At forty, you did not expect to feel like this. Your cycles are shorter, your sleep is fractured, your temper surprises you, and the word 'menopause' seems absurd — isn't that for later? It isn't. The years before the final period bring their own hormonal transition, and for many women they begin in the early forties. This book is for the woman who has been told she is too young, too busy, or too stressed for this to be 'real'. Perimenopause at Forty takes the early phase seriously: what changes in your cycle, your sleep, your mood, your body, and your energy — and what you can do about it. It explains the science in plain language, names the red flags that need a doctor's attention, prepares you for the treatment conversation without telling you what to choose, and helps you advocate for yourself at work and in the consulting room. Your symptoms are not trivial, and they are not your imagination. This is the guide to the years before the change. Part of The Menopause Companion Library.