(According to the Mayo Clinic, the average age most women experience menopause is 51.)
Here, Behrs tellsGlamourwhat shes learned.
I thought of a white-haired, beautiful older woman going through the changes with her body.
Courtesy of Stevan Perea
And the other sad thing?
I dont really remember ever hearing the wordperimenopause.
Im about to be 39 on December 26, and Im in perimenopause.
Its been a three-year journey trying to figure out what was going on with me and not getting answers.
But nobodys first thought is perimenopause when youre this young.
I would go see doctors, get ultrasounds, and was always told, Youre fine.
Or, specifically from male doctors, Youre too young for perimenopause.
But I knew something wasnt right.
And now I know that, no, your late 30s is not too young.
But let me rewind for a minute.
I always had really intense cycles.
A very famous producer told me earlier in my career, Your body better always be bikini ready.
Youre on TV now.
And sadly, thats stuck with me.
I genuinely think disordered eating might have made my undiagnosed perimenopause symptoms worse, but I didnt know.
I had to do fertility treatments to have my daughter, who is now almost three.
All of that brings me to what happened a year after welcoming my daughter.
It almost felt like I had a sunburn going up my whole body.
And it wasnt sweaty.
No sheet sweat, nothing like that.
I was gaining weight even though I was still exercising the same and eating healthy.
My stomach was so inflamed that I couldnt even latch my jeans at work.
And fine, your metabolism changes in your late 30s.
Girl loves a pie, girl loves a cake, but something was just not right.
Its a different kind of brain fog than I dont know my lines.
when I explained my symptoms.
Shes in her late 40s, and started to go through it as well.
I eventually was introduced to Dr. Gilberg-Lenz, an ob-gyn who specializes in perimenopause and menopause.
She has been a game changer for me and helped me figure out what was changing in my body.
And comforting to finally have answers.
I went back on estrogen.
I went back on the pill.
My periods became so much less heavy.
The fatigue was so much better.
I still get hot flashes or brain fog occasionally, but at least I know why.
I eat protein now like it is a full-time job and dont go four hours without eating.
My bloat is completely gone, and Im actually eating more than Ive ever eaten in my life.
And spoiler alert, thats actually better for you.
Now, that doesnt mean everything is a walk in the park.
Your anxiety can be exacerbated in perimenopause as well.
And you know what?
By the way, Im a shit-ton happier at almost 40 than I was at 25.
And your 20s are a beautiful time in your life.
Im owning who I am now, and Im empowered by it.
You dont have to tell me, I got this, because I might not got this.
Just say, Im here for you and I understand what youre saying.
Lets help other women feel less alone as theyre going through some of these hormonal changes.
There are still some people who think of me from 2013 as Caroline Channing.
Theyll be like, Oh, that girls in perimenopause!
And Ill take it.
