You wake up at 3:00am again. Heart racing. Mind spinning. No clue why. By breakfast, your brain feels like it’s been stuffed with cotton wool. You can’t remember what you were saying mid-sentence. Later, you’re snapping at your partner because the dishwasher’s full. Then you’re crying because someone on telly hugged their dog.
You think, “What on earth is going on?”
You go see your GP. They run a few blood tests. Maybe iron levels, thyroid function, possibly a basic hormone panel. Then they smile kindly and say, “Everything looks normal. Probably just stress or anxiety.”
You leave the clinic feeling frustrated. Not crazy exactly… but definitely unheard.
Welcome to perimenopause, the messy middle ground before menopause that no one prepared you for.
The Hidden Hormone Havoc of Perimenopause
Perimenopause isn’t some brief blip before periods stop. It’s a wild hormonal rollercoaster that can stretch across 5 to 10 years, often starting in your late 30s or early 40s. That early, yes.
Hormones like oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol begin shifting well before menopause officially begins. But those shifts don’t move gently or gradually. They spike. They crash. They loop around like a carnival ride. Some days, you’re fine. Other days, you’re googling “early dementia symptoms” because your brain feels like scrambled eggs.
And here’s the frustrating part. Standard blood tests often miss what’s actually going on.
Why Conventional Medicine Often Misses the Mark
Traditional medicine usually looks for black-and-white answers. You’re either menopausal or not. You either have a hormone deficiency or you don’t. Their job is to spot disease, not dysfunction.
But perimenopause lives in the grey area. Hormones fluctuate from week to week. Sometimes day to day. One single blood test taken mid-morning on a random Tuesday just doesn’t tell the whole story.
In fact, many GPs don’t even test your reproductive hormones unless your cycles have stopped altogether. And when they do, your results often land inside a wide “normal” range. But what’s “normal” for a lab result doesn’t always match what feels normal for you.
So when you say, “Something’s off,” and your tests say, “You’re fine,” you end up stuck. Unlabelled. Unseen. Unwell.
“Is This Just Me Losing the Plot?”
Short answer? No, it’s not just you.
Perimenopause can bring a storm of symptoms that seem totally unrelated at first:
- Mood swings that come out of nowhere
- Anxiety even when life feels steady
- Insomnia, especially those 3:00am wakeups
- Brain fog—forgetting words, names, appointments
- Weight gain, usually around your belly
- Heavy or irregular periods
- Low libido or uncomfortable intimacy
- Joint aches and strange body pains
- PMS that feels like it’s doubled in strength
Sound familiar?
What’s tricky is that many of these symptoms don’t scream “hormonal” at first. So women end up treated for anxiety. Or for depression. Or for ADHD. Sometimes all three. All while the root cause goes unaddressed.
The Rise of the “New Menopause”
For years, menopause was the headline act. Now, perimenopause is finally stepping into the spotlight. You’ve probably noticed the rise in books, podcasts, and Instagram accounts talking openly about it.
So why the shift?
Because women are sick of being brushed off. We’re tired of vague advice and “just wait it out” responses. We want proper answers and practical help.
Perimenopause is no longer being viewed as a short lead-in to menopause. It’s being recognised as a major hormonal transition that can affect your entire wellbeing—mentally, emotionally, and physically.
And most importantly, we now have smarter tools to figure out what’s actually going on.
Functional Testing: Seeing What Blood Tests Don’t
This is where functional testing shines. Especially a tool called DUTCH hormone testing. That’s short for Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones. Odd name, yes. But the insight it provides is incredible.
Standard blood tests offer just a single snapshot. DUTCH testing is more like a time-lapse. It tracks your hormone levels and pathways across a longer period and reveals not just how much hormone you have, but also how your body uses and clears it.
That matters. A lot.
Here’s why. It’s not only about whether you have enough oestrogen or progesterone. It’s about whether those hormones are balanced. For example:
- You might have enough oestrogen, but not enough progesterone. That creates symptoms like mood swings or heavy bleeding.
- Cortisol could be peaking late at night when it’s supposed to wind down. That ruins your sleep and ramps up anxiety.
- Testosterone might be low, which impacts your energy, mood, and sex drive.
With DUTCH, you finally get to see what your hormones are doing, not just what levels they’re sitting at in one blood draw.
You’re Not Just Getting Older
Another myth? That this is all just a “normal part of ageing” and something you have to put up with. That’s simply not true.
Perimenopause is not a slow decline. It’s a powerful transition. And just like puberty, pregnancy, or postpartum, it deserves proper attention and support.
Your body is sending out signals. Ignoring those signs won’t help. Piling on sleeping pills or antidepressants might cover up the symptoms, but they won’t address the cause.
Once you understand your own hormone patterns, you can take specific, meaningful action to start feeling better. You stop guessing and start managing things with clarity.
What You Can Do Right Now
If this all feels a bit close to home, here are a few things you can do today.
1. Start Tracking Your Symptoms
Write them down. Use a journal or an app. Notice when your symptoms show up and how often. Do they follow a cycle? Are they linked to stress, food, or sleep? Start building a picture of your own patterns.
2. Rethink “Normal”
Just because your blood tests come back within range doesn’t mean nothing’s wrong. If you don’t feel well, your body’s trying to tell you something. Functional testing like DUTCH may reveal the missing puzzle pieces.
3. Personalise Your Approach
There’s no one-size-fits-all plan for perimenopause. What works for one woman might not help another. That’s why personalised assessment is key. You deserve support that’s based on your body, not generic advice.
The Power of Listening Inward
Perimenopause doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means you’re evolving.
Your body is going through one of its biggest hormonal shifts. When those hormones fall out of rhythm, your entire system feels the ripple effect. But you can navigate this season with confidence, once you have the right insight.
You’re not going crazy. You’re not being dramatic. You’re simply being asked to listen. And when you do, you’ll start to see there’s a way forward.
Ready to Find Out What’s Really Going On?
If you’re curious about what your hormones are doing behind the scenes, or if you’re tired of being told “you’re fine” when you clearly don’t feel that way, we’re here for you.
We offer comprehensive DUTCH hormone testing along with personalised guidance tailored to your perimenopause journey. It starts with a relaxed, pressure-free discovery call. You can share your story, ask questions, and learn whether this deeper approach might be right for you.
No hype. No pushy sales. Just honest support for women who want to feel like themselves again.
Let’s Talk About Your Hormones
Book a free discovery call today and take the first step toward clarity. You don’t need to suffer through this season alone. There are answers. And there is support.
You’re not losing your mind. You’re just in perimenopause—and we can help you find your balance again.