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May 25, 2026
Perimenopause or Stress? How to Tell the Difference
Perimenopause and stress share symptoms like anxiety, poor sleep, and mood swings. But cycle changes and symptom timing reveal which is more likely.
Researchers from Cardiff University, Queen's University Belfast, and Fertility Network UK surveyed 590 people who had experienced infertility or attended a fertility clinic in the past 5 years. The results were striking:
For context: PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a mental health condition triggered by a distressing event, marked by flashbacks, avoidance, and a constant sense of threat. It's most often associated with combat veterans or survivors of violent assault.
Complex PTSD (CPTSD) is what happens when trauma is repeated and prolonged. It includes all of PTSD, plus difficulty managing emotions, a damaged sense of self, and disrupted relationships. It's often associated with ongoing abuse or sustained medical trauma.
If you've ever felt like fertility treatment changed who you are, this study is validation that what you're experiencing has a name.
The researchers asked participants to describe their most troubling fertility experience, then grouped the responses. Three big patterns emerged:
1. The treatment journey itself
The emotional weight of cycle after cycle. Invasive procedures. The two-week wait. Hormones. The financial pressure. None of these are "events" in the traditional trauma sense, but stacked on top of each other for months or years, they wear people down in ways that show up clinically.
2. Reproductive loss
The most common...
With a background in nursing and a genuine passion for care, Jessie supports myStoria members as part of the Concierge team.
