Beth Pierce: I’m in my late 30s and pre-menopausal. Here’s what I wish I knew

Most women are familiar with this term menopause, Which refers to the natural process when a woman’s ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone, leading to the end of the menstrual cycle. (According to the Mayo Clinic, the average age of most women who experience menopause is 51.) But perimenopause — which means “around the menopause” and includes menopause-like symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep problems, and irregular menstruation — is less discussed. Most women notice these changes in their 40s, but some symptoms can start to appear as early as their mid-30s. Given the reluctance to talk openly about perimenopause, this can be a scary and uncertain time for women.

Actress Beth Pierce, who turns 39 later this month, began experiencing perimenopausal symptoms around the age of 35. As such, she wanted to talk openly about her last few anxiety-filled years to help others feel less afraid of this very normal time in a woman’s life. Here, Pierce says luster What I learned.

Growing up, I remember hearing about menopause, but to me, it sounded like an old lady. So far down the line. I thought of a beautiful, white-haired older woman going through changes in her body. And the other sad thing? I don’t really remember ever hearing that word Premenopausal period.

I will be 39 on December 26, and I am pre-menopausal. It was a three year journey trying to figure out what was going on with me and getting no answers. But no one first thinks about perimenopause when you’re this young. I would go see doctors, get ultrasounds, and would always be told, “You’re fine.” Or, specifically, from male doctors, “You’re too young for perimenopause.” But I knew something wasn’t right. Now I know that your late 30s aren’t “too young.”

But let me rewind for a minute. I’ve been on the pill since I was 16 or 17; My periods were so heavy when I was a little girl that I couldn’t take AP exams because I was in pain. I’ve always had really intense courses. However, I did not have a regular menstrual cycle during the entire six-year period 2 girls break. I did so many physical things on this show that it consumed me and my body. It was like gymnastics. It also didn’t help that I was in a constant struggle with my body, which we now know is an eating disorder. My sister is an eating disorder therapist, and ironically, I’ve always been too afraid to go to a dietitian. A very famous producer said to me earlier in my career: “You better always have your body ready for a bikini. You’re on TV now.” Unfortunately, this stuck with me. I honestly thought the eating disorder might have exacerbated my undiagnosed perimenopausal symptoms, but I didn’t know.

Then, when I was 35, I froze my eggs because I knew my ovarian reserve was very low. I had to undergo fertility treatments to have my daughter who is now almost three. There’s not enough research on this, but I’ve learned that sometimes fertility treatments can make things worse [perimenopause].