At 40, lighter periods, vaginal dryness with burning, mood swings and brain fog together do point to perimenopause, the transition where hormones start swinging before periods stop completely. The dryness and itching happen because dropping estrogen thins the vaginal lining, not an infection. Weight gain and trouble losing it are common in this phase too, more so alongside a borderline
sugar reading like yours.
Next Steps
Ask your gynaecologist about hormone levels to confirm where you are in the transition, and about a vaginal moisturiser you can use regularly for the dryness and itching. For the weight and borderline
sugar reading, a physician or diabetologist can guide diet and activity changes, and your
thyroid dose should stay reviewed by your treating doctor.
Health Tips
See a doctor sooner if your bleeding pattern changes further, you notice spotting between periods, or the dryness causes pain during sex that doesn't ease up.