06/08/2026
Perimenopause is now a dinner table conversation. Prior to PA school, PA Nikki said she had never heard of the term âperimenopause.â But now with Instagram and TikTok, everyone is talking about perimenopause.
Perimenopause is the timeframe where things start to change and you canât quite put your finger on it but youâre just not quite yourself. Your progesterone, testosterone, and possibly estradiol levels are dropping but it's very gradual so it's not always noticeable. Maybe your sleep is interrupted, and you canât fall back asleep once youâre awake. Maybe you just feel exhausted going through the motions of your workday. Maybe some of your coworkers, husband, or kids are irritating you in a way they hadnât before. Maybe youâre having trouble focusing and keep forgetting little things like names or what you were doing. Maybe youâd rather watch Netflix that have s*x with your husband. Maybe s*x isnât enjoyable anymore because you feel so dry down there. Whatever it may be for you, perimenopause can last about 10 years prior to going through menopause and things donât get better with time.
Sound familiar?
Take this quiz to find out if you're in perimenopause.
Are you between 35-55?
Do you have hot flashes or night sweats?
Do you have trouble sleeping?
Do you feel more anxious or depressed as you get older?
Have you gained weight particularly in the midsection?
Have your periods changed - either become irregular, heavier, lighter, more PMS symptoms, longer, shorter?
Is your libido not what it used to be?
Is s*x becoming painful?
Are you fatigued just going through your normal workday?
Are you more easily annoyed or feel more irritable lately?
Joint pain, headaches, urinary urgency, tender breasts, fluid retention?
If youâve answered YES to at least 5 of these questions. Thereâs a good chance youâre in perimenopause.
Now what??
Schedule a Hormone Health Consult for Perimenopause/Menopause and let PA Nikki assess you.