If you’re not familiar, menopause happens when a person’s estrogen levels decline, and their ovaries stop producing eggs. In short, the person’s periods stop, and they can no longer get pregnant.
Kolonko / Getty Images
Menopause typically happens when a person is between 40 and 50 years old, but this can vary from person to person. That being said, before someone enters menopause, they go through a transitional period called perimenopause. It signals a drop in estrogen from the ovaries, leading to irregular menstrual cycles and various physical and emotional shifts.
Monkeybusinessimages / Getty Images
And because menopause is often stigmatized and not openly talked about, people are even more uneducated about what to expect during perimenopause.
So, many TikTok users who have been through it are sharing symptoms they experienced, like TikToker Chrissy Allen has gone viral for her various perimenopause videos.
She has racked up millions of views, especially in one of her videos where she showed herself realizing itchy ears were a sign of perimenopause.
@csapunc / tiktok.com
Itchy ears seem to be the most common symptom amongst TikTokers who have experienced it and seen the video:
Related: 29 Wild Crunchy Mom Posts That’ll Leave You Speechless
People have also shared that they feel like bugs are crawling on them:
Others smell cigarettes when no one is smoking:
Sleep seems to be also affected:
There are a lot of symptoms that people really had no idea about:
But, thankfully, TikTok is helping connect people to change that:
BuzzFeed spoke to Dr. Louise Fitzgerald, who said menopausal symptoms affect approximately 75–80% of people. Perimenopause may affect fewer, but it is estimated that around 1.1 billion women worldwide may be currently experiencing it.
Dr. Louise Fitzgerald
And it is important to note that perimenopause is part of the three phases of the menopausal transition: perimenopause, menopause itself, and postmenopause. This transitional period typically lasts seven years, but can take up to 14!
Carol Yepes / Getty Images
Fitzgerald said hot flashes are one of the most commonly reported symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. “A hot flush or flash is caused by hormonal fluctuations, particularly changes in estrogen levels. During perimenopause, estrogen levels fluctuate much like a rollercoaster, which can lead to temperature dysregulation and trigger hot flashes. After menopause, when there is a steep decline in estrogen levels, hot flashes often continue but may become less frequent over time,” she explained.
Irregular periods and night sweats are other common symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. “Hot flushes are an example of vasomotor symptoms. Other symptoms include brain fog, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, joint aches and pains, muscle pain, dry eyes or hair, tinnitus, vaginal dryness, rescues libido, weight gain, reduced energy levels,” Fitzgerald said, adding that people may experience all, some, or none of these symptoms.
In addition to the lesser-known symptoms shared by the TikTokers above, people may also experience burning mouth syndrome, nipple discharge, and hormonal acne. Fitzgerald said Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is one of the most effective options when it comes to helping stabilize estrogen levels to diminish symptoms like hot flashes. “However, some people cannot have hormones or do not want to have hormones,” she then emphasized that you should always consult your physician to figure out what may be the best option for you.
Fitzgerald has provided some resources if you want to further educate yourself:
Women’s Health Concern Fact Sheet
Her Women’s Health Podcast (Specifically this episode and this episode.)
Naomi Watts is also a big advocate for menopause education. Back in 2023, Today with Hoda & Jenna (now called Jenna & Friends) had a special segment centered around women’s health called “Own Your Health.” In the episode, Naomi Watts shared how she discovered she was going into early menopause in her 30s.
Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for Stripes/Amyris
“I didn’t know what was happening, and it happened right at the precipice of me wanting to start a family and meeting the right partner. That collision of the panic of ‘Am I going to be able to, indeed, produce children?’ As well as being told you are going into early menopause. Like how? I was panicking and filled with shame. The term perimenopause wasn’t even known. I mean, my doctor wasn’t using it. He just gave me a blood test because I wasn’t falling pregnant and he said the results suggested that I was going to be going into early menopause… There’s so much confusion and so little information out there,” she said.
You can watch the clip here. Naomi also wrote a book about her experience, Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I’d Known About Menopause.
Also in Parents: 26 Crunchy Parenting Group Posts That’ll Melt Your Brain
