Is It Menopause, or Something Else?

How to Tell If Your Symptoms Are Hormonal—or Something More

Fatigue. Brain fog. Mood swings. Bloating. Hair thinning. You’re not imagining it—and it’s not just aging either. But with so many overlapping symptoms, it’s hard to know: Is it perimenopause? Thyroid dysfunction? Adrenal fatigue? Or something else entirely?

At Vitality, we help patients uncover the root cause of their symptoms so they can finally feel like themselves again. If you're feeling off, here's what might be going on—and how to get clarity.

When “Hormones” Might Actually Be… Hormones

Perimenopause (the 5–10 years before menopause) can be a wild hormonal rollercoaster. During this time, estrogen and progesterone levels become unpredictable—and that can create a domino effect across multiple systems in the body.

Common signs of perimenopause include:

• Cycles that are shorter, longer, heavier, or irregular

• Night sweats or hot flashes

• Worsening PMS

• Trouble sleeping

• Anxiety or irritability

• Brain fog

• Breast tenderness

• New or worsening headaches

But here’s where it gets tricky: these same symptoms can be caused by thyroid dysfunction, chronic stress, nutrient deficiencies, or blood sugar imbalances.

So how do you know what’s really going on?

The Symptom Overlap Is Real

Let’s take a closer look:

Symptom	Perimenopause	Thyroid Dysfunction	Adrenal Imbalance
Fatigue	✓	✓	✓
Weight changes	✓ (esp. midsection)	✓	✓
Brain fog	✓	✓	✓
Hair thinning	✓	✓
Mood changes	✓ (esp. anxiety, rage)	✓ (depression common)	✓ (esp. wired/tired pattern)
Sleep disruption	✓	✓	✓
Cycle changes	✓	Often normal	Often normal

This overlap means it’s easy to get misdiagnosed—or dismissed altogether.

Functional Testing Can Help Uncover the Root Cause

Rather than guessing or relying on your age alone, we recommend running comprehensive labs to look at:

🔬 Sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone)

🔬 Thyroid function (including Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, and antibodies—not just TSH)

🔬 Cortisol patterns (to assess stress/adrenal function)

🔬 Nutrient levels (like B12, iron, magnesium, and vitamin D)

🔬 Insulin and glucose markers (because blood sugar balance affects everything)

This whole-body approach helps us uncover whether your symptoms are due to shifting hormones, metabolic dysfunction, chronic stress—or all of the above.

You Don’t Have to Wait Until You’re “Officially” in Menopause

The average age of menopause (when cycles stop for 12 months) is 51. But symptoms often start much earlier—sometimes in your late 30s or early 40s.

If your labs come back “normal” but you still feel off, you’re not crazy—and you’re not alone. At Vitality, we listen to your story, not just your lab ranges.

The Bottom Line: You Deserve to Feel Good Again

Whether your symptoms are rooted in perimenopause, thyroid shifts, adrenal burnout, or all three, they’re real—and they’re treatable. You don’t have to tough it out or accept that this is just how life has to feel now.

Through personalized testing, hormone support, nutrition, and lifestyle changes, we help you reconnect with your energy, your clarity, and your calm.

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If you’re ready to take the next step in your journey toward optimal health, please contact us for a discovery call to see if our approach is right for you.