These 8 Common Signs Of Perimenopause Probably Aren’t What You Think

A recent study found the most commonly reported symptoms of perimenopause had nothing to do with hot flashes or weight gain.

When most people think about perimenopause and menopause, issues like hot flashes, weight gain and period irregularity likely come to mind.

While those symptoms do happen, recent data found that the most commonly reported signs of perimenopause were much different than those we had come to associate with the condition. Instead, think mental health struggles and digestive problems ― just to name a few.

The study, led by researchers from the period-tracker Flo and the Mayo Clinic, examined data from 17,494 people in 158 countries who self-reported their perimenopause symptoms over five months via a survey in the Flo app. Study authors defined perimenopause as the roughly six years before (and 12 months after) a woman’s final period, but noted perimenopause can last for up to 10 years. By comparison, menopause is the end of someone’s reproductive years and begins once someone has gone 12 months without a period.

“I think what’s interesting is how cool it is to have a digital platform with such great reach to be able to survey over 17,000 women from 158 countries,” said Dr. Sarah Richina, an OB-GYN and director of the Women’s Midlife Health Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Richina was not affiliated with the study.

The study had limitations, though. The majority (93%) of respondents were upper middle income or high income, 59% were English speaking and 48% were white. This could mean the results weren’t the same for other groups of people.