Menopause is well known as the time when a woman transitions out of her childbearing years. Many women are less familiar with perimenopause, the period leading up to menopause that can usher in a range of symptoms.
At V Care OB/GYN in New York City, Gabriela Olaru, MD, partners with women who are navigating changes in their health needs over time. She can help you understand what to expect and how to respond to the changes brought on by perimenopause.
You technically reach menopause once you’ve stopped having periods for 12 months. Perimenopause is the name of the transitional period leading to menopause.
A decline in estrogen production drives both menopause and perimenopause. As your body adapts to reduced estrogen, you may notice changes, including some that can be challenging to manage.
Women can enter perimenopause as early as their mid-30s. Some don’t enter menopause until their late 50s, remaining in perimenopause for years.
Some women notice symptoms of perimenopause only for a short period or not at all, while others experience symptoms for several years.
Changes that can develop during perimenopause include:
These changes can range in severity from mild to nearly debilitating. As with menopause, each woman has a unique experience of perimenopause.
Perimenopause can be a stressful thing to consider, as there’s no way to know when symptoms might develop and to what degree they might affect your day-to-day life.
At V Care OB/GYN, we believe that information is the best way to dispel this kind of anxiety. That’s why we work with the women in our care to educate them on what they may encounter during perimenopause, and how we can address issues as they arise.
This approach often includes a discussion on how to prepare your body now to adapt to the changes that come with decreased estrogen. We also discuss hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which can help balance your natural hormones with supplemental synthetic ones.
Supporting your body through enhanced nutrition can make it easier to manage declining estrogen. You can dramatically improve issues such as sleep disruption and anxiety by embracing a new exercise plan or returning to physical activities you’ve enjoyed in the past.
Maintaining a fulfilling sex life is a critical part of healthy aging. If you struggle with low sex drive, painful sex, or vaginal dryness, we can recommend treatment.
There are numerous ways to address the symptoms of perimenopause. You’re not alone as you navigate this phase of life. We’re happy to meet with you to help alleviate your worries and make a plan for how to respond if your perimenopause symptoms become disruptive.
To schedule a visit to V Care OB/GYN, call our office on Manhattan’s Upper East Side or book an appointment online today.
