It’s Not Just Stress: Unpacking the Invisible Transition of Early Perimenopause

Hormonal shifts can begin as early as your 30s. Here’s how a new wave of conversation and a Gen Z-founded brand are reshaping what it means to age with confidence

For many women, entering their 30s is often framed as the era of hitting major milestonesMilestonesSkills most children reach by certain ages, such as smiling, sitting, walking, speaking, and sharing. They serve as general guides rather than strict deadlines, and parents should talk to a—climbing the career ladder, getting married, or starting a family. But beneath the busy schedules and productivity goals lies a bodily transition few are prepared for: perimenopause can actually start much earlier than most people think.

This was a key takeaway during Decoding Women’s Health: From Your 30s to Perimenopause, an intimate forum held on October 1 in Makati. Hosted by period care brand Halia in collaboration with Master Rega Stellar Pe, director of the World Institute for Incurable Diseases (WIID), the event, which coincided with Menopause Awareness Month, shed light on a crucial phase of female health that remains shrouded in silence and myth.

Photo by Sab Quinones

Redefining the Image of the Menopausal Woman

Pe opened the discussion with an insightful mental exercise, asking attendees to visualize a menopausal woman, followed by a perimenopausal woman. The contrast in responses was telling.

While most people can easily picture an older gray or white-haired woman to represent menopause, the concept of a perimenopausal woman remains a blank canvas.

“There’s no icon of perimenopause,” Pe shared. “So what do we do? We’ve got to make that icon for ourselves—where your body’s going through changes and you’re going to be the champion of it, rather than be worried.”

Contrary to the belief that perimenopause only affects women in their late 40s or 50s, Pe explained that hormonal shifts can begin as early as age 30, lasting anywhere from three to ten years before reaching full menopause.

To help illustrate the relationship between the two, Pe offered a relatable analogy: “Perimenopause is the journey. Menopause is the graduation certificate.”

Photo by Sab Quinones

What Menopause Actually Means for the Body

Understanding the “graduation“ requires looking past the simple definition of “no more periods.”  Menopause, according to the MayoClinic is “when periods stop for good. It’s diagnosed after 12 months without a menstrual period, vaginal bleeding, or spotting”. It normally happens between the 40s and 50s.

But as the ovaries slow their production of estrogen and progesterone, the impact reaches far beyond reproductive capacity.

Estrogen acts as a key protective system throughout a woman’s entire body—influencing brain function, bone density, cardiovascular health, and skin elasticity. When estrogen drops during menopause, women face distinct physiological shifts that deserve proactive care:

• Bone Density and Joint Health: Estrogen helps regulate bone turnover. As levels decline, bone loss accelerates, making bone health a top priority through strength training, calcium, and vitamin D.
• Cardiovascular Changes: Estrogen helps keep blood vessels flexible and maintains healthy cholesterol levels. Post-menopause, a woman’s risk for cardiovascular disease catches up to that of men, making heart health a non-negotiable focus.
• Vaginal and Urinary Health: Lower estrogen leads to thinning of the tissues in the urinary tract and pelvic floor, causing issues like dryness or light bladder leaks—a completely normal bodily change that should never carry shame.
• Temperature & Metabolism: Fluctuating hormones disrupt the hypothalamus—the body’s internal thermostat, resulting in hot flashes, night sweats, and a natural slowdown in metabolic rate.

Recognizing the Unseen Symptoms

Throughout the forum, mothers and professionals learned about the often-overlooked indicators of perimenopause. Symptoms like brain fog, heightened anxiety, sudden mood shifts, and changes in metabolism are frequently dismissed as simple stress or burnout, masking the underlying hormonal shift.

To support sleep quality—which is often severely impacted during perimenopause—Pe shared a simple 3-2-1 bedtime rule:

• 3 hours before bed: Eat your last meal so active digestion doesn’t disrupt restful sleep.
• 2 hours before bed: Put away phones, laptops, and screens, and dim household lights to prepare your nervous system.
• 1 hour before bed: Stop liquid intake to avoid waking up for nighttime bathroom trips.

Beyond sleep, Pe urged modern women to reconnect with nature to manage stress and support overall balance.

“Are you not planted in cement as well? You take the elevator down to the garage. You get in the car. You go to your workspace… When was the last time that your feet actually touched clean grass?” she asked. “When you get a chance, kick off those shoes, get in the garden wherever you can. If you live in a high-rise, go to a garden or a park nearby.”

Photo by Sab Quinones

How a Period Care Brand Is Normalizing Reproductive Aging

It might seem unexpected for a period care brand founded by a 19-year-old to drive the conversation around perimenopause, but for Halia founder and CEO Alexa Jocom, expanding the narrative is a natural evolution.

“Halia has always been about helping women feel less alone with their bodies, and that doesn’t stop when periods do,” Jocom shared.

Rather than viewing menopause through a lens of decline, Jocom reframes it as an empowering stage of life, drawing inspiration from her own family. “When I look at my mom and my grandmother, I don’t see women who lost something. I see women whose experience and wisdom my generation is lucky to learn from.”

As part of their commitment to supporting women through every lifecycle, Jocom shared that Halia’s product line includes bladder liners designed to manage light leaks—a common yet rarely discussed perimenopausal symptom that many women silently endure.

As more women begin sharing their experiences, conversations around perimenopause and menopause are moving out of the shadows. Normalizing these discussions ensures that women step into every age equipped with knowledge, support, and confidence.

On Perimenopause and menopause

Stronger Together: Perimenopause Without Shame
Why It’s Time We Talk About Perimenopause
Everyday Habits That Can Make Menopause Easier for Women