Perimenopause

Perimenopause: A State of Hormonal Imbalance
Somewhere around the age of 40, women begin perimenopause, the transition from normal menstrual periods to no periods at all. This transition often falls under the radar because it is seen as a precursor to menopause. Some doctors shrug it off since it’s not yet the “real deal” of being officially menopause.

But Ageology anti-aging experts know the truth about why perimenopause should be a concern: Women going through perimenopause are in a severe state of hormonal imbalance. Perimoneopause is all about hormonal swings and surges that can change daily. From waking up feeling depressed to going to sleep with hot flashes, all the way to unexplained weight gain and as severe as setting the stage for cancer.

It’s no surprise that many perimenausal women are misdiagnosed or over prescribed medications that put a quick fix on the symptoms versus treating the cause.

The hallmark of the perimenopause transition is a change in the levels of the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.

Often, confusion exists for women when approaching their doctor who tells them that they are not in menopause yet because they are still having periods, as irregular and uncomfortable as they may be. Overlooked is the hormone imbalances that the woman is currently going through leading up to the time when they no longer have periods for one year.

Many women begin noticing changes in their menstrual cycle and/or mood years before they actually have their final period. This transitional period usually lasts five to ten years. During perimenopause, periods may stop for several months and then return, and they may also increase or decrease in duration, intensity, and flow. Whether you need hormone replacement for symptom relief during this time depends on what else is going on in your body and your life.

Women with poor diets, women who consistently don’t get enough sleep, women who live under chronic stress, and women who don’t exercise regularly are more prone to hormonal imbalances and severe perimenopausal symptoms. Emotional issues are also a factor.

It is virtually impossible to tell when you’re finished with perimenopause and moving into menopause until it has been a year since your last menstrual period. In other words, menopause itself can only be diagnosed a full 12 months after the transition is finished. Nevertheless, because hormone levels both in the brain and the body undergo progressive changes during perimenopause, salivary hormone levels, urine levels, or blood levels can be measured to give you an idea of where you stand. Hormone levels can also help you monitor your need for hormone replacement or your dose.

In order to have the best transition possible, it is important to be optimally healthy going in. That means understanding what is happening in your body, and supporting it so that you continue to produce adequate amounts of hormones for the rest of your life.

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