Most women blame initial perimenopause symptoms on stress, burnout

More than four in five women attribute initial perimenopause symptoms to stress, anxiety and burnout, with only 14% saying they knew right away that they were beginning perimenopause. Sixteen percent say it took up to two years for them to realize what was happening. ThisIsMenopause surveyed more than 1,000 women across the U.S. between 35 and 59 and found that common symptoms included mood changes, poor sleep and fatigue. A staggering 72% said they faced pushback from doctors, friends or family when they linked their symptoms to perimenopause. Forty percent were told they were just getting older. “We keep hearing the same story anecdotally,” says Sara Michael, editor-in-chief of ThisIsMenopause, a free online publication. “Perimenopause usually isn’t women’s first answer. Something else gets the blame instead.”