Managing Symptoms, Menopause Advice, Perimenopause, Wellbeing
A ground breaking study from Monash University, Australia featured in The Guardian this week is finally challenging outdated assumptions about perimenopause and we couldn’t be more relieved.
For years, women experiencing hot flushes before their periods stop have been told it’s too early for menopause or that their symptoms are caused by stress, anxiety, or even caffeine. But this new research has found that 46% of perimenopausal women experience hot flushes, and that these symptoms correlate with measurable hormonal shifts particularly falling oestrogen levels.
Even more strikingly, researchers found that women with hot flushes had reduced brain connectivity in areas related to memory and cognition. This could explain why so many perimenopausal women also report brain fog, forgetfulness, or difficulty concentrating.
At Bristol Menopause & Wellwoman Clinic, we hear this every day: women in their 40s saying they “don’t feel like themselves anymore” struggling with heat surges, fatigue, and mental load, but being told by professionals that they’re “not menopausal yet.”
This study confirms what many women have long suspected: perimenopause is real, and hot flushes are a valid symptom of hormonal change.
It’s time for a shift in how we recognise and respond to perimenopause.
If you’re feeling dismissed, confused, or simply overwhelmed by symptoms – you are not alone. We offer personalised care, thorough hormone assessments, and a space to be heard.
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Let’s get you back to feeling like you again.