Perimenopause symptoms aren’t always hot flashes or missed periods. In this video, I break down 5 surprising perimenopause symptoms women aren’t warned about and explain why they happen.
Perimenopause can show up in ways that feel confusing, random, and even unsettling, especially if no one ever told you what to expect in your 40s.
In this video, we explore:
• Why perimenopause symptoms can look unrelated
• How hormone fluctuations affect multiple systems in the body
• Why many women are told it’s “just stress” when it’s not
• How understanding the why helps you feel steadier and more in control
This is not about fear or diagnosis. It’s about helping you understand what your body is communicating so you can stop second-guessing yourself in this season.
Want support and clarity for this phase of life?
Join the perimenopause waitlist here:
https://waitlist.embrmornings.com
Which part of this episode surprised you most? Or what have you experienced that no one warned you about? Your comment may help another woman feel less alone.
Subscribe for clear, grounded conversations about perimenopause and midlife, so you can understand your body instead of fighting it.
EMBR MIDLIFE METHOD
YouTube
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
Mindvalley
Typeset
Medical Disclaimer: The information shared on this channel is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Kimberly Hoyt, PA-C, and associated content are not a substitute for professional medical care, diagnosis, or treatment. Viewing/Listening to this content does not establish a patient-provider relationship. Always consult your own healthcare provider before making changes to your health plan, starting supplements, or addressing medical concerns.
General Disclaimer: I am not a CPA, attorney, insurance/real estate agent, contractor, lender, or financial advisor. The content in these episodes shall not be construed as tax, legal, financial advice, or other and may be outdated or inaccurate; it is your responsibility to verify all information yourself. This is a podcast for entertainment purposes ONLY.
Episode Transcript
If you thought perimenopause was just about hot
flashes and irregular periods,you may have been lied to though
not on purpose, but just byomission.
Hormones do not just affect yourovaries.
They affect your brain, yourskin, your eyes, your mouth,
your metabolism, and even yournervous system.
(00:20):
So when things start shifting,your symptoms can look random,
but they are not random.
They are connected.
By the end of this video, you'regoing to realize your body isn't
malfunctioning, it'scommunicating.
Hi, I am Kimberly Hoyt and I'm aphysician assistant and a
midlife girly walking throughthis midlife shift right
(00:41):
alongside you.
Today we're talking about fivesurprising perimenopause
symptoms that most women arenever warned about.
And I'm gonna do two things inthis video.
First, of course, we're gonnatalk about the symptoms in a way
that helps you recognize it.
And second, I'll explain the whyin plain English.
so you can stop thinking you'refalling apart.
(01:02):
Quick note before we dive in.
Not every symptom isperimenopause.
If something is sudden severe,one-sided or truly alarming,
always get checked out.
My goal here is clarity, notself-diagnosis.
Here's the big idea that makesall of this make sense.
(01:23):
In perimenopause, estrogen andprogesterone do not just
gradually decline.
They fluctuate and sometimeswildly, and these hormones
interact with neurotransmitterslike serotonin and gaba and
dopamine, with histamine andinflammation, and with how our
bodies handle insulin and ourstress hormones.
(01:47):
So the symptoms can show up inplaces you don't expect.
Let's get into the five.
Symptom number one, itchy ears.
This one sounds almost sillyuntil it's happening to you.
It is a deep itch in the earcanal and you look for the
obvious causes.
Is it wax?
Do you have an infection?
Maybe it's allergies, andsometimes it is those things,
(02:10):
but a lot of women notice itchyears with no clear explanation,
and it seems to be right aroundthis perimenopause time.
This is one for me that I had.
I was cleaning my ears out andbecause I work in the medical
field, I had my friend Melanielook in my ears and she's like,
girl, those are the cleanestears I've ever seen.
(02:30):
There's no wax, there's nothing.
They look fine.
It was just this crazy shiftbecause of perimenopause.
So here's the why.
Estrogen supports skinthickness, skin hydration, and
collagen production.
It also influences the oil andmoisture balance in our tissues.
When estrogen fluctuates, skincan get drier and more
(02:54):
sensitive, that includes theskin you would never think about
like the ear canal.
There is also a second layerhere.
Hormone shifts can make yourimmune system more reactive and
can amplify histamine activity.
So histamine is involved initching.
Some women feel itchier ingeneral, including ears, scalp,
(03:16):
and even random patches of skin.
This is another one that hasshown up for me.
I have this itchy spot on myback.
I can barely reach it, and ithas driven me crazy for years.
So what to do next, withoutovercomplicating it, if there's
pain, drainage, hearing loss,fever, or one-sided severe
(03:38):
symptoms, please get evaluated.
If it's just dryness and itch.
Think of hydration,environmental dryness, consider
talking to your provider beforeyou start putting random things
in your ear.
Your ear canal is not a DIYscience project.
If you're thinking, why iseverything drying out?
This is another one that youmight hate a little bit, but it
(04:02):
will also make you feel lesscrazy.
Symptom number two, dry eyes andsubtle vision changes.
Dry eyes can feel like grittyeyes burning, stinging, watery
eyes that are actually dry, andeyes that feel worse on screens.
Some women also notice thattheir vision feels a little
(04:24):
blurrier by the end of the day,even with their glasses on, and
here's why.
Your tear film is not justwater.
It has layers including an oillayer that keeps the tears from
evaporating too quickly.
Hormones including estrogen andandrogens, influence the glands
that produce parts of that tearfilm.
(04:45):
So as your hormones fluctuate,tear quality and quantity can
change.
Also, estrogen influencescollagen and fluid balance in
the tissues, and that includesthe tissues of your eye and your
cornea.
So some women notice subtlechanges that make contacts less
(05:06):
comfortable, eyes moreirritated, and screen time more
draining.
What to do next.
Dry eye can be common, but itshould not be dismissed.
If you have new floaters,flashes of light, curtain like
vision loss or severe pain thatis urgent or emergent.
Make sure you are seen.
(05:26):
For a more typical dry eyepicture.
Consider reducing screen strain.
Blinking more intentionally, butdefinitely talk to your eye
doctor if it's a persistentproblem.
There are good options and youdo not have to just suffer
through it.
Now let's move to the symptomthat makes women feel like
they're doing something wrong,even when they're not.
(05:47):
Symptom number three, weightredistribution and visceral fat.
A lot of women say, my weightdid not just change my shape,
changed.
Less fullness in the hips orthighs, but more around the
middle.
Or they feel like they suddenlyhave that belly that does not
respond the way it used to.
Here's the why, and I want youto hear this clearly.
(06:10):
This is not just willpower, itis physiology.
Estrogen influences how andwhere your body stores fat.
When estrogen is higher, womentend to store more fat
subcutaneously, meaning underthe skin, often around the hips
and thighs.
As estrogen declines andfluctuates, fat storage shifts
(06:33):
towards the abdomen, and more ofit can be visceral fat, meaning
deeper fat around the organs.
There's also an insulin piece.
In midlife many women becomemore insulin resistant, meaning
the body needs more insulin tomanage the same blood sugar
level.
Higher insulin levels favor fatstorage and make it harder to
(06:56):
access stored fat, especiallyaround the midsection.
And there's a stress piece to ittoo.
Cortisol doesn't causeeverything despite the internet
acting like it's the villain ina superhero movie, but chronic
stress, poor sleep, can worseninsulin resistance and appetite
regulation.
And we know that perimenopauseoften disrupts sleep, so it
(07:20):
becomes this vicious cycle andthis loop.
So what do you need to do next?
You do not need extreme dieting,that tends to backfire.
In general, strength training,protein, fiber, and walking do
far more than punishing cardioand undereating.
Now you may want a deeper diveand a deeper look so you can
(07:41):
talk to your provider about labsfor metabolic markers and, and
not just use the number on thescale to gauge where things are.
Now we're gonna shift from thesebody changes to brain and
nervous system changes.
This next one is wild and canmake you feel like you have a
much shorter fuse or muchthinner skin.
(08:04):
Symptom number four, sensoryoverload and smell intolerance.
This is different from phantomsmells that we talked about in
the last video.
Phantom smells are smellingsomething that truly is not
there.
Sensory overload is when realinput feels louder, stronger,
more intense, or more irritatingthan it used to.
(08:26):
Perfume suddenly feels likechemical warfare.
The TV feels too loud, crowdsfeel overwhelming, and you feel
like your nervous system isrunning on overdrive.
Here's the why.
Estrogen and progesteroneinteract with neurotransmitters
in the brain.
Progesterone through itsmetabolites, can have calming
effects via gaba, which is theneurotransmitter that helps your
(08:50):
brain feel settled.
When progesterone drops somewomen feel less buffered, more
easily overstimulated orirritated.
Estrogen also influencesserotonin and norepinephrine
pathways, which affects mood,sensitivity to stress and how
the brain processes sensoryinput.
(09:11):
So when hormones fluctuate, yourbrain can interpret the same
environment as more intense.
There may also be a migraineconnection here even without
headaches some women have amigraine type sensitivity
pattern where light and soundtolerance changes with hormonal
shifts.
(09:32):
What to do next?
First, name it.
Naming it helps you justrecognize it.
Second, reduce your stimulationload where you can, because
white knuckling it all day isnot a badge of honor.
If it's significant, track itPatterns matter.
your cycle timing, sleep,caffeine, alcohol, dehydration,
(09:54):
and stress all modulate this.
And if you have any neurologicalred flags or you're concerned in
any way, get evaluated.
And now for one that trulyannoys people because it feels
unrelated and it can make youworried that something bigger is
wrong.
Symptom number five, gumsensitivity and dental changes.
(10:15):
Some women notice bleeding gums,even though they didn't change
how they brushed their teeth ortheir routine.
You may notice more sensitivity,dry mouth, more cavities, or
your gums just feel moreinflamed.
Here's the why.
All goes back to estrogen.
Estrogen supports the integrityof the mucus membranes, blood
(10:38):
flow, and connective tissues.
When estrogen declines, tissuescan become more vulnerable to
inflammation and dryness thatincludes gum tissue.
There's also a bone densityangle here.
We usually talk about bonedensity as hips and spine, but
it can affect all our bones,including our jaw.
(10:59):
So oral health can shift inmidlife and inflammation
matters.
Hormonal changes can shift theinflammatory balance in the
body, and the gums are a placewhere inflammation shows up fast
because the mouth is a highbacterial environment.
What to do next.
Don't ignore it.
Talk to your dentist and letthem know that you're in
(11:20):
perimenopause and ask them whatthose hormonal shifts may mean
for your oral health.
If you're dealing with drymouth, hydration and gum safe
strategies can be super helpfulhere, and your dentist should be
able to guide you on thosestrategies.
Also, if you have new or severesymptoms, do not assume
(11:41):
hormones, get it checked out.
All right, so to recap, the fiveitchy ears, dry eyes, and subtle
vision changes.
Weight redistribution,especially around the middle,
sensory overload and smellintolerances, and then finally,
gum sensitivity and dentalchanges.
Here's the truth of the day.
(12:01):
Perimenopause symptoms can lookrandom, but they, they're often
just your body responding tofluctuating hormones across
multiple systems.
The goal is not to obsess overevery symptom.
The goal is to understand yourpatterns so you can make smarter
choices and have betterconversations with your
healthcare providers.
(12:22):
If this video made you feelseen, like, and subscribe, I'm
gonna continue breaking downperimenopause in a way that
actually makes sense.
And share this with a friend whomight be noticing similar
changes and wondering what'sgoing on.
I would love for you to drop inthe comments, which one of these
symptoms surprised you most?
(12:42):
Or what symptom have you beendealing with that doesn't get
talked about enough?
Your comment might help anotherwoman connect the dots.
Tune in next time where we'retalking about that stubborn
belly fat and what to do aboutit.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Burden
The Burden is a documentary series that takes listeners into the hidden places where justice is done (and undone). It dives deep into the lives of heroes and villains. And it focuses a spotlight on those who triumph even when the odds are against them. Season 5 - The Burden: Death & Deceit in Alliance On April Fools Day 1999, 26-year-old Yvonne Layne was found murdered in her Alliance, Ohio home. David Thorne, her ex-boyfriend and father of one of her children, was instantly a suspect. Another young man admitted to the murder, and David breathed a sigh of relief, until the confessed murderer fingered David; “He paid me to do it.” David was sentenced to life without parole. Two decades later, Pulitzer winner and podcast host, Maggie Freleng (Bone Valley Season 3: Graves County, Wrongful Conviction, Suave) launched a “live” investigation into David's conviction alongside Jason Baldwin (himself wrongfully convicted as a member of the West Memphis Three). Maggie had come to believe that the entire investigation of David was botched by the tiny local police department, or worse, covered up the real killer. Was Maggie correct? Was David’s claim of innocence credible? In Death and Deceit in Alliance, Maggie recounts the case that launched her career, and ultimately, “broke” her.” The results will shock the listener and reduce Maggie to tears and self-doubt. This is not your typical wrongful conviction story. In fact, it turns the genre on its head. It asks the question: What if our champions are foolish? Season 4 - The Burden: Get the Money and Run “Trying to murder my father, this was the thing that put me on the path.” That’s Joe Loya and that path was bank robbery. Bank, bank, bank, bank, bank. In season 4 of The Burden: Get the Money and Run, we hear from Joe who was once the most prolific bank robber in Southern California, and beyond. He used disguises, body doubles, proxies. He leaped over counters, grabbed the money and ran. Even as the FBI was closing in. It was a showdown between a daring bank robber, and a patient FBI agent. Joe was no ordinary bank robber. He was bright, articulate, charismatic, and driven by a dark rage that he summoned up at will. In seven episodes, Joe tells all: the what, the how… and the why. Including why he tried to murder his father. Season 3 - The Burden: Avenger Miriam Lewin is one of Argentina’s leading journalists today. At 19 years old, she was kidnapped off the streets of Buenos Aires for her political activism and thrown into a concentration camp. Thousands of her fellow inmates were executed, tossed alive from a cargo plane into the ocean. Miriam, along with a handful of others, will survive the camp. Then as a journalist, she will wage a decades long campaign to bring her tormentors to justice. Avenger is about one woman’s triumphant battle against unbelievable odds to survive torture, claim justice for the crimes done against her and others like her, and change the future of her country. Season 2 - The Burden: Empire on Blood Empire on Blood is set in the Bronx, NY, in the early 90s, when two young drug dealers ruled an intersection known as “The Corner on Blood.” The boss, Calvin Buari, lived large. He and a protege swore they would build an empire on blood. Then the relationship frayed and the protege accused Calvin of a double homicide which he claimed he didn’t do. But did he? Award-winning journalist Steve Fishman spent seven years to answer that question. This is the story of one man’s last chance to overturn his life sentence. He may prevail, but someone’s gotta pay. The Burden: Empire on Blood is the director’s cut of the true crime classic which reached #1 on the charts when it was first released half a dozen years ago. Season 1 - The Burden In the 1990s, Detective Louis N. Scarcella was legendary. In a city overrun by violent crime, he cracked the toughest cases and put away the worst criminals. “The Hulk” was his nickname. Then the story changed. Scarcella ran into a group of convicted murderers who all say they are innocent. They turned themselves into jailhouse-lawyers and in prison founded a lway firm. When they realized Scarcella helped put many of them away, they set their sights on taking him down. And with the help of a NY Times reporter they have a chance. For years, Scarcella insisted he did nothing wrong. But that’s all he’d say. Until we tracked Scarcella to a sauna in a Russian bathhouse, where he started to talk..and talk and talk. “The guilty have gone free,” he whispered. And then agreed to take us into the belly of the beast. Welcome to The Burden.