Perimenopause refers to the transitional period leading up to menopause, which is the point when a woman's menstrual cycles permanently stop. It's a natural part of aging that usually begins in a woman's 40s as her body starts making less estrogen and progesterone - the main hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle.
During perimenopause, estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate irregularly, which can lead to changes in the menstrual cycle like:
The duration of perimenopause varies. It typically lasts 4 years on average, but can range anywhere from a few months to a decade before the final period. There's no definitive way to predict how long it will last. The only way to confirm when perimenopause ends is when a woman has gone 12 months without a period. At that point, she has reached menopause.
Lifestyle changes like avoiding triggers, managing stress, and staying cool can provide relief from perimenopausal symptoms. If symptoms significantly interfere with quality of life, hormone therapy is an option that may be recommended by your healthcare provider.
The experts at Hormone Harmony can help create a customized treatment plan to manage perimenopausal symptoms. Their comprehensive hormone testing helps identify hormone imbalances related to perimenopause. Based on test results, bioidentical hormones may be prescribed to supplement declining hormones like estrogen and help stabilize mood, energy, sleep, and more.