If you're over 40 and noticing changes to your periods, sleep, mood, energy or body, you may be wondering whether you're experiencing perimenopause or menopause, and whether you should be taking a different supplement for each stage.
The short answer is that perimenopause and menopause are different stages of the same hormonal transition, so the type of support you look for may change as your symptoms and needs change.
Sérélys has developed two targeted supplements for these stages: Sérélys PERIMENO, designed specifically for perimenopausal wellbeing, and Sérélys MENO, designed to support wellbeing during menopause.
Both provide non-hormonal support using patented CyTonin® technology, but their formulations and positioning are tailored to different life-stage needs.
Perimenopause vs menopause: what's the difference?
One of the easiest ways to understand the difference is to look at where you are in the transition.
Perimenopause is the stage leading up to menopause. Your periods may become irregular, lighter or heavier, while symptoms can begin to appear as hormone levels fluctuate.
Menopause is reached when you have gone 12 consecutive months without a period, provided this isn't due to hormonal contraception. After this point, you're considered postmenopausal.
Importantly, there isn't one universal experience.
Some women experience significant symptoms during perimenopause, while others notice relatively little change. Symptoms can also continue or change after menopause.
Common symptoms across the transition can include:
- Hot flushes and night sweats
- Changes to sleep
- Fatigue and low energy
- Mood changes
- Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
- Changes to periods
- Vaginal dryness
- Muscle and joint aches
- Changes to bladder and urinary function
So, if you're looking for a perimenopause supplement or menopause supplement, the most useful place to start is not simply your age - it's understanding which stage you're in and what you're looking for support with.
Is it better to be in perimenopause or menopause?
Neither is inherently "better". Perimenopause and menopause are different stages, and every woman's experience is different.
Perimenopause can involve fluctuating hormones and changing periods, with symptoms that may come and go or change over time. Menopause marks the point when periods have stopped for 12 months, but symptoms can continue beyond this point.
Instead of asking which stage is better, a more useful question is: What kind of support is appropriate for me at this stage? That's where targeted formulations can be helpful.
What supplements should I take during perimenopause and menopause?
There isn't one supplement that every woman needs to take during perimenopause or menopause.
For someone specifically looking for natural support for perimenopause or menopause, it can therefore make sense to look for a product formulated around the particular life stage and symptoms you're experiencing.
This is the thinking behind the Sérélys range.
Sérélys PERIMENO: targeted support for perimenopause
Sérélys PERIMENO is formulated specifically for women experiencing perimenopause.
PERIMENO provides scientifically proven support for comfort during perimenopause, including:
- Restless sleep
- Low energy and fatigue
- Emotional imbalance and low mood
- Hot flushes and night sweats
Its formulation combines:
- PeriCyTonin®, a purified cytoplasmic pollen extract
- Saffron extract
- Vitamin E
The product is non-hormonal, vegan and made in France.
Why saffron extract in a perimenopause supplement?
Sérélys PERIMENO contains saffron extract alongside PeriCyTonin® and vitamin E.
Rather than looking at one ingredient in isolation, the product is formulated as a complete combination designed to provide targeted support during perimenopause.
This is important when comparing supplements: an ingredient appearing on a label doesn't automatically tell you what the finished product is designed to support.
PERIMENO's formulation is specifically positioned around the changing experience of perimenopause, including sleep, energy, mood and hot flushes.
Sérélys MENO: targeted support for menopause
Sérélys MENO is designed for menopausal wellbeing.
MENO is scientifically proven to support comfort during menopause, including:
- Hot flushes and night sweats
- Restless sleep
- Low energy and fatigue
MENO contains CyTonin® and vitamin E and is non-hormonal and vegan.
MENO is therefore particularly relevant if you're looking for non-hormonal support during menopause, especially where hot flushes, night sweats, sleep and fatigue are among your main concerns.
PERIMENO vs MENO: which Sérélys supplement is right for you?
If you're still having periods...
If your periods are changing and you're experiencing symptoms associated with the transition towards menopause, PERIMENO is the Sérélys product specifically formulated for perimenopause.
If you've reached menopause...
If you have gone 12 months without a period and are experiencing menopausal symptoms, MENO is formulated for menopausal wellbeing.
If you're unsure where you are in the transition, speak to a healthcare professional. Perimenopause does not always follow a predictable pattern, and hormonal contraception can make changes to your periods harder to interpret.
What makes Sérélys different from other menopause supplements?
One of the distinguishing features of Sérélys is its CyTonin® technology.
Pollen grains naturally have an outer shell. The patented CyTonin® process removes this outer shell, retaining the pollen cytoplasm.
The resulting purified and specific cytoplasmic pollen extracts contain naturally occurring proteins, vitamins, amino acids, trace elements and fatty acids. The extracts are described as highly bioavailable, non-hormonal and free from phytoestrogenic activity.
The pollen used in the process comes from selected plants cultivated in Sweden.
This gives Sérélys a different approach from supplements that simply combine a long list of vitamins, minerals or botanical ingredients.
What does "non-hormonal support" mean?
Non-hormonal support means that the supplement isn't intended to replace hormones such as oestrogen.
This is an important distinction when researching menopause supplements.
Sérélys MENO and PERIMENO are positioned as non-hormonal supplements, rather than hormone replacement therapies. Their CyTonin® pollen cytoplasmic extracts are described in the product materials as having no oestrogenic activity and being free from phytoestrogenic activity.
What does "phytoestrogen-free" mean?
You'll often see the term phytoestrogen when researching natural menopause supplements.
Phytoestrogens are plant compounds that can have oestrogen-like activity. Not all plant-based ingredients are phytoestrogens, and "natural" does not automatically mean hormonal or phytoestrogenic.
Sérélys' CyTonin® extracts are described as free from phytoestrogenic activity. This means Sérélys takes a non-hormonal approach rather than relying on phytoestrogenic ingredients as its mechanism of action.
For anyone specifically searching for a phytoestrogen-free menopause supplement, this distinction is worth understanding.
How do you choose a natural supplement for perimenopause or menopause?
With so many products marketed towards women over 40, it can be difficult to know what to look for.
A few questions can help.
1. Is it formulated for your life stage?
Perimenopause and menopause aren't interchangeable terms.
Look for a product that clearly explains whether it is designed for perimenopause, menopause or general nutritional support.
4. Is it genuinely non-hormonal?
If avoiding hormones or phytoestrogenic activity is important to you, check what the formulation actually contains rather than relying on terms such as "natural" or "plant-based".
5. Is it appropriate alongside your existing medication?
Natural supplements can still interact with medicines. Speak to a GP or pharmacist if you're considering complementary or herbal products, particularly if you take other medicines.
Can you take a perimenopause supplement after menopause?
The right product depends on the formulation and what you are looking to support.
Sérélys has developed PERIMENO specifically around perimenopausal wellbeing and MENO around menopausal wellbeing. As your life stage changes, your symptoms and priorities may change too.
That doesn't mean that moving from perimenopause into menopause requires a completely different approach overnight. Menopause is defined retrospectively after 12 months without a period, and symptoms can continue or change during and after this transition.
If you're unsure which product is most appropriate for you, your GP or pharmacist can help you understand your options.
Perimenopause and menopause: support that evolves with you
There is no single "best" supplement for every woman over 40.
Perimenopause can bring fluctuating symptoms while your periods are still changing. Menopause marks the point when you have gone 12 months without a period. Both stages can involve symptoms such as sleep disruption, mood changes, fatigue and hot flushes, but everyone's experience is different.
That's why choosing targeted natural support can be more useful than simply searching for the most popular menopause supplement.
For perimenopause, Sérélys PERIMENO combines PeriCyTonin®, saffron extract and vitamin E to support perimenopausal wellbeing.
For menopause, Sérélys MENO combines CyTonin® and vitamin E to support menopausal wellbeing, including hot flushes, night sweats, restless sleep and low energy.
Both offer a non-hormonal, vegan approach, with CyTonin® being free from phytoestrogenic activity.
The most important thing is to understand where you are in your menopause journey, what you're experiencing and what type of support you're looking for.
Frequently asked questions
What supplements should I take during perimenopause and menopause?
There is no single supplement that everyone should take. The right choice depends on your symptoms, nutritional needs, health and medications. If you're looking for targeted natural support, Sérélys PERIMENO is formulated for perimenopausal wellbeing, while Sérélys MENO is formulated for menopausal wellbeing. Speak to a healthcare professional if you're unsure what is appropriate for you.
What is CyTonin®?
CyTonin® is a purified and specific cytoplasmic pollen extract produced using Sérélys' patented technology. The process removes the outer shell of the pollen grain and retains the cytoplasm, which contains naturally occurring proteins, vitamins, amino acids, trace elements and fatty acids.
When should I choose PERIMENO rather than MENO?
PERIMENO is specifically formulated for the perimenopause stage, while MENO is formulated for menopausal wellbeing. If you're still having periods but noticing changes associated with perimenopause, PERIMENO may be the more relevant Sérélys formulation. If you've reached menopause, MENO is the formulation designed for this stage.
When should I speak to my doctor about perimenopause or menopause symptoms?
Speak to your GP if you think you have symptoms of perimenopause or menopause and want to discuss your options. The NHS also advises seeking medical advice for changes such as heavier bleeding during perimenopause or any vaginal bleeding after menopause.