When Will These Perimenopause Symptoms End?!

Do you ever feel like King Julien from Madagascar yelling, “How long is this going to take?!”
Same.
Perimenopause can be a wild ride—emotionally, physically, hormonally—and the nonstop stream of conflicting advice on social media doesn’t help.

According to researcher Andrea Donsky and her team at Morphus, a 2023 survey of over 3,000 women revealed more than 100 different symptoms reported during perimenopause.

Yes, 100.

Early symptoms often include insomnia, mood swings, fatigue, and subtle changes to your cycle, thanks to the initial decline of the hormone progesterone. As perimenopause progresses and estradiol (a form of estrogen) starts to drop, many women begin to experience hot flashes, vaginal dryness, joint and muscle pain, stiffness, and weight gain.

So naturally, one of the biggest questions I get is:

HOW LONG DOES THIS LAST?!

And here’s the honest answer:
You and I didn’t come with a manual (unfortunately), and there’s no magical test to tell me exactly when you’ll have your last period. (Hang tight if you’ve had your uterus removed or have a progestin IUD—I'll get to you.)

Here’s what we do know:

• Perimenopause typically lasts 6 to 10 years

• Once you’ve skipped 12 consecutive periods, you're officially in menopause (cue the crown 👑)

• The very next day, and for the rest of your life, you're considered post-menopausal

• Early perimenopause = cycles change by 7+ days

• Late perimenopause = cycles change by 60+ days (or skipping 2 periods in a row)

• 50% of women notice menstrual changes by 45.5 years old

• 75% by 47.8 years old

• 95% by 50.8 years old

• Once you've skipped 3 or more cycles, you're statistically very likely to reach full menopause within 4 years

What if you don’t get a period due to a hysterectomy or a hormonal IUD?
Ask your doctor to check your follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). If it's above 25.8 IU/mL (some labs say 30 IU/mL), you’re considered post-menopausal.

What Women Tell Me

In my years of working with women, I’ve heard this over and over:

“My symptoms come and go… and change all the time.”

You might start with insomnia and irritability in your early 40s, notice your cycle shift by a few days, then later develop hot flashes. Suddenly you’re sleeping well again—but now you’re gaining weight around the middle. Sound familiar?

Some women tell me their period changes by 4 days, then goes back to normal for a few months… then skips entirely, only to return like nothing happened. Then they skip again. Then it shows up 20 days late.
Ugh.

This is why I’m sharing all of this—to ease the fear and confusion. You are not broken.
Cycle changes are expected.
But that doesn’t mean you have to suffer through it.

The Bottom Line

Perimenopause isn’t always as quick or linear as we hope. But the good news?
There is so much you can do to support yourself through the transition.

That’s why this blog exists.
That’s why I created my YouTube channel.
To give you real education, real tools, and a little humor to help you feel more in control.

You’ve got this. And I’ve got you. 💛