How to Determine if You’re in Perimenopause
How to Determine if You’re in Perimenopause — Signs, Shifts, and Spiritual Balance
It usually starts quietly. You notice your sleep is off. You’re snapping at small things. Your periods start acting like unreliable friends — showing up when they want, staying too long, or ghosting altogether.
Then the hot flashes sneak in. Your emotions feel like a roller coaster. And your body? It’s sending signals you can’t quite explain.
Welcome to perimenopause — the transitional stage before full menopause. It’s not the end of your womanhood. It’s your body’s way of saying, “Something new is beginning.”
Understanding What’s Happening
Perimenopause is the time when your ovaries gradually start producing less estrogen, typically starting in your 40s (sometimes earlier). It can last anywhere from two to ten years before your periods stop completely.
Every woman’s experience is unique, but the key is recognizing that these changes are normal — not alarming. Think of it as your body’s gentle (and sometimes not-so-gentle) recalibration period.
Common signs of perimenopause include:
Irregular menstrual cycles
Hot flashes and night sweats
Mood swings or irritability
Fatigue or low motivation
Sleep problems
Brain fog or forgetfulness
Breast tenderness
Weight changes, especially around the midsection
Changes in libido
Vaginal dryness or discomfort
If you nodded your head at several of those, you might just be in this phase — and that’s okay. Awareness is power.
How to Know for Sure
While there’s no single test that screams “you’re officially in perimenopause,” there are ways to confirm what your body is doing.
Here’s what you can do:
- Track your cycles. Write down changes in your flow, mood, and sleep patterns. Patterns tell stories.
- Talk with your doctor. A simple conversation or hormone panel (checking estrogen, FSH, and thyroid levels) can offer clarity.
- Listen to your body. If something feels “off,” it’s worth exploring. You know your normal better than anyone.
At Beautiful Onions, we believe awareness is the first act of healing. When you understand what’s happening, you can respond with compassion instead of fear.
The Spiritual Side of the Shift
Perimenopause isn’t just a hormonal change — it’s a spiritual checkpoint. This is the season where God invites you to slow down, simplify, and realign. You’re not losing your rhythm — you’re finding a new one.
You may feel emotions bubble up, memories resurface, or dreams shift. That’s not regression — that’s revelation. God often uses physical transitions to spark emotional and spiritual ones.
Bible Verse: “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” — Proverbs 31:25 (ERV)
Navigating This Season Gracefully
Here’s how to move through perimenopause with more peace and less panic:
- Give yourself grace. This is new territory, not failure.
- Stay hydrated and move your body. Small changes make a big difference.
- Laugh often. Humor lightens the load.
- Pray daily. Faith anchors the heart when the body feels uncertain.
- Connect with community. You’re not alone in this journey — Beautiful Onions was created for this reason.
You are not coming undone; you are unfolding.
The Beautiful Onions Way
We see perimenopause as a sacred invitation — to rediscover yourself, care for your health, and trust that this is not the beginning of the end, but the beginning of balance.
When you choose awareness over anxiety, faith over frustration, and joy over judgment, you honor the woman God designed you to be — strong, evolving, and radiant through every layer.
The Invitation
CTA:
➡️ Read our Natural Menopause Healing eBook for deeper guidance and natural remedies
➡️ Join the Beautiful Onions community for ongoing encouragement and conversation
➡️ Visit beautifulonions.com for your faith-based midlife resources
