What Is Perimenopause and When Does It Start?

If your sleep has changed, your cycle feels unpredictable, your mood is less stable, or your body suddenly runs warmer than it used to, you may be entering perimenopause, the hormonal transition before menopause.

For many women, this stage arrives quietly and earlier than expected. Because the shifts happen gradually, it’s common to question whether what you’re feeling is stress, aging, or something else entirely. Perimenopause is real, biological, and measurable, and understanding it early allows you to support your body instead of fighting against it.

At Vitality at GLO Antiaging in Calgary, we view perimenopause not as a problem to endure, but as a critical window to protect long-term hormone health, metabolism, and longevity.

What Is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause is the hormonal transition leading up to menopause. During this time, the ovaries gradually produce less estrogen and progesterone. The process is not smooth or linear; hormone levels fluctuate unevenly, which is why symptoms can appear suddenly, disappear, then return.

These hormonal shifts affect far more than the reproductive system. Estrogen and progesterone influence brain chemistry, sleep regulation, metabolism, bone density, cardiovascular health, and stress resilience. This is why perimenopause often feels like a full-body shift rather than a single symptom.

Menopause is officially defined as 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. Perimenopause is the stretch of time before that milestone, and it can last several years.

When Does Perimenopause Start?

Perimenopause often begins in your 40s, but it can start in the mid to late 30s for some women. Genetics, stress load, metabolic health, and overall physiology all influence timing.

The early phase is usually subtle. Over time, changes become more noticeable as hormone fluctuations increase.

Early Signs of Perimenopause Can Include

• Periods that become shorter, longer, or irregular
  • Cycles that feel unpredictable
  • New or worsening PMS
  • Sleep disruption that appears suddenly
  • Mood changes or increased anxiety
  • Hot flashes or night sweats
  • Weight changes, especially around the midsection
  • Brain fog or lower focus
  • Fatigue that feels disproportionate
  • Lower libido or vaginal dryness

You do not need to experience all of these to be in perimenopause. Even one or two persistent changes can justify a conversation and proper assessment.

How Long Does Perimenopause Last?

Perimenopause can last anywhere from a few years to around a decade. Many women experience it for approximately 4 to 8 years.

Symptoms often evolve over time. Early stages may focus on cycle changes and sleep disruption. Later stages may include hot flashes, anxiety, metabolic shifts, or energy instability. The pattern is highly individual — which is why personalized care matters.

Perimenopause vs. Menopause: What’s the Difference?

These terms are often confused because symptoms overlap.

• Perimenopause: periods still occur, but hormones fluctuate and symptoms appear
  • Menopause: no menstrual period for 12 consecutive months
  • Postmenopause: hormones remain consistently lower and long-term health becomes the focus

Each stage requires a slightly different support strategy.

How Do You Know If It’s Perimenopause?

A key clue is the combination of menstrual changes plus new symptoms you did not previously experience. However, thyroid dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies, chronic stress, gut health issues, and metabolic imbalance can mimic perimenopause.

This is why proper evaluation matters.

You might consider getting support if symptoms are affecting sleep, work, or relationships, if your cycle changes are disruptive or concerning, if anxiety, mood shifts, or fatigue feel out of character, or if you want a plan that supports both short term relief and long term health, and if you are unsure, talk to our experts at Vitality at GLO.

At Vitality at GLO Calgary, assessment includes labs, clinical history, and symptom mapping, but treatment is not guided by numbers alone. How you feel is just as important as what shows up on a lab report. Your lived experience shapes the care plan.

Perimenopause should not be diagnosed by guesswork or dismissed as “normal aging.” Structured evaluation allows targeted care instead of reactive symptom management.

You may benefit from support if:

• Sleep, mood, or energy changes affect daily life
  • Your cycle becomes disruptive or concerning
  • Anxiety or fatigue feels out of character
  • You want a proactive plan for hormone and longevity health

What Can Help During Perimenopause?

There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Perimenopause affects sleep, brain chemistry, metabolism, skin, and stress response simultaneously. Effective care is individualized and often combines lifestyle strategy, targeted supplementation, and medical support when appropriate.

Common support strategies include:

• Restoring sleep quality and recovery
  • Stress regulation and nervous system support
  • Nutrition adjustments for metabolic stability
  • Strength training to protect muscle and bone density
  • Targeted support for hot flashes, mood, and brain fog
  • Hormone-focused care when clinically appropriate

Supporting perimenopause is not only about symptom relief. This transition is a critical window for protecting bone strength, cardiovascular health, brain function, and metabolic resilience. Early intervention influences how you age in the decades that follow.

Perimenopause Care At Vitality At GLO Antiaging in person in Calgary and Virtually in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Alberta

If you are noticing cycle changes, sleep issues, mood shifts, or new symptoms that just do not feel like you, it is worth getting clarity, because you do not have to guess your way through perimenopause. The team at Vitality at GLO can help you understand what is happening, rule out other causes, and build a personalized plan to help you feel steady, energized, and like yourself again. Reach out to Vitality at GLO today to book a perimenopause care appointment and get expert support.

At Vitality at GLO Antiaging in Calgary, care begins with a comprehensive assessment and individualized planning. We combine functional medicine, hormone optimization, and longevity-focused strategies to stabilize hormones, restore energy, and protect long-term health.

Most importantly, we treat the person, not just the lab report. Your symptoms, goals, and quality of life guide the plan.

Book a perimenopause consultation with Vitality at GLO Antiaging in person in Calgary and virtually in Alberta, BC and Sasktoon and get expert support grounded in clinical insight and personalized care.