By Michelle White, The Inspired Wellness Coach, NTP
Inspired Wellness Podcast – Episode 2 Recap

DISCLAIMER

This blog post is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any health-related decisions. By reading this post, you agree to take full responsibility for your health and well-being.

Welcome, Beautiful Women of Midlife!

I’m Michelle White, a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and host of Inspired Wellness Podcast. In this blog post, I’m diving into one of the most important—and most misunderstood—topics in women’s health: Perimenopause. My goal is to help you understand what’s happening in your body and equip you with natural, empowering ways to support your health during this transitional phase.

Let’s talk about what perimenopause really is, what triggers it, how long it lasts, what symptoms to expect, and how you can support yourself through this wild ride. Ready? Let’s go!

What Is Perimenopause, Really?

Perimenopause is the transitional time leading up to menopause. Think of it as the “pre-show” to the main event—but this pre-show can last anywhere from 4 to 10 years (or even longer!).

The Journey from Puberty to Menopause

To really understand perimenopause, let’s zoom out and look at the full hormonal journey.

• In the womb: All of a female’s eggs are formed before birth. By 20 weeks gestation, we have about 6 to 7 million eggs.
• At birth: We’re down to 1–2 million.
• At puberty: Around 300,000–400,000 eggs remain, and we begin our fertile years.
• At age 40: Less than 10% of our egg supply is left, and this often marks the beginning of perimenopause.

During perimenopause, hormones start to fluctuate due to the reduction of eggs and the ovaries becoming less responsive to hormonal signals from the brain. Eventually, menopause is reached—defined as one full year without a period—after which we enter post-menopause.

Common Symptoms of Perimenopause

Perimenopause symptoms are not in your head. They are a result of real hormonal changes. Here are some of the most common ones:

Sleep Disruption

Progesterone promotes restful sleep. When levels drop, it becomes harder to fall—and stay—asleep.

Anxiety & Mood Swings

Progesterone promotes the calming neurotransmitter GABA. As levels decline, women often feel more anxious, irritable, or emotionally volatile.

Hot Flashes & Night Sweats

Fluctuating estrogen levels affect temperature regulation and can cause sudden heat surges.

Weight Gain (Especially Belly Fat)

Low progesterone and estrogen fluctuations can slow metabolism and contribute to stubborn abdominal weight.

Heavy or Irregular Periods

Progesterone helps regulate the uterine lining. Low levels can lead to excessive buildup and erratic bleeding.

Brain Fog

Forgetfulness, trouble concentrating, or mental “blips” (like forgetting your zip code!) are common due to hormonal shifts.

Why Is This Happening? The Hormonal Dance Explained

In your fertile years, your body performs a beautiful hormonal dance:

1. Follicles develop → Estrogen increases
2. Ovulation → Progesterone increases
3. No pregnancy → Progesterone and estrogen drop → Menstruation begins

In perimenopause, this dance becomes irregular:

• You may not ovulate every month
• No ovulation = no progesterone
• This leads to estrogen dominance (estrogen being high relative to progesterone)
• Even if estrogen isn’t “high,” if progesterone is low, the imbalance causes symptoms

Eventually, estrogen production also declines, causing further disruption to the cycle.

The Estrogen Dominance Myth

Let’s bust a common myth:
Estrogen dominance doesn’t necessarily mean you have too much estrogen. It can also mean your progesterone is too low in relation to estrogen. This imbalance can cause:

• Breast tenderness
• Mood swings
• Bloating
• Headaches
• Heavy periods

You might still have regular bleeding, so you may not realize you’re not ovulating, which makes it easy to miss that progesterone is not entering the equation some cycles.

What Can You Do About It?

The good news? Knowledge is power. The more you understand about your body, the more control you reclaim.

Here are natural, foundational ways to support your body through perimenopause:

 Nutritional Support

• Prioritize whole, nutrient-dense foods
• Stabilize blood sugar by eating balanced meals with protein, fat, and fiber
• Reduce processed foods and excess sugar

 Sleep & Stress Management

• Create a consistent nighttime routine
• Avoid screens an hour before bed
• Practice mindfulness, breathing, or journaling

 Movement

• Include strength training to preserve muscle and metabolism
• Gentle movement (walking, stretching) is also incredibly supportive

 Targeted Supplements (consult your practitioner!)

• Magnesium (especially glycinate)
• B-complex vitamins
• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Herbal adaptogens like ashwagandha or maca root

Wrapping Up: You’re Not Alone

Perimenopause can feel confusing, overwhelming, and sometimes scary—but you’re not alone. You’re not broken. You’re not going crazy. You’re transitioning. And it is possible to feel amazing again, with the right support.

Stay tuned for future episodes where we’ll dive deeper into how to support your hormones naturally through food, lifestyle, and supplements.

Until then, be kind to yourself. You’re doing an amazing job.

With love and inspired wellness,
Michelle White
Nutritional Therapy Practitioner | The Inspired Wellness Coach

Listen to the Full Episode

Catch this conversation and more on Episode 2 of the Inspired Wellness Podcast on your favorite podcast platform!

Listen to the full episode here on Apple or here on Spotify

Want daily tips and knowledge?  Follow me on Instagram and Facebook @theinspiredwellnesscoach

Want to submit a question? Email me

And check out my Services page to learn more about my nutritional therapy services for women in perimenopause and beyond.