Perimenopause and Menopause
What are the common symptoms?
Perimenopause and menopause are two distinct stages in a woman’s reproductive life, often confused due to their overlapping symptoms. Perimenopause refers to the transitional phase leading up to menopause, where hormonal fluctuations begin and menstrual cycles become irregular.
This stage can last several years and is marked by symptoms such as hot flushes, mood changes, and sleep disturbances. Menopause, on the other hand, is defined as the point when a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, signalling the end of fertility. While perimenopause is a gradual process, menopause is a specific milestone.
Understanding the difference between these stages is essential for managing symptoms effectively and maintaining overall health. Below are eight key points highlighting the distinctions between perimenopause and menopause.
- Timing of onset
- Duration of phase
- Hormonal changes
- Menstrual cycle patterns
- Symptom severity
- Fertility status
- Diagnostic criteria
- Age range
Why do I feel like this?
Perimenopause and menopause are natural stages in a woman’s life, marking the transition from reproductive years to a non-reproductive phase. These changes are driven by hormonal fluctuations, primarily a decline in oestrogen and progesterone. While normal, they can bring physical, emotional, and psychological challenges that often feel overwhelming. Symptoms such as hot flushes, mood swings, and sleep disturbances can affect daily life and wellbeing. Understanding why you feel this way is the first step towards managing these changes effectively. Awareness and proactive care can help you navigate this transition with confidence and maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
Hormonal Changes
Oestrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate during perimenopause, leading to irregular periods and symptoms like hot flushes and night sweats. These hormonal shifts affect mood, energy, and sleep patterns, making you feel out of balance. Recognising this biological cause helps reduce anxiety and promotes informed coping strategies.
Emotional Impact
Hormonal changes influence neurotransmitters, affecting mood and emotional stability. Feelings of irritability, sadness, or anxiety are common during this stage. Understanding that these emotions are linked to physiological changes—not personal weakness—can empower you to seek support and adopt stress management techniques like mindfulness or counselling.
Physical Symptoms
Beyond mood changes, physical symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, and weight fluctuations can occur. These changes may feel frustrating and impact confidence. Regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and hydration can alleviate discomfort and improve overall wellbeing, helping you regain control over your body during this transition.
Lifestyle Adjustments
Healthy habits play a crucial role in managing menopause symptoms. Prioritising sleep, reducing caffeine and alcohol, and incorporating relaxation techniques can ease discomfort. Building a supportive network and consulting healthcare professionals ensures personalised care, making this life stage more manageable and less overwhelming.
How does therapy help?
Therapy can play a vital role in supporting individuals through perimenopause and menopause, which often bring physical, emotional, and psychological changes. These transitions may involve symptoms such as mood swings, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and identity shifts. Therapy provides a safe space to explore these experiences, develop coping strategies, and maintain mental well-being. By addressing emotional challenges and fostering resilience, therapy helps individuals navigate this life stage with confidence and clarity. It also promotes self-awareness, improves communication in relationships, and supports lifestyle adjustments. Ultimately, therapy empowers individuals to embrace change while prioritising holistic health and quality of life.
Emotional Support
Therapy offers a compassionate environment to process feelings of anxiety, sadness, or irritability, helping individuals manage emotional fluctuations and maintain mental stability during hormonal changes.
Stress Management
Counsellors teach relaxation techniques, mindfulness, and coping strategies to reduce stress, improving overall well-being and preventing burnout during the challenging transition of perimenopause and menopause.
Identity and Self-Esteem
Therapy helps individuals explore evolving identity and self-worth, fostering confidence and acceptance while addressing concerns about ageing, body image, and life changes.
Relationship Communication
Therapists guide clients in improving communication with partners and family, reducing misunderstandings and strengthening relationships during this transitional phase.
Sleep and Lifestyle Guidance
Therapy supports behavioural changes to improve sleep hygiene, manage fatigue, and encourage healthy routines that enhance physical and emotional resilience.
Managing Anxiety and Depression
Therapists provide tools to identify triggers, challenge negative thoughts, and build coping mechanisms, reducing the risk of prolonged anxiety or depressive episodes.
What are the therapy options that Transformations Clinical Psychology can offer me?
Please contact us or follow this link if you would like to set up an assessment with a psychologist at Transformations Clinical Psychologist.
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FAQ
Q1. What happens in the first session? Do I need to prepare?
Your first appointment is 50–60 minutes. We’ll get to know you—what’s been hard, what you’d like to change, and what’s helped before. You’re welcome to bring notes or just come as you are; we’ll go at your pace. Please complete the online intake and consent forms beforehand. Sessions are available in person (Sydney) or via secure telehealth across Australia. We’ll finish with a clear plan and time for your questions. If you’re in immediate danger, call 000.
Q2. How do fees and Medicare/private insurance work? Do I need a GP referral?
You can book without a referral. If your GP provides a Mental Health Treatment Plan, you may be eligible for a Medicare rebate. We’ll check your eligibility and confirm your out-of-pocket cost before you commit. Private health (Extras) can’t be claimed with Medicare for the same session—please check your fund for coverage. If cost is a concern, let us know and we’ll talk through options.
Q3. Will my information be kept confidential?
Yes. Your sessions and records are kept private under strict legal and ethical standards. There are a few exceptions—if there’s a serious risk of harm, concerns about a child or vulnerable person, or a court order. If we ever need to share information, we’ll explain why, what will be shared, and involve you as much as possible.