Understanding Perimenopause & Menopause

Menopause marks a significant biological transition, and understanding what's happening gives you an opportunity to make informed choices about your health. How you understand your changing body and use midlife as an opportunity to invest in your future health can transform this transition from something to "get through" into a chance to build lasting strength and resilience.  ⁠ ⁠Here’s what to know about the stages, symptoms, and treatment options that can help you navigate this time with greater confidence.

What are Perimenopause and Menopause? 

Perimenopause is defined as the transitional phase preceding menopause. It's a natural stage of life when the ovaries gradually begin producing less estrogen and progesterone. It can begin several years before menopause, often in a woman's 40s, although the timing varies. During this transition, hormone levels can fluctuate unpredictably, which is why periods may become irregular, and symptoms can seem to come and go. ⁠ ⁠Changes in sleep, mood, energy, body composition, temperature regulation, brain function, libido, and menstrual cycles can all occur. Some women experience many symptoms, while others experience very few. ⁠ ⁠While menopause is the point when a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period and is no longer ovulating regularly. In the United States, the average age of menopause is approximately 51. While menopause itself is a single point in time, the hormonal changes that surround it can have lasting effects on the body. Lower estrogen levels can influence bone, muscle, cardiovascular, metabolic, brain, and sexual health.

⁠Understanding the Symptoms 

Perimenopause and menopause can look different for every woman. As estrogen and progesterone fluctuate and eventually decline, you may notice changes in everything from your periods, body composition, and sleep to your mood, energy, libido, and vaginal or urinary health — plus symptoms like hot flashes or night sweats. Some women have few symptoms, while others find that these changes significantly affect how they feel and function day-to-day. 

Considering Hormone Therapy 

If the changes of perimenopause or menopause are getting in the way of how you want to live, hormone therapy may be one option worth exploring. Hormone therapy helps not only with the "visible" symptoms like sleep disruption, hot flashes, and night sweats, but also with the "invisible" symptoms, supporting bone, muscle, cardiovascular, metabolic, and cognitive health. ⁠ ⁠Hormone therapy isn't about stopping menopause. It's about supporting your body through a significant transition and finding an approach that helps you feel your best. Consider talking with your doctor or another healthcare professional who understands menopause to decide whether it’s right for you.