Understanding Perimenopause
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Although most women begin the transition to menopause (called perimenopause) in their late 40s, some experience
it earlier.
J. Scott Bembry, MD, discusses the most common signs of perimenopause.
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Some of the signs and symptoms of perimenopause are mainly abnormal bleeding, which needs to be evaluated because it could also be a sign of something different and something concerning, such as a uterine malignancy. Certainly it would be evaluated, but the most common sign and symptom of perimenopause is abnormal bleeding.
Other signs and symptoms could be the same as with hot flashes. There can be intermittent hot flashes that can occur, like one would have in menopause, in perimenopause. Generally, the levels of estrogen are higher in perimenopause than obviously in menopause. The biggest concerning symptom is abnormal bleeding.
Nurse practitioner Amanda Fox, CNP, explains how you’ll know when perimenopause has ended and menopause has officially begun.
Click play to watch the video or read video transcript.
Perimenopause is the transition between where a woman is going into menopause. The transition typically starts between the early 40s. Some women do experience it in the late 30s, so there's a lot of signs and symptoms involved to know if you're entering into perimenopause. The biggest sign that women tend to complain about is hot flashes, insomnia, irregular periods, low sex drive, that’s just to name a few. There's a lot of hormonal imbalances that women go through that time. So the way to know that you're going out of perimenopause is no periods or no menstrual cycles for one year and at that point you have considered to cross the finish line - you're in menopause at that point.
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Source: J. Scott Bembry MD, Ob/Gyn of Greene County; Amanda Fox, CNP, Dulan and Moore Dulan Family Wellness Center
