Perimenopause is a natural but often confusing stage in a woman’s life. This guide offers a comprehensive, SEO-optimized overview of perimenopause symptoms, causes, hormonal changes, and treatment options to help women feel informed and empowered.

When women struggle with chronic fatigue, mood changes, digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, or unexplained symptoms, traditional lab work often fails to reveal the root cause. Organic Acid Testing (OAT) is a comprehensive metabolic assessment that helps uncover deeper biochemical imbalances, making OAT one of the most valuable tools in functional medicine, especially for women experiencing complex or lingering symptoms.

Your gut microbiome is made up of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that live in your digestive tract. In a healthy gut, “good” bacteria help digest food, produce essential vitamins, and keep harmful microbes in check. When this delicate ecosystem becomes imbalanced—a condition known as gut dysbiosis—it can lead to far-reaching health issues, particularly for women.

Food plays an essential role in fueling our bodies, supporting energy, and promoting overall well-being. But for many women, the foods they eat every day can also be the source of frustrating symptoms such as bloating, fatigue, headaches, or skin breakouts. These reactions are often linked not to food allergies—which are immediate and sometimes life-threatening—but to food sensitivities, which are harder to detect and can quietly undermine health over time.