I am on social media a lot. I'm always scrolling Facebook, checking out Instagram Reels and TikToks, and it just keeps popping up in my feeds: PERIMENOPAUSE!
Maybe it's my age? Maybe it's my Google searches for perimenopause symptoms after seeing the videos? Or maybe it's just that perimenopause is having its moment now?
I don't know, but what I do know is that when I saw a video that said perimenopause could start as young as the age of 35, I knew I had to reach out to Dr. Sarah Bartlett, a gynecologist and certified menopause practitioner at The Christ Hospital, to get the facts on perimenopause.
What is perimenopause?
We've all heard about menopause and know that menopause is when you stop having periods, but what is considered perimenopause?
Dr. Bartlett said, “Perimenopause is a number of years leading up to menopause, including the different hormone changes that eventually lead to absent periods. The average age for menopause in this country is somewhere between 51 and 52. But it can be 45, it can be 58, and perimenopause is somewhere between four and eight years leading up to that. It can, in theory, be late 30s. It's typically early 40s–mid-40s but can really vary." So, it turns out that you could be in perimenopause at 35, but it is not typical.
What are the symptoms?
Usually when I see the content on social about perimenopause, it always comes with symptoms. Eye-twitching, brain fog, hair loss and others, but what is real and what's not?
Dr. Bartlett explained, “Symptoms of perimenopause are pretty much the same as menopause, except women are still having periods during that time. Often with perimenopause, the periods are a little irregular, sometimes a little shorter, sometimes a little more spaced out.
“So, the period problems are part of perimenopause, whereas in menopause there's just absent bleeding and symptoms alone. But the same types of symptoms—hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, brain fog, different kinds of dryness and hair and skin changes, and weight gain—can occur in both perimenopause and menopause. We hear a whole spectrum of symptoms and complaints."
Managing your symptoms
You can manage your symptoms on your own by getting more sleep, exercising, living a healthy lifestyle and general self-care. Dr. Bartlett said, “It is a privilege to eat right and get enough sleep and do all the self-care things we recommend. When most people are really honest with themselves, something has to give.
“It can be difficult to fit it all in. So yes, you need to get enough sleep, you need to exercise. We all really need to work on our diets. But it is not an easy thing to do in our culture and with our lives. There's absolutely a place for different kinds of supplements to pick up where your diet leaves off, and there are experts we work with who are really knowledgeable about that.
“As you age, your needs do change. Your sleep changes, your need for exercise changes. What your body is willing to put up with is different in your 30s and 40s than it was in your 20s."
Listen to your body
Listening to your body and being aware of the changes are an important part of process. Paying attention to changes in your period is key as we head into perimenopause, but it could be difficult to tell if these changes should be concerning.
Dr. Bartlett said, “You should see your provider if you experience an abrupt change in your cycles, or if the bleeding is prolonged (more than seven days) or too frequent (more often than every 21 days). Also, watch for spotting between cycles and/or after intercourse."
Knowing when to call the doctor could be as obvious as bleeding way too much. Dr. Bartlett recommended, “I think most women know it's time to talk to a doctor. But short of those obvious things, a lot of it is, 'How do you feel? Do you not feel your best? Do you not feel like yourself as well as you should? Is it interfering with your quality of life and your ability to do what you want to do?' It can be as simple as that. Sometimes we treat it because something is very wrong, but sometimes we also treat the symptoms because you can live a happier, healthier life with our help."
Need help finding a women's health specialist for symptoms of perimenopause or menopause? Call our ezCare Concierge nurse at 513-261-8007 or fill out this form to find a provider close to home, work, or wherever you'd like to receive care!