Perimenopause Fact Sheet

Perimenopause is the transitional phase leading up to menopause. During perimenopause levels of oestrogen and progesterone, two key hormones start to fluctuate and reduce. This can cause women to start to experience menopausal symptoms whilst they are still having periods. Perimenopause can last for years (sometimes up to a decade) before menopause.

Our services are designed to help with your transition through this stage. Through our private consultations we support you to understand your changes and where necessary create treatment plans to alleviate your symptoms.

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Key facts on Perimenopause

Perimenopause is when a woman experiences menopausal symptoms but is still having periods.
It occurs around the age of 45 but can be earlier.
Fluctuating hormones mean symptoms often come and go.
For women aged 45 or older diagnosis is based on your symptoms – not blood tests.
Each woman is different and will experience different symptoms.
You don’t need to experience hot flushes or night sweats as some women won’t ever experience these.
Your periods don’t need to have stopped for you to receive treatment.

What are the symptoms of Perimenopause?

Some of the 34 symptoms can include:

Sleep Problems
Fatigue
Mood Changes – mood swings/sadness/low mood/depression/irritability/anger
Itchy Skin
Joint and muscle pains

What treatments are available for Perimenopause?

Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT)
Non-Hormonal Treatment including menopause cognitive behaviour therapy.
Lifestyle Treatment – to treat physical changes often triggered by the hormonal changes in perimenopause.

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"Perimenopause is such a confusing time and there is so much conflicting information around! I really appreciated that Karen from Menopause and Wellness was able to take the time and walk me through my menopause assessment with care and education along the way. I have some pretty severe symptoms and my GP was stuck with her short appointments only dealing with the urgent perimenopause issues I was facing. I have been spreading the word far and wide about how great this service is. I particularly love how accessible it is through Employee Assistance Programmes.
Thanks Menopause and Wellness!"

Anna S

“Since working with Menopause & Wellness, my GP is treating me for perimenopause. Before seeing her my GP had given me two anti-depressants that did nothing. I am now sleeping better, feeling happier with less mood swings and my hot flushes and night sweats have completely gone. My energy levels are better too and for the first time in a long time I feel able to exercise and start to make some changes that will help me to eat healthier and lose some weight. I am now looking forward to the future which is a very different place to where I was before”.

Linda, 47

“After four years of suffering symptoms a work colleague talked to me about the work Menopause and Wellness is doing to help women with menopause. I was scared of HRT and thought that was all there was to help women going through menopause so I sat on it for a couple of weeks and then took the plunge to see Julia. When I saw her I was feeling scared that things would never be the same again and that my life was on a downward spiral. Thank you for helping me Julia! She validated what I felt and explained why I was feeling like this. I felt like I finally had an ally who really got what was going on with me. With her help I am back to my old self enjoying life again. I am now recommending all my friends to go and see Julia too!"

Lucy, 54

I booked in for an appointment with Menopause & Welness and the information shared was actually life-changing in my understanding of what's been happening to me over the past few years. Before seeing them I had been given some antidepressant tablets which didn’t help. It was comforting for them to tell me that my low mood was being caused by perimenopause. They talked me through what choices I had for treatment and helped me to get the treatment I needed to feel better. I would never have been able to get this if I had not had their help.

Helen 49

"When I booked in to see Catherine at Menopause and Wellness I was not in a good place. I was not sleeping, was grumpy and irritable and I felt that I wanted to divorce my husband. I was also struggling at work due to brain fog and feeling exhausted all the time. I had been to see my GP to talk about HRT, but she told me I should avoid it due to my grandmother having had breast cancer. A friend recommended I book in to see Catherine and I am so glad that I did. Catherine took the time to explain what was happening to me hormonally and why I was feeling the way that I did. She reassured me that there are different types of hormones in HRT and that I could safely be treated with HRT. She took time to tell me what to expect when being treated with HRT and I felt very well informed and confident in what to expect when I started HRT.

HRT has been life changing for me and I feel like my old self again. I no longer want to divorce my husband, and he jokes that he does not want to see me stop taking HRT! I cannot believe that I struggled on for so long without help when what I needed was HRT. I cannot thank Catherine enough for her support in believing what I was going through, validating that it was menopause and treatable and treating me with HRT that included testosterone. If you are struggling with menopause book in to see Catherine - she will help you".

Katy B

FAQs

For more information and advice get in touch today.

What is the difference between Perimenopause and Menopause?

Perimenopause is the transition period before menopause when a woman’s fertility hormones begin to decline. Here women can begin to experience menopause symptoms when they are still having periods. Perimenopause occurs around the age of 45 but can be earlier and can last for many years before menopause.

Menopause is a single moment in time that marks one year after a woman’s final menstrual period. Typically occurs around the age of 51.

How do I know when I’m in Perimenopause?

For most women, perimenopause occurs around the age of 45 but can be earlier. Perimenopause symptoms can begin up to a decade before menopause. So if you are aged 45+ and are experiencing some menopausal symptoms it’s likely that you are in perimenopause.

Why should I be concerned about my bone health and heart health in Perimenopause?

During perimenopause and menopause, women lose 3 key hormones Oestrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone – all of which play a key role in maintaining our health and wellbeing. Oestrogen plays a vital role in keeping our bones strong and healthy which protects them against breakage and diseases such as Osteoporosis. It also plays a vital role in keeping our heart and cardiac system healthy. When a woman loses Oestrogen they lose the heart and bone protective benefits they get from Oestrogen. The hormonal decline experienced by women during perimenopause and menopause heightens their risk of developing cardiovascular disease and experiencing heart attacks, strokes, blood clots and Osteoporosis in the future. Lifestyle treatment helps women manage their risk factors and significantly reduce their risk of future ill health. Don’t underestimate the importance of paying attention of your heart health and bone health in perimenopause. Your life quite literally depends on it.

What type of food should I be eating or avoid if I’m experiencing unpleasant symptoms of hormone imbalance in perimenopause?

Diet is one of the key lifestyle changes women can make during perimenopause that can have a real positive effect on their health and well-being during perimenopause. Research shows that eating a Mediterranean Diet is one of the best eating diets that supports women’s health.

It’s also important that women focus on balancing their blood sugar levels which will help stabilise their energy levels. Diet, alcohol, smoking, stress and inactivity are also lifestyle factors that can intensify or worsen menopause symptoms. That’s why lifestyle treatment is so important in perimenopause and menopause.

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Key facts on Perimenopause

What are the symptoms of Perimenopause?

What treatments are available for Perimenopause?

FAQs

Transform the health and wellbeing of your organisation.