Hot flashes are just the beginning.
According to Dr. Mary Claire Haver on The Tamsen Show, over 80% of women in perimenopause report symptoms far beyond night sweats and irregular cycles. In a testimonial survey she conducted for her upcoming book The New Perimenopause, the top five most common symptoms included:
- Hot flashes/night sweats – 85.9%
- Weight gain and belly fat – 82.4%
- Anxiety, depression, or panic attacks – 82.3%
- Sleep disturbances – 81.7%
- Fatigue – 80.6%
But it doesn’t stop there. Women also reported gastrointestinal issues, joint pain, brain fog, heart palpitations, sexual dysfunction, skin and hair changes, urinary issues, and even burning mouth syndrome, all while still getting a period.
And yet, these symptoms are often brushed off as unrelated or “just stress.” Dr. Haver explains this gap in care stems from outdated training: “All I learned about perimenopause was how to spell it,” she said on the show.
The cost of that dismissal is high. Dr. Haver links untreated perimenopause to increased risks for osteoporosis, dementia, and suicide, especially as early symptoms go unrecognized or misdiagnosed .
If you’ve felt like something is off, but you’re still getting your period, perimenopause might be the missing piece.
Want hear more about the full list of symptoms and the science behind them? Listen to this episode of The Tamsen Show
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