Surprising Symptoms
Of Perimenopause & Menopause
When we think of perimenopause and menopause, most people immediately associate them with hot flashes and irregular periods. But hormonal shifts can cause a wide range of symptoms that often get misattributed to stress, aging, or other health conditions. If you’ve been feeling “off” and can’t quite pinpoint why, your hormones might be at play.
Unexpected Symptoms of Perimenopause & Menopause:
1. Increased Anxiety or Panic Attacks
Even if you’ve never struggled with anxiety before, fluctuating estrogen and progesterone can impact neurotransmitters like serotonin and GABA, leading to heightened anxiety, panic attacks, or mood swings.
2. Heart Palpitations
Many women experience heart flutters or a racing heart, which can be alarming. While it’s always important to rule out heart conditions, hormonal shifts—especially declining estrogen—can affect circulation and heart function.
3. Burning Tongue or Metallic Taste
A lesser-known symptom, some women experience a burning sensation in their mouth or a strange metallic taste, likely due to hormone fluctuations affecting the nervous system.
4. Itchy, Crawling Skin
Collagen production slows with lower estrogen levels, leading to thinner, drier, and sometimes itchy skin. Some even describe a sensation of bugs crawling on them!
5. Sudden Food Intolerances or Digestive Issues
Bloating, acid reflux, or new food sensitivities? Estrogen plays a role in gut motility and the microbiome, which is why many women develop digestive issues during perimenopause.
6. Electric Shock Sensations
A bizarre but real symptom—some women report feeling zaps or electric shocks, especially before a hot flash. This may be linked to changes in nervous system function.
7. Tinnitus (Ringing in the Ears)
Fluctuating estrogen and progesterone can affect circulation to the inner ear, leading to ringing, buzzing, or whooshing sounds.
8. Joint Pain or Stiffness
Many women assume joint pain is just aging, but declining estrogen can contribute to inflammation and joint stiffness, especially in the hands, knees, and hips.
9. Worsening Allergies
Histamine intolerance is closely tied to estrogen levels, so shifting hormones can lead to more frequent allergic reactions, headaches, or skin rashes.
10. Dizziness or Vertigo
Sudden episodes of dizziness, lightheadedness, or vertigo can be triggered by fluctuating hormones affecting inner ear balance, blood sugar regulation, and circulation.
What You Can Do:
If any of these symptoms sound familiar, you’re not alone! The good news is that herbs, nutrition, and lifestyle changes can help support your body through perimenopause and menopause. Adaptogens like reishi and holy basil, nervines like lemon balm, and hormone-balancing herbs like shatavari can make a difference.
Want to learn more about how to support your hormones naturally? Let’s connect! I offer personalized herbal consultations to help you navigate this transition with confidence.