Most of what you hear about perimenopause is hot flashes and skipped periods, but the earliest signs often look nothing like that. Here are the subtler shifts in sleep, mood, skin, and more that show up first, and why noticing them is a sign you're already ahead.

If your cycle has gotten unpredictable, your sleep is off, and you don't quite feel like yourself — you might be in perimenopause, even if "menopause" feels far away. Here's what's actually happening in your body, when it typically starts, and how to feel more supported through the transition.