How To Know If You Are In Perimenopause
Starting In Your Late 30s
Perimenopause can be unpredictable, confusing, and frustrating.
The fluctuations in your hormones will manifest as changes in your body that can start in your late 30s and for some women, even earlier.
How can you identify those changes and know if they are due to perimenopause?
Menstrual changes
One of the more typical signs of perimenopause is changes in your menstrual cycle.
Your period may become heavier and more frequent, or it could become shorter and lighter, or go MIA for one or more months, then return unexpectedly.
For some women, their menstrual cycle first becomes heavier and closer together before they start to space out.
However, changes in your periods, especially if experiencing heavier periods, could signal illness or infection, and it is recommended to visit a doctor to rule out potential endometriosis or uterine fibroids.
Heavier periods can also lead to anemia, so it's crucial to have regular blood work done to check our iron levels.
Weight gain and fatigue
Unexpected and rapid weight gain, especially around our waistline is another frustrating symptom of perimenopause. In my case, it appeared especially on the sides of my back. Awful!
However, if this symptom is accompanied by fatigue and tiredness, it might be caused by an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
So make sure to speak with your doctor and get tested.
Hot flashes and hair loss
Hot flashes during the day and night sweats are common symptoms of perimenopause, as are hair loss and thinning hair.
Simultaneously, these can also be symptoms of an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). So again, consult with your doctor about these concerns.
During perimenopause, our general PMS symptoms may intensify. Painful breasts, cramps, bloating, headaches, mood changes, and depression can become more acute, or you might experience some symptoms you never had before.
Vaginal changes, insomnia, mood swings, body aches, and joint pain can also signify perimenopause.
There are over 30 symptoms that can indicate the beginning of this transitional phase toward menopause.
So how can we know for sure that it's perimenopause? Can a blood test provide answers?
It seems that it's not so straightforward.
Experts, like OBGYN Dr. Mary Claire Haver, explain that there is no blood test to determine if you are in perimenopause as the hormone levels fluctuate too much for one single blood test to be diagnostic.
Also, depending on the time of the month we do the test, our hormones can look very normal.
I have friends who underwent blood tests and were told by their doctors that everything was okay, but typically doctors use this blood work to determine if one is in full menopause.
And there is a difference between perimenopause and menopause.
If you feel you should know more about perimenopause and need guidance on navigating this phase of life, I have the right guide for you!
Now, the best way to determine if we are in perimenopause is to track all our symptoms, along with our menstrual patterns, and present this information to our healthcare provider.
I’ll soon host a live mini-workshop where we'll discuss perimenopause symptoms more in-depth, and I'll share some tools for effectively tracking your symptoms and discussing them with your doctor.
For more information and to sign up, click here.
Meanwhile, I encourage you to be open with other women around you. Foster a supportive space to share symptoms and experiences.
It's also crucial to communicate openly with your partner to ensure they understand what's happening with you and your body.
All women go through this phase but unfortunately, we don’t talk enough about it.
Some might be embarrassed by symptoms like urinary incontinence and suffer in silence, thinking no one else in the world is experiencing them.
It’s important to know that some women suffer from more symptoms while others might barely notice any, but we are all in the same boat, and nobody should have to suffer and feel miserable because there are options.
The right lifestyle modifications can make a huge difference in your perimenopause journey, especially if you apply them as early as possible.
If you need support to thrive during your perimenopause journey, get rid of symptoms and unexpected weight gain, this is how I can help you: