The Lesser-Known Symptoms of Menopause: You're Not Crazy, It’s Just Perimenopause
Anna Harrelson • February 10, 2025
Unraveling the Mystery of Menopause: The Symptoms No One Warned You About
Hot flashes and night sweats get all the attention when it comes to menopause, but what about the symptoms that no one warns you about? The ones that leave you wondering if you have 27 different diagnoses when, in reality, it’s all just perimenopause? If you’ve been feeling off and struggling to connect the dots, you’re not alone. Let’s break down some of the lesser-known symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, why they happen, and what you can do about them.
The Wild Ride of Hormonal Shifts: It’s Not Just Declining Estrogen
Before we dive in, let’s get one thing straight: menopause symptoms aren’t just about a steady decline in estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. It’s the erratic, unpredictable rollercoaster of hormonal shifts during perimenopause that wreaks the most havoc. Many symptoms that peak during perimenopause stabilize once estrogen levels even out after menopause. However, that doesn’t mean they disappear completely—even with menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), some symptoms persist, just with less intensity.
The Symptoms No One Talks About (But We Should)
1. Breast Size Changes
Your breasts might feel fuller, lumpier, or even shrink as estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate. Many women notice that their cup size changes due to changes in breast tissue composition and fat distribution. Tenderness is also common, especially in perimenopause when hormone levels are fluctuating wildly.
2. Burning Mouth Syndrome
Yes, this is a real thing. Some women experience a burning sensation in their tongue, lips, or gums, likely due to declining estrogen affecting nerve function and saliva production.
3. Electric Shock Sensations
Ever felt like you’re being zapped by an invisible force? Sudden, brief electrical shock sensations are a weird but real symptom of menopause, thought to be linked to nerve instability caused by estrogen fluctuations.
4. Skin Crawling and Itchiness
If your skin suddenly feels like bugs are crawling on it, or you’re itching more than usual, fluctuating estrogen could be to blame. Estrogen plays a role in collagen production and skin hydration, so its decline can cause dryness, sensitivity, and that creepy-crawly feeling.
5. Digestive Issues
Bloating, gas, changes in bowel habits—estrogen and progesterone directly impact gut motility, microbiome balance, and inflammation. Perimenopause often brings IBS-like symptoms that settle once hormone levels stabilize.
6. Bladder and Urethral Symptoms
Frequent UTIs, urgency, or even a weird tingling sensation in your urethra? The bladder and urethra are estrogen-sensitive tissues, so they can become irritated, dry, and inflamed with hormone changes.
7. Body Odor Changes
Some women notice their scent changes, even if they haven’t switched deodorants. Shifts in hormone levels affect sweat gland activity, sometimes making body odor stronger or just different.
8. Tinnitus (Ringing in the Ears)
Fluctuations in estrogen impact circulation and nerve function, which can contribute to ringing or buzzing in the ears.
9. Increased Histamine Sensitivity
Ever feel like your allergies are suddenly worse? Estrogen affects mast cells, which are responsible for histamine release. Fluctuating estrogen can make you more prone to hives, flushing, and histamine-related reactions.
10. Anxiety and Sudden Panic Attacks
You were never an anxious person before, so why does it feel like you’re constantly on edge? Estrogen directly impacts neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, and when it swings wildly, so does your mood.
11. Joint Pain and Stiffness
Estrogen has anti-inflammatory properties, so its decline contributes to increased joint pain, stiffness, and even the onset of inflammatory conditions like frozen shoulder.
How Hormone Therapy and Lifestyle Changes Can Help
While many of these symptoms improve as hormones stabilize, the reality is that you don’t have to suffer through them without support. Let’s talk about what actually helps.
Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT): Replacing estrogen, progesterone, and even testosterone can help significantly with many of these symptoms, especially those related to nerve function, skin, and bladder health. However, MHT won’t make all symptoms vanish overnight—it’s about stabilizing the hormonal rollercoaster and reducing severity.
Oral Contraceptives for Perimenopause: If you’re still cycling and experiencing extreme symptom fluctuations, oral contraceptives can suppress ovulation and override hormonal chaos, making symptoms much more manageable.
Lifestyle Adjustments That Matter:
Anti-Inflammatory Diet: Eating whole, nutrient-dense foods supports gut health, reduces histamine sensitivity, and minimizes inflammation that contributes to joint pain and digestive issues.
Strength Training & Movement: Regular exercise helps with joint pain, muscle loss, and hormone balance. Strength training in particular helps combat estrogen-related muscle deterioration.
Hydration & Electrolyte Balance: Dehydration can make symptoms like dizziness, joint pain, and histamine intolerance worse.
Stress Management & Sleep Hygiene: Poor sleep and chronic stress exacerbate many menopause symptoms. Prioritizing rest and relaxation is crucial.
You’re Not Broken—You’re in Perimenopause
If you’ve been dismissed by doctors, told your symptoms are unrelated, or prescribed multiple medications for what is actually a single hormonal transition, know this: you are not alone. Perimenopause and menopause can make you feel like a stranger in your own body, but there is hope. Understanding what’s happening and having a plan—whether that includes MHT, lifestyle modifications, or a combination of both—can make all the difference.
If you’re struggling and want personalized support, I’m here to help. Let’s work together to navigate this transition with clarity, confidence, and solutions that actually make a difference in your life. Because you deserve to feel like you again.
WonderCreek Health Blog
You’ve probably seen it popping up in wellness podcasts, health stores, or even your friend's supplement cabinet: bovine colostrum. Marketed for gut health, immune support, and recovery, this early-life nutrient source for calves is now showing up in adult wellness routines. But is it worth your time and money? As a lifestyle medicine physician focused on women’s midlife health and longevity, here’s what I want you to know before you jump on the colostrum bandwagon. Let’s Start With the Basics: What Is Colostrum? Colostrum is the first form of milk produced by mammals (including humans) in the first few days after giving birth. It’s loaded with antibodies, growth factors, and immune-modulating compounds designed to jumpstart a newborn’s immune system and line the gut. Bovine colostrum—from cows—is the form used in most supplements. It's freeze-dried and packaged into powders or capsules, and often promoted for: Gut barrier support ("leaky gut") Immune system priming Exercise recovery Anti-aging benefits But let’s be honest: just because something has growth factors doesn’t mean it belongs in your Amazon cart. Does the Science Support It? Evidence in humans is limited— but not nonexistent. Some small clinical studies have shown potential benefits: Gut health: In people with NSAID-induced intestinal permeability ("leaky gut"), bovine colostrum has been shown to reduce damage and symptoms. Immune function: Some data in athletes suggests reduced upper respiratory infections. Exercise recovery: A few studies report improvements in performance, gut comfort, or muscle soreness—especially in endurance athletes. But these benefits aren’t guaranteed. And the quality and dosage of colostrum varies widely, with no standardized formulation across brands. So Should You Take It? Here’s where my clinical voice kicks in: Before you reach for colostrum, ask yourself: Have you addressed the basics? Are you sleeping? Managing stress? Eating fiber and whole foods? Getting enough protein? Building muscle? Moving your body? Supporting your gut with real food (not just powders)? If the answer is no—then colostrum is not your next step. You’re throwing powdered fuel on an engine that’s missing spark plugs. Do you have dairy sensitivity? Colostrum is a dairy product. Even if it's low in lactose, it may not be tolerated by everyone. Are you already taking quality foundational supplements? Vitamin D, omega-3s, magnesium, creatine, iron (when needed), and probiotics have stronger bodies of evidence for many women in midlife. When Might It Be Worth Trying? Colostrum might be a reasonable add-on if you: Have mild gut symptoms (especially post-infectious or stress-related) Are recovering from illness or antibiotics Train hard and experience frequent upper respiratory issues Want to support your immune system during travel or stress Even then, I recommend: A 2–3 month trial only after dialing in basics Choosing a third-party tested brand Tracking symptoms and benefits Cost, Hype, and the Bigger Picture Many women I work with are overwhelmed by supplement costs. Colostrum can run $50–100/month —and that adds up. So here’s what I tell my patients: Just because something is trending doesn’t mean it’s essential. And just because it works for someone on TikTok doesn’t mean it’s the right tool for your body right now. Your body is an incredible machine. When you give it rest, movement, nourishment, and support—it can do amazing things. Colostrum is not magic. It’s just one tool in a very big toolbox. Bottom Line Colostrum may hality sources. You’re not broken. You might just need a reset—not another powder.
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