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If your period is suddenly unpredictable, your sleep feels off, or your mood swings seem sharper than usual, you might be wondering: “Could this be perimenopause?”
The short answer? It's a possibility.
Perimenopause is a natural part of aging, but it often arrives with little warning—and even less context and education about it. If you're in your 30s or 40s and starting to feel changes in your body or cycle, this conversation is absolutely worth having.
Here’s what you should know about what perimenopause is, how it affects your fertility, and why checking in on your hormones can make a real difference.
What Is Perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the transition phase before menopause. It’s when your body gradually starts producing less estrogen and progesterone. This change usually begins in your 40s, but for some people, it can start as early as their 30s—especially if there’s a family history of early menopause or certain hormonal conditions.
It’s a shift that can affect your cycle, energy, mood, and more—even if your period hasn’t stopped.
Signs You Might Be in Perimenopause
- Periods that come early, late, or skip altogether
- Heavier or lighter flow than usual
- Hot flashes or night sweats
- Trouble sleeping, even when you’re tired
- Feeling more anxious or emotionally reactive
- Brain fog, fatigue, or a drop in focus
- Lower libido or changes in vaginal health
You don’t have to experience all of these to be in perimenopause. Even subtle changes can be signs your hormones are shifting.
How Perimenopause Affects Fertility and Ovarian Reserve
One thing that often gets left out of the conversation: perimenopause doesn’t just change your period—it also impacts your fertility and ovarian reserve (the number of eggs you have left).
Here’s some helpful context:
- You’re born with all the eggs you’ll ever have—about 1 to 2 million
- By your late 30s, that number drops to around 25,000
- During perimenopause, both egg quantity and quality decline more quickly
- Ovulation can become inconsistent, even if your cycle still looks “normal”
This doesn’t mean pregnancy is off the table. But if you’re trying to conceive or thinking about your fertility future, it can be super helpful to know where your hormones stand.
Why Checking In With Your Hormones Matters
If you’ve been feeling off and haven’t gotten a clear answer, you’re not alone. Hormonal changes are rarely talked about openly—and many people are told to “wait it out” or “just relax.” But that kind of advice doesn’t offer much relief.
Knowing what’s going on within changes the conversation. It gives you context for your symptoms. It helps you advocate for yourself in your doctor’s office. It can even help you plan—whether for fertility, symptom relief, or simply feeling more like you again.
And most importantly: it can take away some of the stress and second-guessing. Because when you understand what’s happening, it all feels a lot less confusing.
You Deserve to Know What’s Going On
Checking your hormones doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It’s just one of the smartest (and kindest) ways to care for yourself.
If your cycle feels different, your fertility is top of mind, or you’re simply curious—this is your sign.
✨ Get the data.
✨ Get the clarity.
✨ And get back to feeling like you.
🩸 Our at-home hormone panels check key fertility and cycle markers like estrogen, progesterone, FSH, LH, and testosterone.
It’s quick, painless (yes, really— our members say it all the time), and gives you answers that are specific to your body.
You’ve got this—and we’ve got you.
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