Perimenopause and Menopause

01/24/2022

For many women, perimenopause and menopause remain topics we avoid, dismiss, or simply are never told about. Rarely are these subjects discussed openly, even in clinical settings. How many doctors ever mention perimenopause, let alone explain it?

I can think back to countless female patients in their forties who could not understand why they suddenly felt anxious, why their periods became heavier, why their sleep deteriorated, or why they developed vaginal or urinary symptoms. These changes were real, but the explanation was missing.

One of the most troublesome problems at menopause if the hot flushes and weight gain. See the main sections on Menopause to see what can be done. Good news, it does not have to be always hormone replacement to help deal with hot fluhses.

Perimenopause can begin as early as 40.

Yes — you read that correctly. Most women experience around ten years of hormonal fluctuation before reaching menopause. This transitional phase can influence mood, metabolism, physical performance, sleep, skin, libido, and more. Yet many women are left wondering what is "wrong" with them.

Did your doctor ever mention perimenopause? Most don't. And yet, for many women, perimenopause begins up to a decade before menopause, sometimes as early as 40.

If you have ever wondered:

  • "Why do I feel different?"

  • "Why am I gaining weight even though I haven't changed my diet?"

  • "Why do workouts feel harder?"

  • "Why is my anxiety suddenly worse?"

  • "Why does sex feel different?"
    — you may be in the perimenopausal transition.

Perimenopause is the stage in which reproductive hormones are shifting and gradually declining, ultimately leading to menopause — typically between ages 48 and 52. On my main pages I also discuss less commonly recognised aspects such as urogenital and pelvic symptoms, often referred to as the genitourinary syndrome of menopause.

Menopause

The menopause itself brings its own challenges. Hot flushes and weight gain are among the most troublesome symptoms, but they are far from the only ones. The good news is that there are multiple approaches to managing these symptoms — and not all of them involve hormone replacement therapy.

One of the most troublesome problems at menopause if the hot flushes and weight gain. See the main sections on Menopause to see what can be done. Good news, it does not have to be always hormone replacement to help deal with hot fluhses.


If this resonates, you may want to explore my menopause section. Understanding what is happening to your hormones can be incredibly empowering, and it may help you make sense of changes that nobody warned you about.


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