The research behind every number we post.

Is Menopause Making Me Gain Weight?

• We saidMean weight +2.1 kg over 3 years; change in menopausal status not associated with weight gain (3,064 women)

  [1] Sternfeld et al., American Journal of Epidemiology, 2004 (SWAN)

• We saidMore physical activity linked to smaller gains

  [1] Sternfeld et al., American Journal of Epidemiology, 2004 (SWAN)

• We saidVisceral fat: no significant change >2 years before the final period; +8.2%/year in the 2 years before; +5.8%/year after (362 women)

  [2] Samargandy et al., Menopause, 2021 (SWAN Heart)

Bone Loss Starts Before Your Last Period

• We saidBone loss began 1 year before the final menstrual period

  [3] Greendale et al., Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 2012 (SWAN)

• We saidLumbar spine: 10.6% lost over 10 years; 7.38% during the transmenopause (1 year before to 2 years after the final period)

  [3] Greendale et al., Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 2012 (SWAN)

Heavy Periods, Low Iron, Exhausted

• We saidOf 330 women with confirmed heavy menstrual bleeding, 63.0% had ever been diagnosed with iron deficiency or iron-deficiency anaemia

  [4] Fraser et al., International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 2015

• We saidNon-anaemic women with unexplained fatigue: fatigue fell 29% on iron vs 13% on placebo; only those with ferritin <=50 improved

  [5] Verdon et al., BMJ, 2003

Nobody Told Me: 10-Day Periods

• We said1,320 women kept daily menstrual calendars through the menopause transition

  [6] Paramsothy et al., BJOG, 2014 (SWAN)

• We saidAt least 3 periods of 10+ days: 77.7%; 6+ days spotting: 66.8%; 3+ days heavy bleeding: 34.5%

  [6] Paramsothy et al., BJOG, 2014 (SWAN)

• We saidLinked to fibroids, hormone use and transition stage

  [6] Paramsothy et al., BJOG, 2014 (SWAN)

Your Inner Thermostat

• We saidComfort zone between sweating and shivering thresholds (core temperature): 0.4 C in 8 women without hot flashes vs 0.0 C in 12 women with them

  [7] Freedman & Krell, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1999

• We saidA small rise in body temperature may trigger a hot flash within the narrowed zone

  [7] Freedman & Krell, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1999

• We saidDuring exercise, all 12 women with hot flashes and none of the 8 without had one

  [7] Freedman & Krell, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1999

Why Everything Seems to Work for Hot Flashes

• We saidWomen on placebo saw hot flashes fall 57.7% from start to end of study (24 trials, 3,329 women)

  [8] MacLennan et al., Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2004

• We saidRecommended non-hormone options: CBT, clinical hypnosis, SSRIs/SNRIs, gabapentin, fezolinetant

  [9] The North American Menopause Society, Menopause, 2023

• We saidNot recommended: paced breathing, herbal remedies, soy, acupuncture

  [9] The North American Menopause Society, Menopause, 2023

• We saidHormone therapy remains the most effective treatment

  [9] The North American Menopause Society, Menopause, 2023

Nobody Told Me: Frozen Shoulder

• We saidFrozen shoulder most often strikes between ages 40 and 60, and in women more than men.

  [10] OrthoInfo, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Nobody Told Me: Lost Words

• We saidIn a study that followed 2,362 women for about 4 years, memory gains stalled in perimenopause, then rebounded after menopause.

  [11] Greendale et al., Neurology, 2009 (SWAN study, 2,362 women)

Nobody Told Me: Sudden Rage

• We said53% of women with perimenopause symptoms blamed them on stress.

  [12] The Peri Power Report 2025 (NNABI), survey of 1,000 U.S. women

Perimenopause follows you to work

• We said13.4% of 4,440 employed women aged 45-60 reported at least one adverse work outcome due to menopause symptoms.

  [13] Faubion et al., Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 2023

• We said10.8% missed work in the preceding 12 months.

  [13] Faubion et al., Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 2023

• We saidThe authors estimate 1.8 billion US dollars a year in the U.S. based on missed workdays.

  [13] Faubion et al., Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 2023

Your doctor may not have been trained for this

• We saidOnly 12 of 177 (6.8%) U.S. family medicine, internal medicine and ob-gyn residents felt adequately prepared to manage menopause.

  [14] Kling et al., Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 2019

• We said31.3% of responding U.S. ob-gyn residency programs reported a menopause curriculum.

  [15] Allen et al., Menopause, 2023

How long does perimenopause actually last?

• We saidThe average length of perimenopause is about four years, but it can last up to eight.

  [16] Cleveland Clinic, Perimenopause

• We saidFrequent hot flashes and night sweats lasted a median of 7.4 years in SWAN.

  [17] Avis et al., JAMA Internal Medicine, 2015 (SWAN)

• We saidWhen frequent symptoms began in premenopause or early perimenopause, the median total duration was more than 11.8 years.

  [17] Avis et al., JAMA Internal Medicine, 2015 (SWAN)

Awake at 3 a.m. again?

• We said38% of 12,603 U.S. women aged 40-55 reported difficulty sleeping in the past 2 weeks.

  [18] Kravitz et al., Menopause, 2003 (SWAN)

• We saidThe age-adjusted rate was 45.4% in late perimenopause.

  [18] Kravitz et al., Menopause, 2003 (SWAN)

• We saidAlcohol, spicy food and caffeine can make symptoms worse.

  [19] National Institute on Aging, Hot Flashes: What Can I Do?

Perimenopause, pieced together

Nobody Told Me: Joint Pain

• We said57% of women in perimenopause have muscle or joint pain.

  [20] Kruse et al., JBJS Open Access, 2026 (review of 37 studies, 93,021 women)

What women say vs. what gets written down

• We saidEmotional well-being appeared in 77.30% of top Reddit menopause posts vs 26.01% of clinical notes.

  [21] Mehta et al., JAMA Network Open, 2026

• We saidCognitive symptoms appeared in 19.58% of posts vs 4.80% of notes.

  [21] Mehta et al., JAMA Network Open, 2026

• We saidHot flashes and night sweats appeared in 18.54% of posts vs 46.59% of notes.

  [21] Mehta et al., JAMA Network Open, 2026

More things women hear in perimenopause

• We saidIn a survey of 1,000 U.S. women, 53% attributed their symptoms to stress and 4 in 10 never considered perimenopause.

  [12] The Peri Power Report 2025 (NNABI), survey of 1,000 U.S. women

• We saidMenopause symptoms include sleep problems, mood changes, joint and muscle discomfort and memory problems.

  [22] National Institute on Aging, What Is Menopause?

• We saidIn SWAN, learning dipped during perimenopause and rebounded after menopause.

  [11] Greendale et al., Neurology, 2009 (SWAN study, 2,362 women)

Things women hear in perimenopause

• We saidPerimenopause can start as early as your mid-30s and usually starts in your mid-40s.

  [16] Cleveland Clinic, Perimenopause

• We saidHormone testing isn't needed to diagnose perimenopause; levels fluctuate so much the tests aren't reliable.

  [16] Cleveland Clinic, Perimenopause

• We saidIn SWAN, frequent hot flashes and night sweats lasted a median of 7.4 years.

  [17] Avis et al., JAMA Internal Medicine, 2015 (SWAN)

It shouldn't take this many appointments

• We said31% of UK women who approached their GP said it took many appointments before menopause or perimenopause was recognised.

  [23] Fawcett Society / Savanta survey, UK, 2022

• We said36% of those who sought GP help for perimenopause went three or more times before getting appropriate help.

  [24] UK House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee, 2022

Estrogen does more than you think

• We saidEstrogen affects brain function including focus, circulation and blood flow, skin collagen and moisture, muscle mass and strength, and bone density.

  [25] Cleveland Clinic, Estrogen

• We saidMuscle or joint pain: 40% before, 57% during perimenopause, 59% after.

  [20] Kruse et al., JBJS Open Access, 2026 (review of 37 studies, 93,021 women)

• We saidPersistent mood symptoms: 8–12% in premenopause vs 14.9–18.4% in early perimenopause.

  [26] Bromberger et al., American Journal of Epidemiology, 2003 (SWAN)

• We saidIn perimenopause, estrogen rises and falls erratically.

  [16] Cleveland Clinic, Perimenopause

Hot flashes don't clock out at bedtime

• We saidSleep disturbances are reported by 40–60% of menopausal women.

  [27] Baker et al., Sleep Medicine Clinics, 2018

• We saidHot flashes at night are called night sweats.

  [19] National Institute on Aging, Hot Flashes: What Can I Do?

• We saidWomen with moderate to severe hot flashes are almost 3× as likely to wake often at night as women without hot flashes.

  [27] Baker et al., Sleep Medicine Clinics, 2018

• We saidAlcohol, spicy food and caffeine can make symptoms worse.

  [19] National Institute on Aging, Hot Flashes: What Can I Do?

Nobody Told Me: Itchy Skin

• We said4 in 10 women never considered perimenopause as the cause of their symptoms.

  [12] The Peri Power Report 2025 (NNABI), survey of 1,000 U.S. women

Lost your words? Here's the good news.

• We said2,362 women had their memory tested over about four years; normal learning gains stalled in perimenopause and came back after menopause.

  [11] Greendale et al., Neurology, 2009 (SWAN study, 2,362 women)

Achy joints at 45? It might be perimenopause.

• We saidMuscle or joint pain: 40% before, 57% during perimenopause, 59% after.

  [20] Kruse et al., JBJS Open Access, 2026 (review of 37 studies, 93,021 women)

The Body Map

• We saidEstrogen affects the brain (focus), muscle strength, circulation, skin collagen and moisture, and bone density.

  [25] Cleveland Clinic, Estrogen

• We saidIn perimenopause, estrogen rises and falls erratically.

  [16] Cleveland Clinic, Perimenopause

• We saidMemory gains can stall in perimenopause, then rebound after.

  [11] Greendale et al., Neurology, 2009 (SWAN study, 2,362 women)

• We said57% in perimenopause report muscle or joint pain.

  [20] Kruse et al., JBJS Open Access, 2026 (review of 37 studies, 93,021 women)

• We saidHot flashes at night are night sweats; alcohol, spicy food and caffeine can make symptoms worse.

  [19] National Institute on Aging, Hot Flashes: What Can I Do?

• We saidWomen with moderate to severe hot flashes are almost 3× more likely to wake often at night; poor sleep can lower mood.

  [27] Baker et al., Sleep Medicine Clinics, 2018