Could it be Perimenopause?

Could it be Perimenopause?

If you are a woman in your 30-50s, you may be dealing with at least a few of the following symptoms of the perimenopausal transition:

• Night sweats, hot flashes
• Unpredictable periods
• Insomnia
• Brain fog, forgetfulness, self-doubt, trouble making decisions
• Decreased interest in sex
• Increased interest in wine and chocolate!
• Increased wrinkles of the face “crow’s feet” or furrowed brow
• Feeling “blah”
• Lack of motivation to do routine tasks like grocery shopping and housework
• Desire to stay home, rather than going out to socialize
• Emotional instability, anxiety, depression
• Bone loss, osteopenia, osteoporosis
• Heart palpitation or high blood pressure
• Weight gain despite exercise

If you raised your hand to one or more of the above symptoms, know that you are not alone and there is help!

What to Expect in Perimenopause?

There are two stages of Perimenopause.

Early Stage – Perimenopause most often starts in the early 40s, but it can begin in some women in their 30s. The perimenopausal hormone transition is marked by changes in menstrual flow, and in the length of the cycle due to fluctuations in estrogen. The shifting hormones, along with mid-life stressors, sleep deprivation from hot flashes, microbiome disruption, and perhaps other hormonal imbalances (e.g. PCOS, thyroid disease) all contribute to the long list of symptoms noted above.

Late Stage – The late stage of perimenopause typically occurs when a woman is in her late 40s or early 50s. In this stage, women begin missing periods until they finally stop. In the 6-12 months before menopause, estrogen levels drop significantly. This sharp decline in estrogen triggers the typical symptoms of vaginal dryness, bone loss, brain fog, memory loss, mood disturbances and possibly more severe hot flashes (which can last from half a year to more than 10 years after onset of menopause).

I invite you to take a deeper dive into this topic by listening to episode #9 of The Joy Prescription Podcast where I answer the following questions:

• “I’m getting to that age. I would love to know how to navigate changes in my body without prescriptions and without prolonging the process. I would also like to know what to look for to know when it is happening.”
• “Options for dryness and pain/pelvic floor pressure?”
• “I’m getting more hair on my face. Is there something natural I could take that could help?”
• “Definitely me! Experiencing weight gain, increased emotions, hot flashes and brain fog. What natural supplements are helpful?”
• “I have hot flashes and horrible night sweats cannot get a full night’s rest. I do not take any prescriptions or over the counter medicines but am interested in a holistic approach that might help.”
• “Not quite there yet but both my mom and her mom began at a fairly early age. I’d love to hear the podcast!”
• “Loss of sexual drive is sad. What about that?”

I’d love to hear from you! You can ask me anything, and I’ll do my best to answer you on the podcast.

Send your questions via email to thejoyprescription@gmail.com or by calling our Podcast Question Line at 828-412-0599.

Alternatively, you can submit your question online here. 

If you need help now, sign up for a free strategy session with my patient care coordinator to see if we’re a good fit to work together. 

Here’s to your health!

Cynthia Libert, M.D.