I hope things are changing (slowly!) but I look back at what my grandmothers went through and it’s quite humbling- so many labours with little to no pain relief (in the 70s my mother wasn’t even anaesthetised for stitches post birth!). One of my grandmothers went into an asylum in the 1950s for what was almost certainly menopause with no help or support - thankfully we at least have the internet to research what we are going through. For me, understanding is important to how I cope with something.
I agree that it’s really difficult to pinpoint peri menopause because hormone levels will fluctuate, the ‘test’ I had done a few years back said no I wasn’t in peri but yet I know my cycles are different for me. I’d listen to your instinct.