09/01/2026
Perimenopause is not rare, niche, or something women should have to figure out by accident.
But it can be surprisingly hard to recognize when you’re in it. A 2026 study of more than 7,600 U.S. women found that 34% weren’t sure what reproductive stage they were in. Among women ages 40–44, that rose to 42%.
Symptoms can show up gradually, overlap with everyday stress, and look different from one woman to the next.
When perimenopause is barely talked about, women can spend years normalizing symptoms that disrupt their sleep, work, relationships, and quality of life.
The best kind of awareness is information reaching you BEFORE you desperately need it. The more openly we talk about perimenopause, the better chance the next woman has of recognizing what’s happening a little sooner.