Age 40 Early Perimenopause Symptoms

Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me About Early Perimenopause?

No one told me. That’s the part that still makes me angry.

When I hit my early 40s, I thought I was in the prime of my life. But instead of feeling empowered and energetic, I was battling what felt like a slow unraveling of my health and sanity. One day, I thought I had a brain tumor because I couldn’t think straight or remember the simplest things. A week later, my joints were so stiff and achy that I was convinced I had a mysterious autoimmune disease. And let’s not even talk about the sudden and inexplicable rage I felt towards my partner for literally just breathing too loud.

Turns out, I Was in Early Perimenopause.

I’m here to say it loud and clear: perimenopause is NOT the same thing as menopause. Perimenopause can start in your late 30s or early 40s when you’re still getting your period, still able to get pregnant (surprise!), and still expecting to feel normal. But normal is nowhere to be found when you’re hit with a confusing grab-bag of symptoms that leave you feeling misdiagnosed, medicated for the wrong thing, and, worst of all, totally unsupported.

Why We’re Not Talking About It

How is it 2025, and we’re still not talking about early perimenopause symptoms? Society has left women completely in the dark on this one. I went through a whirlwind of doctor’s appointments, endless Google searches, and tearful conversations with friends before I finally put the pieces together. It shouldn’t be this hard to figure out what’s happening to your body!

There are more than 100 perimenopause symptoms (yep, 100+), and when you don’t know what’s causing them, you can end up on a wild goose chase trying to find a diagnosis. Think brain fog? Must be stress. Joint pain? Maybe arthritis. Mood swings? Here, take this antidepressant. The wrong treatment doesn’t just waste time—it can make you feel even more lost.

Early 40s: The Prime of Life, or So They Say

Your early 40s should be empowering. You’ve gained confidence, life experience, and you’re ready to take on whatever comes your way. But when perimenopause sneaks in without warning, it can rob you of that feeling. And it’s not just the physical symptoms—it’s the loss of trust in your own body and mind.

The truth is, you can feel empowered in your early 40s. But to do that, you need to know what’s going on. You need to understand what early perimenopause looks like and what you can do to take charge.

How to Take Control

If you’re feeling off and no one is giving you the answers you need, here’s where to start:

Educate Yourself: Familiarize yourself with the common symptoms of perimenopause—brain fog, mood swings, joint pain, fatigue, insomnia, irregular periods, and more.
Track Your Symptoms: Start journaling or using an app to track your physical and emotional changes. This will help you identify patterns and give your doctor clearer insight.
Advocate for Yourself: Don’t settle for a quick diagnosis. If your doctor isn’t listening or brushing you off, push for more answers or find a healthcare provider who will listen.
Talk About It: Share your experience with friends, family, and other women. We can break the silence about perimenopause together.
Take the NNABI Quiz: Find out if your symptoms are related to perimenopause by taking the quiz (see above "Take the Quiz" in the navigation. The more information you have, the more empowered you’ll feel to take action.

We Deserve Answers

It’s time for women in their 40s to stop feeling confused and isolated. Perimenopause is real, it’s not menopause, and it’s happening way earlier than most of us were led to believe. We deserve to feel empowered to take care of our bodies—not just in our 20s and 30s, but through every stage of life.

You are not alone. And now, you know where to start.