Illustration by Emma Günther
Challenges and empowerment in perimenopause and menopause
Positive experiences of menopause and feelings of support are reported less often. Here's what our community had to say.
Top things to know about perimenopause:
Perimenopause is the transition towards menopause (the point at which someone hasn’t had a menstrual period for 12 months or more)
Not all perimenopausal experiences are negative
During perimenopause, reproductive hormones like estrogen and progesterone fluctuate significantly and then decline gradually
Perimenopause and menopause are complex experiences, full of ups and downs and meaningful transitions that all women and people with cycles will experience. These life stages are commonly associated with negative experiences like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and hair and skin changes. However, positive associations with perimenopause are common, too.
We asked people in the Clue community to share their experiences navigating perimenopause and found that, along with challenging experiences, many people also reported positive feelings of empowerment and relief. For some people, experiencing hardship led to meaningful connections and validating experiences in support groups and on apps. For many, it was helpful to know that challenging experiences are completely normal.
Even if you, yourself, are not going through perimenopause, the real-life experiences below may help you connect with a loved one who is and offer support. Read on to hear more from the Clue community.
App Store
Play Store
Empowering experiences
Our community reported positive experiences of reaching menopause, like never having to worry about a period again:
“I think the positive aspect is not [menstruating] every month. I think to me, it's just a relief.”
Some people also saw menopause as an opportunity to start a new chapter of their lives:
“You're entering into this new era, [a] new stage of your life.”
Challenging experiences are normal and won't last forever
“I was still getting my periods as normal, pretty regular, but physically I felt [less] energy, tired, achy joints, night sweats.”
Perimenopause can impact every aspect of one's life, including relationships, work, and one's social life. Our community reported changes to their cycle, including more unpredictable cycles and changes in their bleeding patterns, as well as mood changes, sleep, libido, and mental health. These changes are due to fluctuating levels of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone which eventually decline (1). Feelings of uncertainty and confusion about symptoms were also common, but ultimately, it was comforting to our community to know that the challenging experiences would come to an end.
“Mentally it hasn't really affected me much. But social changes, yes. Sometimes I become emotional, sometimes I become irritated.”
In 2023, Clue launched Clue Perimenopause mode to help fill the gap of perimenopause and perimenopause tracking and provide the space within your Clue app to keep tracking as you navigate the changes that come with perimenopause. We’ve found that more than half of people using Clue Perimenopause tracked “Tired” or “Mood swings”, and that just over 1 in 3 people tracked “Brain fog” and “Night sweats”.
"[I'm] finding it harder to get to sleep or waking up earlier and not being able to get back to sleep. I think I'm more tired than I used to be.”
“I was 45 when I recognized that I had symptoms and that was due to physical and mental changes.”
“[Menopause] is going to happen and there will be an end eventually …”
Finding support
Seeking support was a common theme throughout our discussions with people who use Clue. Some people reported having trouble speaking about their experiences with their healthcare providers. Talking with friends and family helped. Seeing their experiences validated by tracking categories and options in Clue and joining support groups were additional ways to cope and feel validated.
“What do I tell my boss? I think I have menopause? Like, I don't know how to even address that or how to get help.”
“My sister [is] eight years older than me and she was going through it a little bit so she can kind of relate. So I talked to her a lot about it.”
Typically, people begin to experience symptoms in their mid-40s (2). There are different options for managing menopause symptoms. There are hormonal treatments, also called hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which are available in different forms. Non-hormonal treatments are also available. Antidepressants like selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can help some people relieve experiences associated with the menopausal transition (3). Certain lifestyle changes can also be effective, such as exercise and stress management techniques. Read more about managing perimenopausal symptoms here.
Conclusion
Learning about the perimenopause experiences of others can help you feel less alone in your experience. For more research and information on perimenopause, check out our other articles in the ‘Menopause and perimenopause’ section:
It might also help you to find a support group or community. Here are a few suggestions:
Changes during the change, a free book by Dr. Mache Seibel
