Perimenopause Decoded: A Holistic Guide to Thriving Through Hormonal Change

The Hormonal Shift You Didn't See Coming

If you’re in your late 30s, 40s, or early 50s and starting to feel “off,” emotionally overwhelmed, or physically unlike yourself, you’re not alone, and you’re not imagining it. Welcome to perimenopause, the lesser-understood hormonal transition that leads into menopause.

At Spring Integrative Health, we believe this isn’t just a stage to survive, but an opportunity to transform. With insights from Dr. Alisun Bonville, a board-certified naturopathic physician, functional medicine doctor, and naturopathic endocrinologist, this article aims to help you understand your hormones, feel seen, and take back control of your health naturally and holistically.

What Is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause literally means “around menopause.” It refers to the transitional time before menopause, when your hormone levels—primarily estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone—start to shift in unpredictable ways.

Menopause officially begins after 12 months without a menstrual period, typically around age 50–52. But perimenopause? It can start as early as your mid-30s and last 5 to 10 years or more.

Common Signs You're In Perimenopause

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just hot flashes and night sweats (though those are common). Dr. Ali sees a wide variety of symptoms in her patients, including:

Mood swings – from rage and irritation to anxiety or sudden sadness
Sleep issues – trouble falling or staying asleep
Irregular periods – every two weeks, every six months, heavier or lighter
Worsened PMS – more intense cramps, moodiness, or bloating
Joint pain – especially frozen shoulder or stiffness
Skin changes – dryness, rashes, or itchiness
Hair loss or thinning
Thyroid issues
Vaginal dryness or discomfort

“There are a lot of strange symptoms that come with perimenopause,” says Dr. Ali. “They’re real, and they’re rooted in shifting hormones.”

Ready to discover solutions? Click HERE to learn more and book your consultation with Dr. Ali.

Why Hormones Get Out Of Balance

Hormones don’t decline in a straight line. Instead, they fluctuate unpredictably, leading to both physical and emotional challenges.

Progesterone: The Calming Hormone

One of the first hormones to dip is progesterone, our grounding, calming, sleep-promoting hormone. It helps us feel emotionally flexible, resilient, and able to handle stress. As it declines, we may feel:

Edgy or easily overwhelmed
Less able to handle stress
Difficulty sleeping or “shutting off” the brain

Low progesterone is one of the first early signs that perimenopause is beginning.

Estrogen: The Feminine Hormone

Estrogen is what gives us curves, energy, and skin elasticity. But in perimenopause, it becomes erratic. One day it’s low (hello, hot flashes), and another day it spikes (hello, heavy periods and breast tenderness). Eventually, it declines for good post-menopause.

Cortisol: The Stress Hormone

Here’s where modern life doesn’t help: chronic stress steals or lowers progesterone. This phenomenon, called the “cortisol steal,” means your body diverts resources away from calm to stay in survival mode.

Testosterone: The Underestimated Ally

Though less discussed, testosterone is vital for libido, energy, and muscle mass. In some women, it stays stable; in others, it drops alongside the other hormones exacerbating fatigue and low motivation.

Natural Solutions to Support Perimenopause

At Spring Integrative Health, we believe that the best care honors both conventional science and natural medicine. Here’s how we support women in perimenopause:

1. Test, Don’t Guess

Because estrogen can be either too high or too low, and symptoms may look similar, Dr. Ali recommends comprehensive hormone testing to identify your unique hormone profile.

“Your symptoms might be from high estrogen one month, and low the next. Testing helps us support your body with precision,” she notes.

2. Nourish Your Hormones Through Food

Balance blood sugar – reduce processed carbs and sugars
Add phytoestrogens – flax, lentils, and soy may help balance estrogen
Support the liver – cruciferous vegetables help detox used hormones
Include omega-3s – flaxseed oil, walnuts, and fish reduce inflammation

3. Lifestyle & Mind-Body Practices

Move your body daily: strength training, walking, yoga
Prioritize rest – your body is doing deep inner work
Practice stress reduction: breathwork, journaling, therapy, or acupuncture
Sleep hygiene – limit blue light, wind-down rituals, herbal sleep aids

Click HERE to book a free, no-strings consultation and start your healing journey.

Honoring the Emotional Side of Perimenopause

This isn’t just a physical shift. It’s an emotional and spiritual portal, too.

“I’ve always said perimenopause is the mother of all hormonal transitions. It magnifies what isn’t working—relationships, jobs, to-do lists—and invites us to re-evaluate,” Dr. Ali says.

In cultures that revere aging women, this phase is honored as the transition to the wise woman. Yet in ours, we often feel dismissed or devalued.

At Spring Integrative Health, we encourage you to see this as a chance to slow down, tune inward, and ask:

What do I really want in this next phase of life?
Where am I over-giving or over-tasking?
How can I nourish myself?

This kind of self-reflection isn’t indulgent—it’s necessary medicine.

Menopause Isn’t the End. It’s a Beginning.

Eventually, your hormone levels stabilize. Your cycle stops. This is menopause—but it’s far from an ending.

“I believe we have so much to offer in this new phase,” says Dr. Ali. “We’re not here just to create life. We’re here to live it—fully.”

Your body, your soul, and your hormones are all signaling one thing:
It’s time to shift.
Shift into your wisdom self.

Click HERE to start getting the holistic support you need and deserve.

How Spring Integrative Health Can Help

We specialize in helping women navigate hormonal transitions with:

Comprehensive hormone testing and replacement therapy
Personalized supplement protocols
Nutrition and lifestyle guidance
Acupuncture and stress relief therapies
Counseling and emotional support

Our integrative approach means we don’t just chase symptoms—we uncover root causes and build a supportive, long-term plan for your whole health.

Take the Next Step Toward Hormonal Balance

If you’re feeling frustrated, anxious, fatigued—or just curious about what’s next—know that you’re not alone, and you’re not broken.

You’re evolving.

Book a consultation with one of our practitioners at Spring Integrative Health and let us help you create a personalized, holistic plan for this next beautiful chapter of life. Get started today by booking your consultation.

Final Thought: Reclaim Your Power

You don’t have to white-knuckle your way through perimenopause. You don’t have to “just deal with it.” And you certainly don’t have to go through it alone.

This is your time to pause, reflect, and reclaim your body’s wisdom.

Click here to learn more about the services we provide, and click here to schedule your free consultation today. We can’t wait to speak with you and help you create a customized path towards solving whatever hormonal challenges you are facing.