Perimenopause

Perimenopause services offered on Upper East Side, New York, NY

Menopause is a point in your life when you stop getting periods and can no longer become pregnant. What comes before menopause is a phase called perimenopause, with symptoms you can manage with integrative care at TārāMD in the Upper East Side area of Manhattan in New York City. Find out how integrative medicine can resolve or improve these symptoms by scheduling a consultation over the phone or online with Suzanne Fenske, MD, FACOG, today.

Perimenopause Q & A

What is perimenopause?

Perimenopause is the period of time that comes before menopause, which marks the official end of your menstrual cycle. Once you reach menopause, your body stops producing some of the hormones that drive various bodily processes. Perimenopause involves fluctuations in these hormones, leading to changes in how you feel.

Perimenopause can last for up to a decade before you officially reach menopause. Most women reach menopause sometime around ages 51-52, but the age varies. This means you can start experiencing perimenopause symptoms shortly after you turn 40.

During this time, your period becomes irregular. You may or may not experience additional hormonal symptoms, and they can vary from mild to severe.

Which symptoms can show up during perimenopause?

Because of the hormone fluctuations in perimenopause, it’s possible to experience some symptoms associated with high hormone levels and others related to a drop in your hormones. Perimenopause symptoms result from interactions between the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, as well as others like cortisol and thyroid hormones.

Some of the most prevalent perimenopause symptoms are:

Hot flashes
Night sweats
Sleep problems
PMS
Mood swings
Weight gain
Anxiety
Skin changes
Low libido

While some of these symptoms can be disruptive to your everyday life, TārāMD encourages you to explore the upsides of perimenopause too. For example, you might experience lighter or fewer periods with less pelvic pain or cramping.

How can I manage perimenopause symptoms?

TārāMD uses an integrative approach to help women make their transitions into menopause easier and more comfortable. Integrative perimenopause care might involve:

Nutrition

Getting the proper nutrition in your diet helps your body function smoothly in many ways. Eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains may reduce some of your discomfort.

Mind-body tools

Mind-body tools like meditation and biofeedback help you manage the emotions and mood swings surrounding perimenopause.

Science-based herbal supplements

Natural herbal supplements can help regulate perimenopause symptoms. Dr. Fenske advises you on which to take and when to take them.

Bioidentical hormone replacement

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy uses hormones from natural sources like plants to replace the hormones you gradually lose during perimenopause.

To learn more about perimenopause and what to expect while managing symptoms, call TārāMD or schedule your appointment online today.