As women enter middle age, they may start experiencing strange symptoms that they can’t quite explain. Andrea LaCroix noticed her heart was pounding fast night after night, while Claire Gill thought she might be pregnant again when she started skipping periods in her early 40s. Laura Okafor was unsure if her sleep troubles and anxiety spikes were normal for a mom with young children. Eventually, all three women discovered that they were experiencing perimenopause, a stage characterized by fluctuating hormones that can last for years before menopause officially begins.
Menopause has been receiving a lot of attention lately, with books, businesses, and advocacy from celebrities like Drew Barrymore, Naomi Watts, Halle Berry, and Queen Latifah. Now, health entrepreneurs are turning their focus to perimenopause, the “smaller sister” of menopause. With the goal of tapping into the $18 billion menopause market, companies are marketing perimenopause communities, supplements, meal plans, wearables, prescription medications, and more to women in their late 30s and beyond.
As the conversation around menopause and perimenopause continues to grow, it’s important for women to have access to resources and support during this transitional phase of life. By raising awareness and providing targeted solutions for the symptoms associated with perimenopause, women can navigate this stage with greater ease and understanding.
