Irregular periods are the most common symptom of perimenopause. But it's important to know when to talk to your healthcare provider about your periods. Sometimes, irregular bleeding can point to an underlying problem. You can lower your risk of complications by seeking treatment when necessary.
Perimenopause can begin in some women in their 30s, but most often it starts in women ages 40 to 44.
Diagnosis of of perimenopause
Hormone testing is done through a hormone panel to test your levels of estrogen and other sex-linked hormones. This kind of testing can often show whether you are nearing or in menopause.
Many common perimenopause symptoms are similar to menopause signs. For example, hot flashes may occur — when your body feels very hot for brief periods of time, and night sweats. Some people experience mood changes, anxiety, problems sleeping, vaginal dryness, and less interest in sex.
“Perimenopause is the time leading up to that, and it's characterized by hormone levels that are starting to change.” Perimenopause can last 10 to 12 years, but the worst symptoms are usually in the five years leading up to menopause.
Menopause before the age of 45 is called early menopause. Menopause before the age of 40 is called premature menopause.
Summary. Premature menopause is menopause that occurs before the age of 40 years. Early menopause occurs between the age of 40 and 45. Women who experience early or premature menopause may need hormone therapy to reduce the risk of diseases such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.
A Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center study involving postmenopausal, overweight, and obese women who took 2,000 IUs of vitamin D daily for a year found that those whose vitamin D blood levels increased the most had the greatest reductions in blood estrogens, which are a known risk factor for breast cancer.
Depletion of estrogen can increase the risk of cardiovascular issues, such as heart attacks, strokes, or other heart-related problems. Other issues can interfere with organ function, skin, urinary, bone and reproductive organs, and may cause serious problems if left untreated.
As perimenopause causes your hormones to fluctuate, and menopause causes your hormones to decrease, you may experience rapid, unexplainable mood changes. Increased feelings of irritability, nervousness, and sadness may make you feel like you're losing your mind, but there's no need to panic.
Often your doctor can make the diagnosis of perimenopause based on your symptoms. A blood test to check hormone levels may also help, but your hormone levels are changing during perimenopause. It may be more helpful to have several blood tests done at different times for comparison.
If you suspect that you're perimenopausal or menopausal, and your symptoms have started to interfere with your quality of life, it's a good idea to make an appointment to see your doctor or a healthcare professional who specialises in the menopause.
When testing for menopause is warranted, doctors may order an FSH test to detect elevated levels of FSH in the blood. Measuring FSH can help determine if a woman is perimenopausal or has already gone through menopause.
Usually, most testing is done in the luteal phase, around days 19, 20 or 21. This is the phase when PMS symptoms are at their peak, so I always tell patients you want to be tested on your bad days.
Premenopause is the time between a woman's first period and the onset of perimenopause. Perimenopause is the transition phase into menopause that typically lasts about six years. It typically occurs in women in their 40s to early 50s, according to the National Institute on Aging.