The Best Parts of Perimenopause: The Conversation (and the Opportunity) We All Deserve

If you’ve been following me on social this month, you know it’s been a busy Menopause Awareness Month. I’ve had so many incredible conversations — in clinics, workplaces, and community spaces — about what it really means to move through perimenopause and menopause.  

These conversations matter, not just because they help us understand hormones or hot flashes, but because they remind us that this life stage can also be an invitation. An invitation to realign with yourself, to invest in your future health, and to connect more deeply with others who are on the same path.

The Good Stuff: A Loving Reminder that Perimenopause Isn’t All Bad

Amidst the endless symptom lists, information overwhelm, and comical montages of all things Perimenopause, I personally like to remind myself that there are also positives along this journey.  

The 5 Best Things About Perimenopause

Here are five reframes you might not expect:

1. An invitation to align with yourself / rediscover yourselfThis time can spark re-connection: Who am I now? What do I really want? Many people feel lost earlier on, caught up in roles, expectations, busyness. Perimenopause can give you permission, pause and re-centre - and for many this includes upholding boundaries they let slide in the past.

2. An opportunity to build your future health (not just survive today)Because this stage brings new risks (for bone health, cardiovascular health, etc), it’s a wake-up call — you get to invest in the next decade(s) of your health, rather than simply “getting by now”.  Remember, over half of people in menopause wish they had learned more and were better prepared. Now is the time to inform yourself and take action if needed.

3. Freedom from monthly cycles / fertility anxietyFor many, moving through menopause means no more periods (or fewer), less PMS (or pain), resolution of impactful pathologies (endometriosis, ovarian cysts, fibroids), and fewer constraints around fertility (for some). That can feel like relief and liberation.

4. Connection – new circles, real talk, communityBecause so many people are experiencing this, you have a chance to connect with others in ways you might not have before — in your workplace, friendship groups, peer networks. The very act of saying “Menopause” opens doors as most people are eager to share their experience once invited.

5. A shift in narrative: from “youth = everything” to “mid-life wisdom & authenticity”This is the chance to step into the next phase rather than resist it. Many people report feeling more confident, more grounded, less bound by earlier expectations. It’s a chance to live in a different, perhaps more authentic way.  (Plus I have heard from many who have received proper support for vaginal symptoms that they are now having the best sex of their lives in part because of these shifts!)

Perimenopause can be a powerful pivot point. It invites you to slow down and take stock: What do I actually want in this next chapter? Where might I need to set boundaries, rediscover joy, or shift priorities?  And with awareness and the right support, it can become a springboard for stronger bones, happier hearts, sharper brains, better sleep, and long-term vitality.

In other words: this stage isn’t just a time to get through. It’s a time you are invited to grow through.

Why Talking About It Really Matters & the Stat That Still Blows My Mind

Despite how universal this experience is, the silence around menopause remains surprisingly loud.

According to the Menopause Foundation of Canada’s 2022 national report, nearly half of Canadian women aged 40 to 60 said they felt unprepared for menopause when it arrived, 55% wished they knew more before entering this stage — and 4 in 10 said they felt alone while going through it.

Forty percent feel alone.  In a transition that half of us on this planet who live long enough will experience in some way.  

When I first read that, it stopped me in my tracks. How can so many people still feel isolated when the odds are every second person on this planet will encounter some version of menopause?

It tells us this isn’t just about biology — it’s about belonging. We need more open, evidence-based conversations in exam rooms, staff meetings, and dinner tables.Because the truth is: menopause isn’t a one-size-fits-all story. It’s influenced by genetics, lifestyle, stress, health, relationships, work, and identity. Sometimes it is hormones; sometimes it’s not. When everything and anything gets thrown under the “perimenopause” umbrella, and ovarian hormones are the scapegoat for everything, we risk missing other important health clues — and we miss the chance to address what really needs attention.

By talking openly, we normalize questions, reduce shame, and help people access better care sooner. We also create space for more realistic expectations and better support at work, at home, and in healthcare.

Reclaiming the Opportunity

Here’s the part I love most about this conversation: perimenopause doesn’t have to feel like a loss. It can feel like a turning point — one where you take charge of your wellbeing, redefine what thriving looks like, and find your people.

It’s a time to reconnect with your body’s wisdom, to invest in your future health (muscle, bone, brain, heart), and to lean into each other rather than isolate.

You are not broken, you are not alone, and there’s nothing shameful about change. In fact, it can be the spark for something truly incredible.

PS — If this resonates:

• Download my Perimenopause Primer for an overview of what to expect and how to prepare.

• Download my Mental Health & Menopause resource — it includes the validated Menopause Rating Scale you can use to start meaningful conversations with your healthcare provider (and to make the most of those short visits).

  
  

And if you’d like to bring these conversations into your workplace or community, I offer education sessions and workshops to help teams understand and support this transition with confidence and compassion.  Connect with me directly for more information.