6 Signs You've Entered Perimenopause

As you get older, you know you're approaching menopause. But you might need clarification about whether you're there yet and the signs that you've arrived.

Many women share your confusion. This is because entering menopause doesn't happen quickly, like flipping a light switch. It's a process, and this process is called perimenopause.

During perimenopause, your body transitions out of your childbearing years, resulting in uneven levels of estrogen. These vacillating hormone levels trigger symptoms that might remind you of your teenage years.

Perimenopause usually begins in your late 40s, but some women notice signs in their late 30s. Very rarely, some women experience perimenopause as early as their 20s.

On average, perimenopause lasts about four years. But this is just an average—it can be as quick as a few months or last over a decade. Perimenopause ends, and menopause begins when you don't have a period for 12 consecutive months.

At her private practice in Southern California, board-certified OB-GYN Shamsah Amersi, MD, has years of experience helping women in the Santa Monica, California, area identify and manage the symptoms of perimenopause using an integrated approach.

For some women, a little extra help is needed to deal with the symptoms of perimenopause. That's why Dr. Amersi offers bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, a treatment that helps your body adjust to new hormone levels more easily.

We've compiled this helpful guide to explain the top six signs that you've entered perimenopause, what you can do about the changes, and how our integrated approach can help you. Take a moment to find out more.

1. Irregular periods

Changes to your menstrual cycle are the most common sign of perimenopause. Because your estrogen levels change, your period might be longer, shorter, lighter, or heavier than you're used to. It's not uncommon to skip some periods or have periods closer to each other.

2. Vaginal dryness

Estrogen helps with lubrication and elasticity in the vagina, so lower levels of this hormone during perimenopause can cause vaginal dryness. This may cause sex to be painful, and you might develop UTIs or urinary incontinence.

3. Struggle with sleeping

Hot flashes and night sweats are common symptoms of perimenopause that over two-thirds of women experience. The cause of these sweaty occurrences is unknown, but they can make sleeping hard. Hormone changes may also make sleep difficult, even without night sweats.

4. Mood swings

Dramatic changes to your hormone levels during perimenopause cause irritability, mood swings, and risk of depression. On top of the hormones, trouble sleeping can make your mood issues even worse. If you’re experiencing mood swings, mention them to Dr. Amersi as there are treatment options to help.

5. Issues with cognitive function

Brain fog, forgetfulness, cloudy thinking, and difficulty concentrating are some of the cognitive troubles some women report having during perimenopause. Your changing hormones are usually at least partially to blame.

6. Weight gain

Your hormones play a major role in regulating your appetite and metabolizing fat, and with lower estrogen levels, you may notice weight gain around the middle. Even if you're not eating more and still see your waistband expanding, it could be a sign of perimenopause.

Help managing perimenopause

Though perimenopause is a natural stage in the female reproductive cycle, it doesn't mean you need to live with uncomfortable symptoms that deter you from your quality of life. Dr. Amersi uses an integrative approach to help you cope.

Based on an analysis of your specific hormone levels, she creates a personalized perimenopause treatment plan that addresses your unique symptoms, needs, and goals for treatment.

Depending on your needs, effective treatments may include one or more of the following:

Help with targeted lifestyle changes
Recommendations for herbal supplements
Dietary and exercise recommendations
Treatments for vaginal symptoms (e.g., vaginal lubricants, dilators, moisturizers, or suppositories)
Weight-loss support for hormone-related weight gain

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is another effective solution for addressing the symptoms of perimenopause while also offering significant health benefits.

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy

FDA-approved BHRT is a great treatment for women struggling with weight gain and other hormone-related symptoms. Dr. Amersi matches your BHRT to your unique imbalances to ensure a safe and effective rebalancing.

This treatment brings many benefits, such as:

Addressing many perimenopause symptoms
Improving vaginal health
Maintaining muscle strength
Improving brain health and cognition
Preventing or reversing sexual dysfunction

Many people have heard stories about the safety of hormone replacement therapy. Still, these outdated myths have been disproved again and again by ongoing research, which shows BHRT is safe for most women.

Learn more about perimenopause and how we can help by scheduling an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Shamsah Amersi in Santa Monica, California, today!