More than a million women enter menopause each year in the United States, and millions more are in perimenopause, a time when hormonal production begins to decline. While both perimenopause and menopause are natural occurrences in a woman’s life, that doesn’t mean they’re pleasant — and for some women, associated symptoms can cause significant discomfort.
At his practice, Serrano Ob/Gyn Associates, in San Antonio, Texas, Christopher V. Serrano, MD, provides state-of-the-art care for patients in perimenopause and menopause, helping every woman relieve uncomfortable symptoms and improve her quality of life. Here, learn the differences between perimenopause and menopause and how treatment can help you feel better.
Most women think menopausal changes begin when your period ends, but that’s rarely the case. For most women, symptoms begin in the months and years leading up to menopause — the time known as perimenopause. The prefix “peri” literally means “around.”
Your ovaries produce a steady, predictable amount of hormones throughout your 20s. However, during your late 30s or 40s, hormone production starts to fluctuate, leading to the period known as perimenopause.
For some women, the first sign of hormonal changes is subtle changes in their menstrual flow. Their periods might be heavier or lighter or last longer or fewer days. The time between periods can also change.
That said, while period changes are common during perimenopause, other issues — like cancer — can also cause period changes. That’s why it’s important to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Serrano rather than assuming the change in menstruation is due to perimenopause.
As perimenopause progresses, you might have symptoms like:
These symptoms continue into menopause for many women. Typically, perimenopause lasts about 4-5 years.
When you miss a period during perimenopause, it’s tempting to think that menopause has finally arrived. But actually, menopause only “officially” begins when you haven’t had a period for 12 consecutive months.
Once periods have completely ended, you can no longer become pregnant. But because it’s not always easy to tell when perimenopause has fully transitioned to menopause, you should always use birth control until Dr. Serrano confirms you can no longer become pregnant.
Most women enter menopause in their early 50s. Once you’re in menopause, the ovaries stop producing estrogen, leaving many women dealing with some unwanted and unexpected symptoms. That’s because estrogen plays a far greater role in health and wellness than many women realize.
During menopause, lower hormone levels can leave you dealing with symptoms like:
Menopause also increases your risks of chronic diseases, like osteoporosis and heart disease.
Dr. Serrano offers a variety of therapies for women in perimenopause and menopause, including therapies to address individual symptoms like vaginal dryness or UTIs. He also offers custom bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (HRT) using optimal dosing strategies to ensure every woman ensures maximum benefits based on her needs.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of perimenopause or menopause, we can help you feel better. To learn more, request an appointment online or over the phone today with Dr. Serrano at his San Antonio, Texas, office.
