What happens when perimenopause isn't the short sprint you expected, but a decade-plus ultra marathon? In this deeply personal solo episode, I share my unfiltered 12-year perimenopause journey that began at 45 and continues at 57. From night sweats that started as harmless foot-out-of-bed moments to crime scene periods, failed hormone therapies, migraine nightmares, and finally finding relief through an endometrial ablation, this is the raw truth about what late perimenopause really looks like. If you've been told menopause happens around 51 and you're still waiting years later, this conversation is for you.

Key Takeaways

Every Journey is Unique and Yours Might Be Longer

While the average age of menopause in Australia is 51, some women (like me) are still in perimenopause well into their late 50s. You're not broken if your timeline doesn't match the textbook. You're just in the statistical minority that rarely gets discussed.

Lifestyle Changes Help, But They're Not Always Enough

Clean nutrition, prioritised sleep, regular movement, and stress management absolutely matter for long-term health and can improve some symptoms. But don't feel like a failure if lifestyle changes alone don't eliminate your symptoms. Sometimes you need medical intervention, too.

Hormone Therapy Isn't a Sign of Weakness

Choosing hormone therapy is an act of self-care, not surrender. Finding the right therapy and dose is a process that takes time, patience, and often multiple adjustments. What works may change as your body changes.

Advocate Fiercely for Yourself

Trust your body's signals and keep seeking help until you find practitioners who listen and understand. If your current doctor isn't helping, the Australasian Menopause Society maintains a list of women's health doctors with specialised menopause training.

Break the Silence

This phase of life has been hidden for too many generations. Talk about it with friends, family, and your partner. When we normalise these conversations, we make this natural transition feel less isolating for everyone.

Moving Forward

Your perimenopause journey might be a sprint, a marathon, or something in between, and all of these experiences are valid. Whether you're just starting to notice changes or you're deep in the thick of it, like I was, remember that menopause is inevitable, but suffering is not. There are options, treatments, and support available.

Connect with me

• Book your 20-minute connection call https://calendly.com/jo--138/20min?month=2025-07 

• RE-IMAGINE: A personalised 1:1 six-week mentoring programme https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/work-with-me 

• Share your journey with me by sending me a message on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/joclarkcoaching/ 

• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/joclarkcoaching/⁠

• Email me your success story at [email protected]. 

What you do today shapes your tomorrow. Your health matters because YOU matter.

Here’s to redefining midlife and making our next half of life even better than the first.