As in everyday life, there is a cost to pay for eating a high processed food diet. This becomes even more noticeable during perimenopause and menopause as your body needs whole foods to be able to support your organs as they get used ...
WHAT IS PERIMENOPAUSE?
Learn exactly what perimenopause is and discover evidence based information and practical steps, to put you in the driver's seat of your perimenopause journey.
Welcome to The Perimenopause Hub at The Body Guard Clinic. Perimenopause is a natural yet often misunderstood phase of a woman's life, it can leave you feeling unseen and uncertain about what is ahead of you. As women we are bombarded with marketing that is full of misinformation and, quite frankly, extremely scary in how wrong it can be a lot of the time.
Our aim through the perimenopause hub is to provide with a comprehensive resource you can turn to at every part of your journey. You will find evidence-based articles, test recommendations to understand your hormone levels, and self-guided courses designed to empower you through this transformative journey. You can bookmark this page and come back anytime you need more information. Consider it your navigational tool through this phase of life. If there is something we haven't covered and you would like an unbiased, factual answer, we welcome you to email us and we will provide you with as much information as possible. (Please note this is not a clinical treatment option it is purely to answer any general questions you may have around perimenopause).
What is perimenopause?
The first thing to understand is that perimenopause is the first phase in the transition phase for women. Sadly, as with most things around women's health, there has been a lot of misinformation about perimenopause, menopause and post menopause. Until relatively recently, it was all labelled under the banner of menopause. We now know that these are three very distinct phases that women go through and each one brings with it, different challenges, nutritional and physical needs.
Phase 1 - Perimenopause
Perimenopause starts anywhere from 45-55 years of age and can vary from 2-10 years. During perimenopause a woman is still ovulating and having periods although they may change in severity and length and you may experience a range of other symptoms.
Phase 2 - Menopause
Menopause is the phase after perimenopause and is defined by the fact that you have not had a period for one full year. This phase lasts 12 months and during this time perimenopause symptoms will have settled down and you are no longer ovulating and your oestrogen levels have diminished.
Phase 3 - Post-Menopause
Post-Menopause is the last phase and it is deemed that you are post-menopausal one year after you entered menopause. During this stage women become more at risk of serious conditions such as heart disease, stroke and osteoporosis due to the length of time you have experienced low hormone levels.
Understanding perimenopause isn't just about managing symptoms, it's about reclaiming your vitality, feeling seen again, and taking control of your own health.
It is important to understand that perimenopause is NOT just about hormones. It impacts a woman's entire body not just the reproductive organs and hormone levels. Perimenopause defines the years leading up to menopause. In addition, if you are someone who is also living with a chronic medical condition, your perimenopause journey may be very different to what is "expected".
If you're over 40 (although some women do see signs earlier), experiencing irregular periods, unexpected mood shifts, sleep disturbances, or changes in your energy and libido, now is the time to start arming yourself with as much information as possible on perimenopause and planning for your transition through it, so that it is as smooth a transition as possible. This transitional period brings hormonal fluctuations that affect every aspect of your wellbeing, from your physical health to your emotional resilience. Whatever your situation is, it is perfectly natural to want to seek clarity about what's happening in your body and what you can expect moving forward.
There is no "one size fits all" approach for your personal journey but there are common symptoms, treatments and information we can share so you can plan your perimenopause journey.
The 4 key factors that impact your perimenopause experience.
Hormones
Hormones play a central role in perimenopause, but they do not operate in isolation. Oestrogen and progesterone do not simply decline in a straight line; they fluctuate and become less predictable as the body’s internal environment changes.
Hormones rely on healthy communication throughout the body, receptor sensitivity, and efficient clearance to work properly. When the body is under strain, hormonal messages may be sent but not received or processed effectively, leading to symptoms even when hormone levels appear “normal.”
This is why hormone-focused approaches alone often fail to explain the full perimenopause experience. Hormones are part of the picture, but how they behave is strongly influenced by what else is happening inside the body.
Action Steps
Heavy Metals
Heavy metals are the missing link in understanding perimenopause.
These exposures rarely come from a single source, but accumulate slowly over years through food, water, household products, air, and everyday environments. For much of your adult life, the body is able to buffer and store this toxic load and detoxify efficiently without obvious symptoms. However, during perimenopause, that detoxification capacity often declines. and stored metals are more likely to interfere with mineral balance, hormone signalling, nervous system regulation, and overall resilience.
This helps explain why symptoms can escalate or shift suddenly during perimenopause, even when blood tests appear normal and lifestyle habits have not changed. Heavy metals do not act in isolation, but they can disrupt how hormones, nutrition, and the body’s regulatory systems function when detoxification pathways are no longer keeping pace.
Understanding reduced detoxification capacity is often the missing link in explaining why perimenopause feels more intense, unpredictable, or resistant to standard approaches.
Action Steps
Nutrition
Nutrition matters in perimenopause, however, what the body can absorb, access, and use becomes more important than what is eaten. Many women are already eating well, yet continue to experience symptoms because nutrients are not being efficiently digested, transported, or utilised within the body.
During perimenopause, changes in digestion, mineral balance, and detoxification can reduce the body’s ability to use nutrients effectively. Heavy metals can further interfere with nutrient absorption and mineral function, meaning you may not see the same results as normal, despite making good food choices.
This is why perimenopause is often a turning point where “doing all the right things” nutritionally no longer produces the same results. Nutrition remains essential, but its impact depends on the body’s internal capacity to use what is provided.
Action Steps
Lifestyle
Lifestyle factors such as stress, sleep, exercise/movement, and workload have a much greater impact during perimenopause, not because women are doing anything wrong, but because the body’s tolerance has changed.
When detoxification capacity, mineral balance, and nervous system regulation are under strain, the same lifestyle demands that were once manageable can become overwhelming.
Recovery slows down, stress responses intensify, and resilience drops, even when healthy habits are in place so now is the time to really look at your lifestyle and make the changes needed so your body is under added stress.
Action Steps
The most common symptoms of perimenopause
Please remember that not every woman will experience all of these symptoms and not at the same severity. Use this list as a guide to determine what changes are happening in your body, that could be an indicator that you are moving into the perimenopause phase.
Loss of Libido/Sex Drive
Loss of libido in perimenopause presents as the body no longer initiating desire, rather than an emotional or conscious shift towards sex.
Changes in Mood
You may notice mood becoming less steady or predictable, with increased irritability, emotional swings, or a sense that your emotional resilience has dropped.
Vaginal Dryness & Itching
Increased vaginal dryness, irritation, or itching are very common symptoms of perimenopause.
Irregular Periods
Your menstrual cycle may become unpredictable, with periods arriving earlier or later than expected, changes in flow, skipped cycles, or prolonged bleeding.
Heavy Bleeding/Clotting
You may notice your periods start to become a lot heavier than usual, lasting longer, or containing clots, even if your cycle was previously light or predictable.
Hot Flushes/Flashes
Many women experience sudden waves of heat, flushing of the face or chest, sweating, or night heat that appear without warning and are often difficult to predict or control.
Difficulty Sleeping
You could find yourself having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or needing to go back to sleep after waking up, even when your routines and sleep environment have not changed.
Joint Pain
An awareness of new or worsening joint pain, stiffness, or reduced mobility, even without injury, increased exercise, or a clear cause could be a sign of perimenopause.
Dry Skin
Your skin may start to feel drier, thinner, more irritated, or less resilient, even when your skincare routine, fluid intake, and diet have not changed.
Weight Gain
A gradual or sudden weight gain, changes in body composition, or fat accumulating around the abdomen (often referred to as "menopause belly"), even when your diet, activity, and habits have not significantly changed.
Digestive Issues
Uncomfortable bloating and discomfort after meals, reflux, constipation, loose stools, or a sense that digestion feels weaker or more reactive than it once did.
Allergy/Histamine Changes
For some women an unexplained new allergy, or worsening allergies, increased reactions to foods, smells, chemicals, or environments, along with symptoms such as itching, hives, congestion, headaches may occur.
Pain During Sex
Pain during intercourse, including burning, stinging, tightness, or a feeling that genital tissue is unusually sensitive or reactive, even when lubrication and desire are present.
Memory Loss/Brain Fog
You may notice forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, have trouble finding the right words, slowed thinking, or a persistent mental fog that feels unfamiliar and difficult to shake.
Dry Eyes
Experiencing dry, gritty, sore, or burning eyes, frequent blinking, visual fatigue, or discomfort that worsens with screens, air conditioning, or long periods of focus can often be attributed to the change in hormones in perimenopause.
Heart Palpitations
It is common for women to experience heart palpitations either at rest or with very little effort, and often without a clear trigger. While hormones influence heart rhythm, the heartbeat is regulated by precise electrical signals and nervous system control. When this regulation becomes unstable, the heart can over-respond to normal internal changes.
Hair Loss
Increased hair shedding, thinning around the scalp or temples, reduced hair density, or hair that feels finer and weaker than it used to are common in perimenopause. When the body is under strain, hair growth is often one of the first processes the body will slow down the cellular energy supply to.
Night Sweats/Temperature Changes
Night sweats, waking overheated, sudden chills, or wide temperature swings that feel disconnected from room temperature or bedding. These are closely linked to circadian regulation, autonomic nervous system balance, and the body’s ability to regulate fluids and blood flow during rest.
Nutrition & Perimenopause
During perimenopause and menopause it is common for your body to change shape and "menopause belly fat" is a real concern for most women. Exercise and positive dietary changes of specific foods for perimenopause, are crucial to your perimenopause journey. Below you will ...
Why Staying Hydrated Matters More Than Ever During Perimenopause. Perimenopause can feel like your body suddenly changed the rules without telling you.One minute you’re managing life just fine… the next you’re dealing with hot flushes, fatigue, headaches, mood swings, poor sleep, and skin that ...
During perimenopause, your nervous system becomes more sensitive. Oestrogen fluctuations can: Increase anxiety Disrupt sleep Trigger heart palpitations Worsen hot flushes Caffeine makes all of these worse. Many women are consuming caffeine from multiple sources without realising it and not knowing how much ...
Pathology Testing for Perimenopause
Perimenopause is about far more than "just" hormones. It impacts the entire body and as such it is essential to establish a whole body baseline of where your health is right now, so you can plan for optimising your health through perimenopause and ...