Perimenopause may begin in the thirties but remains largely misunderstood

Perimenopause may begin in the thirties but remains largely misunderstood

Hot flashes, mood swings, weight gain and insomnia are signs of hormonal changes and symptoms of menopause when a woman no longer has menstrual cycles. They can also signal perimenopause as the body prepares for this next season of life.

Perimenopause is when the menstrual cycle has started to change, and it is persistent. The formal definition is the periods that fluctuate by at least seven days for at least 10 months. “

Lauren Baker, Thu, an obstetrician and gynecologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and a certified practitioner with the Menopause Society

A new Ohio State Wexner Medical Center survey of 1,068 women in the US shows that 61% believe they will hit menopause in their 40s. In fact, some experience symptoms as early as their 30s and most women only start in their early 50s.

Ohio State experts say it's important not to ignore symptoms just because of your age. Baker said perimenopause is not a universal experience, which is why it's so important to bring any changes, concerns or symptoms to your doctor's attention to find the best treatment for your body.

The Ohio State survey found that half of women (52%) believe diet and exercise can help manage menopause symptoms, and experts agree.

"A diet rich in calcium and vitamin D is really important for bone health," Baker said. "Fiber and protein are also helpful from a weight management perspective. It's also very important that you get Whole Foods, lots of fruits and vegetables."

The survey also found that one in three women are concerned about the long-term health effects of menopause. Other concerns related to reproductive aging among those examined include physical symptoms (25%) and mental health (18%). Younger women were more likely to say mental health was their main concern related to menopause than older women (25% among those aged 18 to 29 versus 10% among those aged 65).

“Workplace problems, adverse effects on quality of life and adverse health events have also been linked to menopause,” Baker said. “There are effective treatments and ways to feel better, not just survive, but thrive.”

Survey method:

This study was conducted by SSRS on the Omnibus platform's Omnibus platform. The SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus is a national, bi-monthly, probable-based survey. Data collection was
conducted over two consecutive Omni waves from February 7th to 10th, 2025 and February 21st
24, 2025, among a total combined sample of 1,068 female respondents. The survey was
conducted via web (n = 1,031) and telephone (n = 37) and administered in English. The edge of
The error for the total female respondents is +/- 3.4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. The
Data were weighted to represent the target population of U.S. adults ages 18 and older.

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