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Body Signals: Learning to Listen to Your Intuition During Hormonal Shifts

As women, we’re taught to keep going through pain, fatigue, anxiety, and even burnout. But during perimenopause and menopause, that “power through” mindset starts to fall apart. Not because we’re weak, but because our bodies are asking us to listen.

This season of change is more than hot flashes and mood swings—it’s a call to tune in.

🔄 Hormones Are Messengers—Are You Listening?

Hormones shift everything. From the way we sleep to how we eat, focus, love, and move, our bodies are in constant conversation with you. The problem? Most of us were never taught how to listen.

When estrogen dips or progesterone vanishes, we might feel:

• A deep, hard-to-explain tiredness

• A need for solitude or silence

• A craving for gentler routines

• Random aches that signal “slow down”

• Sensitivities to foods, sounds, or even people

These aren’t inconveniences. They’re signals. They’re your intuition, waking up.

🧘‍♀️ Menopause = An Invitation to Reconnect

The hormonal shifts of midlife often bring discomfort, yes. But they also peel away the noise. Suddenly, you know when something feels off. You feel more deeply when something is draining you. That’s not brokenness—it’s clarity.

Instead of asking “What’s wrong with me?” try asking:

• What is my body trying to tell me today?

• Where am I pushing myself when I need to pause?

• Is this fatigue physical… or emotional?

• What would nourish me—not just fuel me—right now?

🌿 Ways to Tap Into Your Body’s Wisdom

Here are a few gentle tools that can help you reconnect with your body’s signals during menopause:

1. Morning Body Scans

Before you get out of bed, scan from head to toe. Is there tension? Fatigue? Calm? What needs attention?

2. Mood Journaling

Note how you feel physically and emotionally each day. Patterns often emerge with your cycle, even during perimenopause.

3. Grounding Rituals

Take 5 minutes daily with your hand on your heart or belly. Deep breathing while gently asking, “What do you need from me today?”

4. Movement as Feedback

Gentle stretching, yoga, or walking can reveal areas of resistance or relief. Movement doesn’t have to be performance—it can be communication.

💗 You Know More Than You Think

When hormone levels fluctuate, it’s easy to feel unsure of yourself. But this is also the perfect time to trust your inner knowing. That gut feeling when something’s not right. That whisper when you need rest. That moment of joy when you say “no” and protect your peace.

You don’t have to become a whole new person. You’re just peeling back the layers, clearing out the noise, and getting closer to who you really are.

Menopause isn’t the end of intuition. It’s the beginning of a deeper, wiser voice inside you, one that’s been waiting to be heard.

What Your Clitoris Is Telling You: Numbness, Tingling & Hormones

By Laura Lynn Aviles, Founder of Perimenopause Chat Lounge

Let’s talk about something most women have been taught to ignore: changes in clitoral sensation.

If you've ever thought, “Why does it feel like something’s missing down there?” or “Why am I getting weird tingling or even burning sensations?”—you’re not imagining it. And you’re definitely not alone.

I started noticing it myself not too long ago—a strange lack of sensation, like something had been “turned off.” Then, out of nowhere, sensation returned during my cycle—suddenly stronger, almost like the nerves had flickered back to life. These shifts were confusing, frustrating, and frankly, a little scary. But they became the spark that led me to start asking real questions and connecting with other women who felt the same.

Hormones, Nerves & Your Clitoris: A Missing Piece of the Menopause Puzzle

As we move through perimenopause and beyond, hormonal shifts—especially estrogen and testosterone—can affect nerve function, blood flow, and tissue sensitivity, particularly in intimate areas like the clitoris.

When I began diving into research, I discovered that many women in perimenopause experience numbness, tingling, or even burning sensations around the clitoral or vulvar area. But no one talks about it. It's often brushed off as aging or “just stress.” But in reality, it can be a direct signal from your nervous system and hormones that something’s shifting.

Is It Hormonal? Is It Neurological? It’s Often Both.

Here’s what I—and many others—have experienced:

• Numb or dulled clitoral sensation

• Sudden “zapping” or tingling feelings

• Random return of sensitivity around ovulation or mid-cycle

• Difficulty achieving orgasm, or orgasms that feel weaker or inconsistent

These symptoms often come and go in rhythm with your cycle, just like mine did. I noticed that sensation would completely fade for weeks, then return during ovulation, only to disappear again. It wasn’t random. It was hormonal.

Let’s Talk About the Pudendal Nerve

The clitoris is supplied by the pudendal nerve, which runs from the sacrum (lower spine) through the pelvic floor. If you’ve had children (I’ve had nine!), or spent years sitting at a desk, or ever had back or tailbone issues, you may be dealing with nerve compression, too.

In fact, the more I listened to my body, the more I realized how important posture, pelvic floor tension, and nerve health were in this picture. Our clitoris isn’t just a surface organ—it’s deeply connected to our nervous system and entire pelvic structure.

Don’t Forget Testosterone

Another thing I personally learned the hard way: testosterone matters more than we’re told. I began using a low-dose testosterone cream (under medical supervision) directly on the clitoris. It was subtle, but I began to notice small shifts—like more sensation, occasional return of desire, and even more energy.

Most women don’t even know they can test their testosterone, or that low levels might be part of why they feel “shut down” sexually.

How I’m Supporting My Clitoral Nerve Health Now

Here’s what’s been working for me (and what I recommend looking into):

💡 Hormone testing — Track your estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone
💡 Pelvic nerve awareness — I do stretches, avoid long hours sitting, and use a posture-correcting cushion
💡 Nutrient support — I’ve focused on increasing B12, iron, and magnesium—all critical for nerve health
💡 Clitoral stimulation therapy — Using safe, gentle vibration to help “reawaken” nerves and blood flow
💡 Talking about it openly — Creating this community is part of my own healing

You’re Not Broken—You’re Changing

This journey isn’t about shame—it’s about understanding. If you’re noticing changes in sensation or sexual response, don’t ignore it. These symptoms are real, valid, and deserve compassionate support.

I created Perimenopause Chat Lounge so we could finally talk about these things—without embarrassment, without being dismissed, and with real strategies for healing.

Let’s normalize this conversation and remind ourselves:
🩷 You are not alone. You are not broken. Your body is talking—let’s listen together.

💓 When Your Heart Skips a Beat: Understanding Heart Arrhythmias in Perimenopause

Ever feel your heart flutter, pound, or suddenly race—only to calm back down minutes later? If you're in perimenopause, this unsettling sensation might not be your imagination. It could be a heart arrhythmia, and yes—hormones may be playing a role.

⚠️ What is a Heart Arrhythmia?

A heart arrhythmia is simply an irregular heartbeat. It can feel like:

• Skipped beats

• Extra beats

• A fluttering or pounding sensation

• A sudden “rush” in your chest

Many arrhythmias are benign, especially in healthy women, but during perimenopause, they can show up more frequently and more noticeably.

🔄 The Hormone Connection

As estrogen and progesterone fluctuate, they can affect your cardiovascular system in several ways:

• Estrogen helps regulate blood vessels and heart rhythm. A sudden drop may lead to palpitations.

• Progesterone has a calming effect on the nervous system. When levels fall, your heart may become more sensitive to adrenaline and stress.

• Anxiety and sleep loss (both common in perimenopause) can amplify how arrhythmias feel.

✅ What Can You Do?

1. Track your symptoms.
   Keep a log of when arrhythmias happen, how long they last, and any related triggers (caffeine, stress, cycle day, etc.).

2. Rule out other causes.
   Ask your provider to check your iron, thyroid, B12, and electrolyte levels—all of which can influence heart rhythm.

3. Limit stimulants.
   Cut back on caffeine, alcohol, and sugar, especially before bed.

4. Manage stress.
   Gentle breathwork, walking, or even magnesium glycinate can help calm your nervous system and reduce flutters.

5. Talk to your provider.
   While most perimenopausal arrhythmias are harmless, it’s important to rule out anything serious. An EKG or Holter monitor can offer peace of mind.

💬 Final Thought

Heart arrhythmias in perimenopause can be scary, but they’re often just a sign your body is adjusting to hormonal changes. You’re not alone, and you’re not broken. With support, education, and a little self-care, you can feel steady and safe again.