umbrella.

For many women, this phase doesn’t arrive with one obvious sign. Instead, it shows up as a vague mix of shifting, sometimes confusing symptoms such as mood changes, anxiety, brain fog, fatigue, disrupted sleep, or low energy. Because the changes can be subtle and varied, it’s easy to question yourself or miss the connection.

Understanding your symptoms is the first step toward feeling more like yourself again.

Symptoms of Perimenopause

Everyone talks about hot flashes, but they’re only part of the story.

Common symptoms include [1]:

Exhaustion (83%)
Irritability (80%)
Feeling down or low mood (77%)
Sleep problems (76%)
Digestive issues (76%)
Anxiety (75%)
Hot flashes and night sweats (50–85%)

You might also notice brain fog, joint aches, vaginal dryness, or changes in your periods, sometimes heavier, sometimes lighter, sometimes unpredictable.

Treatment Options for Perimenopause

While lifestyle habits aren’t proven to reduce hot flashes, they can support overall health and ease perimenopause symptoms like sleep problems, mood swings, fatigue, and long-term health risks.
- Sleep: Keep consistent sleep/wake times and a cool, restful bedroom. These habits can boost mood, energy, and stress resilience.
- Exercise: Regular movement and strength training support heart and bone health, improve energy, mood, and cognition, and help manage weight.
- Balanced Nutrition: A nutrient-rich diet aids bone strength, metabolism, and cardiovascular health.
- Avoid Tobacco & Excess Alcohol: Reducing or quitting improves overall health and may make symptoms easier to manage.
- Mental & Emotional Well-Being: Relaxation, hobbies, social connection, or therapies like CBT can improve quality of life, sleep, and coping with symptom distress.
Most over-the-counter (OTC) remedies have limited or inconsistent evidence for reducing hot flashes.
May provide modest benefit for some women:
- Black cohosh
- Soy products / isoflavones
Not recommended for reliable symptom relief:
- Evening primrose oil
- Flaxseed
- Ginseng
- Red clover
- Vitamin E
- Acupuncture
Important safety notes:
- “Natural” does not mean risk-free.
- Supplements are not regulated like prescription medications and may contain contaminants.
- Some products may interact with medications or affect liver health.
- Always consult your healthcare practitioner before starting any supplement.
If symptoms are moderate to severe, prescription or hormone-based therapies are more effective options.
Important: Always update your medical records with any OTC medications or supplements you take. These can interact with prescription drugs that may put your health at risk.
Because the FDA doesn’t regulate supplements, it’s hard to know if a bottle actually contains what the label says. To stay safe, look for seals from NSF, USP, or ConsumerLab. These independent experts test products to ensure they are pure, accurately labeled, and free from contaminants.
For women who cannot or prefer not to take hormone therapy, The Menopause Society (2023) recommends these evidence-based non-hormonal prescription options [2]:
Best for women who:
- Cannot take hormone therapy
- Prefer to avoid hormones
- Have contraindications to estrogen
Evidence-based options include:
- SSRIs/SNRIs (e.g., paroxetine, escitalopram, venlafaxine)
  Reduce hot flash frequency and severity; may also improve mood and anxiety. Possible side effects include gastrointestinal symptoms that typically improve.
- Gabapentin
  Helpful for nighttime hot flashes and sleep disruption. Possible side effects include dizziness, unsteadiness, and drowsiness, which typically improve with time.
- Fezolinetant and Elinzanetant (Veozah and Lynkuet)
  Neurokinin receptor antagonists specifically approved for moderate to severe hot flashes and night sweats. Possible side effects include headaches and somnolence.
- Oxybutynin
  May reduce hot flashes; requires clinician guidance due to side effects, which may include dry mouth and urinary difficulties.
What to know:
- These are effective alternatives but generally not as effective as hormone therapy for hot flashes.
- Side effects vary depending on the medication.
- Treatment should be individualized and monitored by your physician
Bottom Line:
Non-hormonal prescription therapies offer safe, evidence-based relief for women who cannot or choose not to use hormone therapy.
A personalized discussion with your healthcare practitioner can help determine the best option for you.
Visit MenoNotes for more information.
Estrogen therapy (with or without progesterone) used to treat menopause symptoms [3].
Most effective treatment for:
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Sleep disruption caused by vasomotor symptoms
- Prevention of bone loss and fractures
- Vaginal dryness and genitourinary symptoms
Who benefits most:
- Women within 10 years of menopause onset.
  In this group, benefits generally outweigh risks.
Most common mild side effects:
- Breast tenderness
- Nausea
- Headache
- Bloating
Dose-related effects:
Standard-dose estrogen typically relieves vasomotor symptoms within 2 weeks, while lower doses may take up to 8 weeks but reduce risks of VTE, breast tenderness, and unexpected bleeding.
Key safety points:
- Treatment should be individualized and achieved through shared decision-making.
- Reassess regularly with your healthcare practitioner
- Transdermal estrogen (patches, gels, sprays) is associated with a lower risk of blood clots (venous thromboembolism, VTE) compared to oral estrogen, particularly in otherwise low-risk patients.
- Vaginal estrogen has minimal systemic absorption and is considered safe for most women
Not recommended for women with:
- Estrogen-sensitive cancers
- History of blood clots or stroke
- Unexplained vaginal bleeding
- Active liver disease
For appropriate candidates, MHT is the most effective option for symptom relief and can support bone health.
The decision should always be personalized in partnership with your healthcare practitioner.
Visit MenoNotes for more information.

You Have Options

Perimenopause is a normal biological transition, but that doesn’t mean you have to simply endure the symptoms. Whether you choose hormone therapy, non-hormonal medication, or supportive health strategies, effective treatment options exist. A personalized discussion with your healthcare practitioner can help you determine the safest and most appropriate path forward.

Get Expert Guidance

Perimenopause care should be individualized, evidence-based, and tailored to your symptoms, health history, and goals. This is our specialty at The Midlife Doctor.

If you're in Ohio, we offer:

Telehealth consultations statewide
Comprehensive in-person outpatient gynecology care in Columbus, Ohio

Whether you’re looking for hormone therapy guidance, non-hormonal options, or clarity about what’s happening in your body, we’ll work together to create a thoughtful plan that fits you.

Book a Consultation or Meet & Greet today.

Hedges MS, Hewings-Martin Y, Global perspectives on perimenopause: a digital survey of knowledge and symptoms using the Flo application. Menopause. PMID: 41603602.
The 2023 nonhormone therapy position statement of The Menopause Society: Nonhormone treatments for hot flashes and night sweats. The Menopause Society.
The 2022 hormone therapy position statement of The Menopause Society: Deciding about hormone therapy use. The Menopause Society.