How Do You Know It’s Perimenopause?

Hormonal fluctuations are common during perimenopause, and even though perimenopause can cause many unpleasant symptoms, you don't have to let them take over your life. 

WHAT IS PERIMENOPAUSE?

During and around the menopausal period, there is a decline in the production of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. The period just before menopause is referred to as perimenopause.

For most women, perimenopause typically occurs in their 40s, but some may notice changes as early as their mid-30s. Prior to the onset of perimenopause, women may observe subtle

alterations in the length, duration, and flow of their menstrual cycles. 

Symptoms during perimenopause are a natural aspect of the aging process, although certain medications, cancer treatments, and surgery can expedite the process or induce menopause earlier.

WHAT’S THE FIRST SIGN OF PERIMENOPAUSE?

Usually, irregular menstruation is the initial indication of perimenopause. Many women experience either an early or late menstrual cycle. In the event that your menstrual cycle has consistently lasted 28 days, for instance, your period may arrive as early as 21 days or as late as 35 days during the perimenopause. Some women begin missing months altogether, and when they do have periods, they tend to be heavier than usual.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF PERIMENOPAUSE?

There are many different symptoms that you may encounter during perimenopause. Hot flashes are the most common. Approximately 80% of women may encounter a hot flash in some capacity. Hot flashes are a common reaction to low estrogen levels, occurring when your brain struggles to control your body's temperature internally. You may wake up soaking wet in perspiration (a condition known as night sweats) or feel excessively hot and sweaty all of a sudden.

Additional perimenopausal symptoms include:

• Trouble sleeping

• Night sweats

• Lower libido

• Vaginal dryness

• Mood swings

• Thinning hair

• Brain fog

• Anxiety

• Fatigue

Your ovaries have been producing estrogen and progesterone since your first period, but when these hormones withdraw, symptoms occur as a result of your body adjusting to operating with less of the hormone. 

While perimenopausal changes are perfectly normal, it's still a good idea to get a physical to rule out any other possible explanations. Unexpected or heavy bleeding may indicate uterine cancer or fibroids; tachycardia and a rapid heartbeat may indicate a thyroid condition.

CAN A BLOOD TEST DIAGNOSE PERIMENOPAUSE?

Yes! Follicle-stimulating hormone, or FSH, is a hormone generated by the pituitary gland in response to decreasing estrogen storage. We also use advanced saliva testing, or the DUTCH test,  to diagnose the hormonal changes.

WHY WORK WITH OUR HEALTHCARE TEAM?

We work with women who are experiencing excessive bleeding, have periods longer than seven days, spotting in between periods, or have cycles shorter than 21 days. 

Treatments may include vaginal estrogen, natural antidepressants, and hormone therapy, which can help manage the symptoms of perimenopause.

We’ll determine which symptoms are most annoying and then collaborate with you on which lifestyle adjustments can help reduce perimenopausal symptoms and optimize health. Our treatments are customized to your unique situation.

We hope this article has helped you learn more about the advantages of looking deeper into your perimenopause hormone status, and if you have more questions, we’d love to hear from you. Schedule a consultation with our team of experts at Potentia MedSpa in Lafayette, California, or call us at 510 230 2282. We are the only Functional Aesthetics Medspa in the San Francisco Bay Area, offering a combination of medical expertise, innovative technology in skin care, and holistic support for midlife hormone changes.