Natural health: I'm a mum in my 40s and feel tired most of the time

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I know it’s the height of summer but I feel tired most of the time and it’s making me irritable. My life is busy — I have three young children and work full-time in a job I love. I’m in my early 40s — am I too young to be experiencing perimenopause?

You are on target for perimenopausal changes since you are in your early 40s. These changes typically begin around age 35 onwards, as levels of progesterone and oestrogen begin to decline. Fatigue is one of the many symptoms that women experience during this time, along with (but not limited to) hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia, memory loss, headaches, irritability, mood swings, breast tenderness, weight gain, vaginal dryness, bladder problems, bloating, osteoporosis, decreased libido, and changes in skin, hair, teeth and nails.