The best thing you can say about perimenopause is that it’s bespoke. Symptoms vary greatly from one individual to the next and no two women go through exactly the same journey. It’s even common for symptoms to start and then stop abruptly, and for others never to fully emerge. We adore personalisation in our luxury goods but when it comes to perimenopause and menopause, a general guideline would be nice.

This is never truer than when it comes to menopause and periods. The majority of menopausal women will tell you one of the first signs of perimenopause was when their monthly cycle went haywire. Even the most reliable and regular of monthly cycles can start to shift out of sync, gradually descending into unpredictable periods both in frequency and flow. Randomly occurring periods, bleeding more heavily and having periods every other week, may all have you wondering why your cycle has gone so crazy. Though it should offer some relief to know it’s all part of the female body’s ancient transition into the menopause and that changing cycles are an outward indicator of the natural recalibration of hormones.

The menopause conversation has advanced significantly in recent years with improved transparency, clearer advice on speaking to GPs about menopause and new initiatives for menopause support in the workplace. However, the concept and details of perimenopause are lesser known. Perimenopause is very much a transient time for a woman with much inconsistency in both physical and mental symptoms, a changing menstrual cycle being one of the most common.

The majority of women will notice gradual changes in their menstrual cycle as they enter perimenopause. Spotting is a strong sign you’re heading into menopause and frequent instances of light periods during perimenopause is completely normal. However many women don’t get such warning from their transitioning bodies and periods can stop suddenly in menopause. Although it’s not physically possible to get pregnant during menopause with no period due to hormone levels not being sufficient, menstrual cycles can be so disparate that many women wonder if their absent periods are indeed signaling that they might be pregnant.

Menopause is far more absolute. Defined as the time when a woman has not had a period in the last 12 months, menopause happens when your ovaries cease to produce eggs and estrogen levels flatline, thus marking the end of the reproductive period of a woman’s life. If suddenly, you have a period after menopause or periods restart after menopause it's a potential sign of a health complication and needs to be addressed by a medical professional swiftly.

If you’re someone who doesn’t relish the newly impromptu nature of your perimenopausal periods, there are ways to regain control and structure in your life.

1. Stay well-prepared

Now is the perfect opportunity to invest in a compact cosmetics pouch to house everything you need for unannounced periods. Make it bright, make it bold, designer if you will, but pack it with pads, tampons, spare underwear and wipes. Assembling your personal menstruation kit is smart and will put you at ease wherever you are.

2. Know how to stop heavy bleeding during perimenopause naturally

Learning how to balance your hormones makes a huge difference to heavy bleeding. It is possible to hack your hormones and use the transition your body is undergoing to your advantage. Cycle Synching requires being highly in tune with your body and staying aware of your current mindset. If you do it right, you can boost productivity and feel noticeably happier.

3. Workout wisely

Hormones levels are at their lowest during menstruation and much of the body’s energy reserves are being expelled, which is why you often feel wiped out. Keep movement slow but strong. Yoga, Pilates and full body stretching are ideal. Take running down to walking, switch out strength training sessions for swimming on your own, preferably in the evening.

4. Adopt the ultimate anti-inflammatory diet

Eat grounding foods that have roots in the earth such as beetroots, parsnips, carrots and mushrooms. Iron-rich foods to fortify the effects of blood loss, dark leafy kale, mussels or red meat if you prefer, magnesium-rich foods like nuts, flax and pumpkin seeds.

Menopause supplements may be prolific but only evidence based nutraceuticals dosed at clinical levels can make a discernible difference to your health. LYMA is the only Supplement formulated with only peer-reviewed, patented ingredients that have been bioengineered to the highest absorbency rates. Clinically proven to offer improved mental clarity, aid restorative sleep, as well as easing extreme menopausal symptoms such as night sweats, hot flashes and mood swings, LYMA reins in wayward symptoms so the body and mind can remain on stable ground.

Thousands of women have experienced monumental differences in their perimenopause and menopause journeys with LYMA. Women who’ve used LYMA’s unrivalled supplement formula to stay calm and creative in their careers, to regain the energy to enjoy their families and those who credit LYMA with returning back to themselves. Every day there are new firsthand accounts of women who’ve experienced LYMA’s life-changing relief from the many symptoms of menopause.

Perimenopause is an evolution of the body changing from the post-adolescent reproductive years to reach menopause, and thus it’s rightfully a slow and gradual physical adjustment. Though patience might feel like a demand too far, it’s important to remain aware that although potentially long, these are all necessary phases of life that result in a new post-menopausal chapter of life which for many, can be your strongest, most vibrant years yet.