Peri, or its official title perimenopause, is a period of many years of hormone fluctuations before the final menstrual period (a.k.a menopause, which occurs at an average age of 51). Peri is not premature menopause. Peri  can pop up anywhere from mid/late thirties and last over a decade. It’s not a case of if you will experience peri- it’s going to happen- it’s just a case of when.

I’m Fiona Byrne, a journalist and passionate peri aficionado. Over the course of my career, I have had the privilege of contributing to some of the world’s other leading publications including New York Magazine, the New York Times, Architectural Digest, NME, Nylon, Teen Vogue, and more.
I also do interiors.
 

As a writer, I have covered many things, but nothing has gripped me like peri, both personally and professionally. When realized I was experiencing peri things (and had been for ages) I went deep into the research, learning, sifting, and questioning. I was obsessed. I still am.

For me, peri started in my late 30s with stuff that wasn’t really a big deal, like dizziness and mysterious insanely itchy skin on my arms and upper back. Then came the forgetting words, a distinct lack of interest in fun, constant fatigue, sleep issues, and *extreme* difficulty concentrating. My hair texture was changing, becoming more dry and breakable. And the moods! Sweet mother of JESUS. I knew it wasn’t normal. I was used to PMS, but this was different.
   
I started talking about peri with my pals and the realization hit that we had all been seeing signs in ourselves for years. We just didn’t know it was peri. If anyone had mentioned peri in our general vicinity, we would have (wrongly) assumed that perimenopause meant an imminent, rapid onset of menopause.
 
As I delved deep into the peri annals, I soon saw the annals weren’t very deep at all. It was often hard to decipher evidence-based, reliable information from misinformation, and it was invariably buried within discussions of actual menopause, so it didn’t feel very relatable to those of us in early peri. In addition, much of the misinformation out there is often made to sound super-scientific, so it's even harder for peri newcomers to identify what’s true and what isn’t. Will that supplement really help? Does that urine test really work? 

I wanted to share everything I was learning in an easy-to-digest way and so, The Perisphere was born.  I have spoken to many of the world's leading peri experts including OB-GYNs, family doctors, nutritionists, urologists, psychologists, dermatologists, and researchers who have been gracious in sharing their time and knowledge for the peri purpose.

Signs of peri can start around forty, sometimes in your thirties, but due to lack of awareness, millions of women don’t recognize the signs when they begin. Hopefully, The Perisphere can help with that. Welcome, peri pals!
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Photo: Hayley Ellen Day