Soha Ali Khan calls for perimenopause awareness - Here’s everything you need to know

In a recent social media post, Soha Ali Khan opened up about perimenopause and the impact it can have on women. Perimenopause is the transitional stage before menopause, when hormonal shifts, begin to reshape how your body feels and functions. It typically starts in your 40s, sometimes even earlier, bringing changes in mood, energy levels, and menstrual cycles.

During this stage, the menstrual cycle becomes irregular, and symptoms like disrupted sleep, emotional ups and downs, and hot flashes may appear. These changes are simply your hormones readjusting, not signs of anything “wrong.”

The trickiest part is that many symptoms don’t feel hormonal at first. Women may experience forgetfulness, anxiety, restlessness, or a sudden dip in confidence. These subtle changes often get dismissed as stress or routine exhaustion, making it harder to recognise perimenopause early.

Many women go through this transition quietly because discussing hormonal changes still feels taboo. There’s an unspoken pressure to “manage” everything without showing discomfort. But the reality is that this is a major biological shift, and normalising conversations can make a huge difference.

Perimenopause does not signal the end of youth, vitality, or femininity. It is simply one of the natural phases of aging. When we understand it as a transition rather than a decline, it becomes easier to approach it with compassion instead of fear or shame.

From lifestyle adjustments and nutritious eating to stress management and therapy, many tools can ease this phase. In some cases, treatments like Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) may help when used safely under medical guidance.

According to various medical sources, symptoms may include irregular periods, hot flashes, sleep disturbances, mood changes, fatigue, and changes in libido. Vaginal dryness, urinary issues, and brain fog are also common. Consult a doctor if symptoms persist.

Perimenopause usually tapers off once you’ve gone about a year without a period. Symptoms often peak before this point and gradually stabilize afterwards. Soha emphasises that acknowledging your body’s changes and seeking the right support during this time can make this journey far less overwhelming.