Perimenopause With Regular Periods?

You can be in perimenopause and still get your period, regular or not. Menopause is one day: 12 months after your last period. Perimenopause is the years before it. A lot of the women we coach noticed changes before their cycle changed. Your doctor is the right person to talk through your symptoms and any testing.

So yes, what you're noticing is real.

And no, you don't have to wait for your period to stop to start feeling better.

Let's walk through it.

First, when should you talk to your doctor?

If you're wondering, that's reason enough to book the appointment.

And please don't wait if:

Your periods change a lot. Much heavier, more painful, or coming much closer together or further apart.
You're bleeding when you don't expect to. Between periods, or after a long stretch without one.
Sleep, mood or anxiety changes are getting in the way of your life.
Anything feels new, sudden or just off to you.

Here's our side of it.

We don't diagnose perimenopause. That's your doctor's job.

We coach food, training, sleep and habits around what your doctor says, and we'll never tell you to start, stop or change a medication or HRT.

What's the difference between perimenopause and menopause?

Here's the thing. Most of us were never taught this.

We heard "menopause" and pictured one big change sometime in our fifties.

Here are the plain definitions:

Perimenopause is the years before menopause. Your periods can still come, regular or not.
Menopause is one day: the day you reach 12 months in a row without a period.
Post-menopause is everything after that day.

For a lot of the women we coach, perimenopause shows up in their late 30s or 40s.

That's a lot of years to spend wondering what's going on.

Can you be in perimenopause if your periods are still regular?

Yes, you can.

A lot of the women we talk to tell us their periods were still showing up on schedule when they first noticed something had changed.

Some of them only connected the dots looking back.

Some brought it up at an appointment and walked out without many answers. If that's you, you're not being dramatic. We wrote about what to do when your bloodwork is normal for exactly that moment.

And the thought that sneaks in at 2 a.m.?

"Is my period going away? Is this it?"

So many women have that exact thought. You're in very good company.

What do women tell us they notice first?

One important note before the list.

This isn't a checklist, and it isn't a diagnosis. Plenty of other things can cause every one of these, which is exactly why they belong with your doctor.

Here's what women tell us they noticed first:

Fat settling around the middle, even though the way they eat hasn't changed.
Energy that crashes by mid-afternoon, even after a full night in bed.
Lighter sleep, with more 2 a.m. wake-ups.
Workouts that used to work suddenly doing nothing at all.
A week before their period that feels heavier and hungrier than it used to.

If some of that sounds familiar, write it down. That list is gold at your next appointment.

Can a blood test tell you if you're in perimenopause?

That's a conversation for your doctor.

Here's what we'd want you to know going in.

One blood test is a snapshot.

So bring your doctor the whole picture: what you've noticed, when it started, and what your cycle has been doing. A simple note on your phone works.

A few questions worth asking:

What could be causing what I'm noticing?
Is there anything worth testing, and what would it tell us?
What are my options for the symptoms I'm living with?

Asking good questions is how you advocate for your health. Your doctor is on your team.

And if you want to go deeper, we have a hormone and functional medicine practitioner on our team who works alongside your own doctor.

What can you do while you figure it out?

Here's the good news.

You don't need a name for it to start.

The foundation is the same for every woman we coach, wherever she is in this stage:

Strength training that progresses. Follow-along workouts at home, about 50 minutes, with a set of dumbbells, a Swiss ball and fabric bands. Chris says it all the time: "Muscle is metabolism."
Enough protein and enough food. A personalized plan built on real food you enjoy. No calorie counting. No food scales.
Sleep and recovery. When you train, how you wind down, and the rest days you've been feeling guilty about.
A coach who notices. A check-in every two weeks with a woman over 40 who has been through it herself, and direct access in between.

Most women come to us wanting to lose weight. What they actually want to lose is fat.

That's what this foundation is built for, in perimenopause and after it.

We've helped 1,000+ women lose 10 to 20 lbs of fat in 8 weeks.

Chris and I on how your body changes

In our first episode, Chris and I talk about how women's bodies change across the decades, from your 20s to your 40s and 60s, and how to adapt your training and nutrition to the hormonal changes of menopause.

Ready to stop guessing?

Your doctor helps you understand what's happening.

We help you do something about it, starting now.

Start with the short video on our homepage at fortyfwd.com. It walks through why your body stopped responding after 40 and the method we use to change that.

If it sounds like you, apply for a call with Chris.

He reads every application himself. On the call, he'll listen to what you've been noticing, look at what's been blocking you, and tell you straight whether the program is the right fit. If it is, he walks you through the investment then, once you both know it's a fit.

Your body is changing.

That doesn't mean you're stuck.

Frequently asked questions

Can you be in perimenopause with regular periods?

Yes. Perimenopause is the years before menopause, and periods can keep coming, regular or not, during that time. Your doctor is the right person to talk through what you're noticing.

What is the difference between perimenopause and menopause?

Menopause is one day: the day you reach 12 months in a row without a period. Perimenopause is the years before it, and post-menopause is everything after.

Can a blood test tell me if I'm in perimenopause?

That's a question for your doctor. One blood test is a snapshot, so bring the whole picture: what you've noticed, when it started and what your cycle has been doing.

Why am I gaining weight in perimenopause if my periods haven't changed?

A lot of the women we coach noticed changes in their body before their cycle changed. Your doctor can look at the medical side, and strength training, enough protein, enough food and sleep are the side we coach.

Do I need to know if I'm in perimenopause to start coaching?

No. The foundation is the same wherever you are in this stage, and your coach builds the plan around you and around what your doctor says.

How do I know if I'm in perimenopause if I still get my period?