10 Early Perimenopause Symptoms No One Talks About (What Helps & When to Act)

In this video, Dr. Brighten talks about 10 surprising perimenopause symptoms many women are not warned about, including itchy ears, tinnitus, burning mouth, brain fog, hair thinning, bloating, and more. She explains how changing hormones can affect the brain, nerves, digestion, oral health, and hair, plus what can actually help. Pre-order ADHD and Women by Dr. Jolene Brighten and discover how hormones shape focus, motivation, executive function, and emotional regulation ⁠⁠http://drbrighten.com/adhdandwomen 00:00 Weird perimenopause symptoms no one talks about 00:01 Why symptoms can start before missed periods 00:01 Itchy ears in perimenopause 00:04 Ringing in the ears and hormones 00:06 Burning tongue and dry mouth 00:08 Electric shock sensations and nerve zaps 00:10 Tingling hands and feet 00:12 Brain fog, ADHD, and executive dysfunction 00:18 Metallic taste in the mouth 00:19 Hair thinning and scalp changes 00:20 Breast changes and loss of fullness 00:21 Bloating, digestion, and microbiome shifts 00:23 Biggest perimenopause mistake women make 00:26 Final takeaway and support This Episode Is Brought to You By: Dr. Brighten Essentials Want science-backed supplements formulated by a doctor who actually understands women’s health? 🌿 Exclusive for podcast listeners: Use code POD15 at checkout for 15% off your order. Shop now: https://drbrightenessentials.com HigherDOSE – Red Light Showerhead Filter Your shower water could be impacting your skin more than you think. The HigherDOSE Red Light Showerhead Filter features a 10-stage filtration system designed to reduce chlorine, VOCs, and other contaminants that can contribute to dryness and irritation. It also includes built-in red light therapy to support cellular energy and overall skin appearance—turning your daily shower into a more restorative ritual. Save 15% at higherdose.com/drbrighten and use code DRBRIGHTEN15 for 15% off Shop now: http://higherdose.com/drbrighten Pique – Pu’er Tea Duo Gut health isn’t just about probiotics—it’s also about nourishing your microbiome. Pique’s Pu’er Tea Duo delivers polyphenol-rich support to help promote microbial diversity, gut lining health, and balanced digestion. Featuring Green Pu’er for antioxidant support and Black Pu’er for digestion and reduced bloating, it’s an easy daily ritual for whole-gut wellness. Get 20% off at https://piquelife.com/drbrighten to learn more. Shop now: http://drbrighten.com/piquelife Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Dr. Brighten hormone resources: https://drbrighten.com ADHD + Hormone Sync Guide: https://drbrighten.com/sync Dr. Lisa Mosconi’s book The Menopause Brain Radiant Mind (cognitive support supplement with saffron, bacopa, and choline) 👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten: 💻 Website: https://www.drbrighten.com 📸 Instagram: Instagram: drjolenebrighten 🎥 TikTok: TikTok: drjolenebrighten 🧵Threads: https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrig... 🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/ 🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJ... YouTube: @drjolenebrighten 👉 If you found this episode valuable, drop a comment below to tell us what you loved most, and share it with a friend! Let’s spread the knowledge. 💬✨ Dr. Jolene Brighten is a board-certified naturopathic endocrinologist, a Fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Endocrinology (FABNE), a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP), a nutrition scientist, and a certified sex counselor through the Sexual Health Alliance. As a licensed physician maintaining an active DEA license and full prescriptive authority, her educational frameworks align with leading global standards, including ESHRE and The Menopause Society. She serves as a faculty member for the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M), acts as the Lead Researcher for the Brighten Essentials Research Division, and is currently directing ongoing scientific research initiatives to advance clinical care standards for women navigating complex endocrinology, neurodivergence, and tissue-specific hormone sensitivities. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely my own and do not represent those of my employer or any affiliated organization. The discussion is intended for general educational purposes about women’s health and endometriosis care on a global level. References to challenges in diagnosis, access, or treatment reflect systemic issues in medicine as a whole and are not directed at any specific institution or provider. No patient information or organizational data are discussed.