Is perimenopause sneaking up on you? Perimenopause causes infertility and for many women, the first sign of perimenopause is difficulty getting pregnant. But for others, symptoms start happening that at first are hard to explain.
Its not uncommon for women to find themselves going from one specialist to another trying to get an answer to “What is wrong with me? Why don’t I feel like myself any more?”
That’s not surprising when you look at the broad range of symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause.
Hormone imbalances, and a slow, irregular lowering of estrogen and progesterone levels cause these symptoms. And it’s the hormone imbalances and lower hormone levels that lead to the many symptoms of perimenopause and eventually, menopause.
Wonder if you’re having any of those symptoms? Here’s what to look out for…
Symptoms of Perimenopause and Menopause
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Acne |
Facial hair |
Leg cramps |
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Anxiety |
Hair loss/ thinning |
Low sexual desire |
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Backache |
Headaches |
Memory problems |
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Bloating |
Heart palpitations |
Migraines |
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Bone loss |
Hot flashes |
Mood swings |
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Breast tenderness |
Hypothyroidism |
Urine loss |
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Crying Insomnia |
Infertility |
Vaginal dryness |
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Depression |
Irregular periods |
Weight-gain |
From: https://drmache.com/balance-book/ by Mache Seibel, MD
Each of these symptoms may be due to a specific medical problem. But they may also be due to perimenopause, especially if you are experiencing several of them.
Talk with your healthcare provider to see if perimenopause is the root cause of your symptoms. Remember, perimenopause causes infertility. A simple blood test for the hormone FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) if elevated, suggests the problem is at least in part due to perimenopause.
If perimenopause causes infertility as your primary problem, the blood test AMH (Anti-Mullerian Hormone) may be helpful as well. Remember, the symptoms of perimenopause may begin up to 10 years before menopause begins.
Normal AMH levels (1.5 to 4.0 ng/ml) are associated with increased fertility and better response rates to fertility treatments. Low–Normal AMH levels (1.0 to 1.5 ng/ml) suggest the ovaries have fewer eggs.
Here is the bottom line. The line between your reproductive years and perimenopause is a continuum. And sometimes it’s a blurry one. Since none of us has a crystal ball, the safest thing to do as you think about family building is decide if you want to have kids or not.
If you want to have kids, see a fertility expert after 6 months of not getting pregnant.
Not trying to get pregnant but want to do everything you can to stay healthy and vibrant as you transition into menopause and beyond? See a menopause expert early and get assistance. Some of the decisions you make are time sensitive and need to be made close to the beginning of menopause to get the best outcome.
Be proactive. It’s one of the things I help people with in MenopauseCoaching.com. It’s an opportunity to work with me from anywhere in the world via phone or Skype to help sort out how to navigate this window of time. I’ll talk more about this in my next writing.
Please share this with a friend who might benefit and leave a comment.
Yours in good health,
