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150 Symptoms of Perimenopause Every Woman Should Know About

150 symptoms of perimenopause — yes, one hundred and fifty — might sound like an exaggeration. But it’s not. From anxiety and insomnia to frozen shoulders, burning tongues, and changes in body odour… the spectrum of what women experience during this hormonal transition is vast and often dismissed.

This post isn’t here to overwhelm you. It’s here to empower you.To name what you may be feeling, and to remind you that you’re not alone.


150 Symptoms of Perimenopause: visual description

💡 What’s Happening in Perimenopause?

Perimenopause is the transitional phase leading up to menopause, where hormone levels (particularly estrogen and progesterone) start to fluctuate wildly. These fluctuations affect nearly every system in your body — not just your reproductive cycle.

The 150 symptoms of perimenopause listed below are drawn from medical literature, women’s health experts, and thousands of real-life stories. Recognising yourself in this list doesn’t mean something is wrong. It means your body is changing. And that’s something you deserve support for.


🔍 The 150 Symptoms of Perimenopause

(Grouped by system for easier reference)


🧠 Nervous System & Mental Health

  1. Anxiety

  2. Panic attacks

  3. Brain fog

  4. Poor concentration

  5. Memory lapses

  6. Feeling overwhelmed

  7. Irritability

  8. Depression

  9. Mood swings

  10. Rage

  11. Loss of confidence

  12. Sensitivity to noise

  13. Crying spells

  14. Insomnia

  15. Vivid dreams

  16. Nightmares

  17. Fatigue (mental)

  18. Paranoia

  19. Increased introversion

  20. Emotional reactivity

  21. Fearfulness

  22. Social anxiety

  23. Difficulty making decisions


❤️ Cardiovascular & Circulatory

  1. Heart palpitations

  2. Racing heart

  3. High blood pressure

  4. Low blood pressure

  5. Dizzy spells

  6. Tingling sensations

  7. Cold hands & feet

  8. Burning tongue

  9. Hot flushes

  10. Night sweats

  11. Chest tightness

  12. Feeling faint

  13. Sudden sweating

  14. Increased sensitivity to caffeine

  15. Changes in circulation

  16. Blue-tinged lips or fingers (poor perfusion)

  17. Frequent sighing


🦴 Musculoskeletal & Joint

  1. Joint pain

  2. Muscle tension

  3. Frozen shoulder

  4. Weak grip strength

  5. Back pain

  6. Neck pain

  7. Stiffness

  8. Bone loss / early osteoporosis

  9. Cramps

  10. Restless legs

  11. Twitching

  12. Muscle fatigue

  13. Numbness

  14. Leg heaviness

  15. Poor balance

  16. Foot pain

  17. Shoulder instability


🧬 Hormonal, Metabolic & Endocrine

  1. Irregular periods

  2. Heavy periods

  3. Lighter periods

  4. Spotting between periods

  5. Shorter cycles

  6. Longer cycles

  7. Weight gain (especially around belly)

  8. Blood sugar fluctuations

  9. Increased cholesterol

  10. Thyroid dysfunction

  11. Histamine sensitivity

  12. Food sensitivities

  13. Fluid retention

  14. Body odour changes

  15. Bloating after carbs

  16. Breast cysts

  17. Difficulty losing weight

  18. Hot/cold intolerance

  19. Sugar crashes

  20. Night-time hunger


🌙 Skin, Hair & Nails

  1. Dry skin

  2. Itchy skin

  3. Acne

  4. Rosacea

  5. Thinning skin

  6. Bruising easily

  7. Loss of collagen

  8. Increased facial hair

  9. Thinning hair

  10. Hair loss

  11. Brittle nails

  12. Ridges in nails

  13. Changes in pigmentation

  14. Dark circles

  15. Keratosis pilaris flares

  16. Increased skin sensitivity

  17. Skin crawling sensation

  18. Eczema flare-ups

  19. Age spots

  20. Slower wound healing


🫁 Respiratory, ENT & Oral

  1. Shortness of breath

  2. Dry eyes

  3. Dry mouth

  4. Burning mouth syndrome

  5. Sore tongue

  6. Tinnitus (ringing in ears)

  7. Sinus congestion

  8. Loss of smell

  9. Loss of taste

  10. Post-nasal drip

  11. Sore throat

  12. Hoarseness

  13. Mouth ulcers

  14. Gum sensitivity

  15. Teeth sensitivity

  16. Bad breath

  17. Coughing at night


🍃 Digestive & Gut

  1. Bloating

  2. Gas

  3. Constipation

  4. Diarrhoea

  5. Nausea

  6. Food intolerances

  7. Reflux / GERD

  8. Gallbladder issues

  9. IBS symptoms

  10. Sugar cravings

  11. Alcohol sensitivity

  12. Loss of appetite

  13. Increased appetite

  14. Burping

  15. Undigested food in stool

  16. Feeling full quickly

  17. Bad taste in mouth


💦 Urogenital & Sexual

  1. Vaginal dryness

  2. Pain during sex

  3. Low libido

  4. Incontinence

  5. UTIs

  6. Urgency to urinate

  7. Burning urination

  8. Pelvic floor weakness

  9. Vaginal itching

  10. Vaginal laxity

  11. Changes in menstrual smell

  12. Vulvar pain

  13. Loss of arousal

  14. Vaginal discharge changes

  15. Vaginal tearing or microabrasions


🧘‍♀️ General & Miscellaneous

  1. Physical fatigue

  2. Sleep disturbances

  3. Increased clumsiness

  4. Feeling “wired but tired”


💬 Final Words

If you’ve read through this and recognised 10, 20… or 50 of these symptoms — breathe. You’re not imagining it. These are the 150 symptoms of perimenopause that affect real women, every day. Some are subtle. Some are loud. All are worthy of attention.

You don’t have to accept feeling “off” as your new normal. Understanding what’s happening is the first step to support. Whether that support looks like somatic movement, strength training, HRT, nutrition, or simply talking about it openly — your story matters.

👉 I hold weekly SoulSculpt classes designed for women going through hormonal shifts. Movement that meets your body where it's at — with strength, breath, and support.You can find out more [here].


And if this post spoke to you, share it with a friend. Let’s lift the silence. Let’s support each other. Let’s rewrite the perimenopause narrative.


With love & empowerment,

Shaini

 
 
 

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