Ask Dr. Lo: You’re not crazy. It’s perimenopause.

Dear Dr. Lo,
I think I might be in perimenopause, but I’m not sure. I’m 45 and my doctor says I’m too young to be in menopause and that my anxiety and fatigue are just a part of getting older. What are the symptoms of perimenopause, and is there any test that diagnoses it?

Perimenopause is one of my favorite topics because so many women share your frustrating experience – their periods are heavy or light or just off in some way, they’re tired, gaining weight, not sleeping well, moody… the list goes on. But because you’re still having periods, doctors tell you it’s not menopause in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and offer uterine ablation for heavy bleeding and antidepressants for everything else.

You’re not crazy. It’s perimenopause. Physiologically, your ovaries stop responding to cyclic signals from the pituitary gland and start “doing their own thing,” leading to unbalanced hormones. Most women in Birmingham, Michigan become more estrogen dominant as estrogen levels spike up, while progesterone and testosterone levels tend to fade. Translation: you feel premenstrual, ALL THE TIME!

Researchers have developed a list of typical perimenopause symptoms (below) that go along with these hormonal upheavals. 3 or more of these makes it likely you’re in early perimenopause. For some, it can be pretty miserable for almost a decade.

1. New onset heavy and/or longer flow 2. Shorter menstrual cycles
3. New sore, swollen or lumpy breasts 4. New mid-sleep wakening
5. Increased cramps 6. Onset of night sweats, in particular premenstrually
7. New or markedly increased migraine headaches 8. New/increased premenstrual mood swings  9. Weight gain without changes in exercise or eating

Fortunately, a diagnosis usually means there’s treatment – and there is! It’s different from menopause, where pretty much all of your hormones are gone. In perimenopause, it’s the imbalance causing the problem. Boosting levels of the missing hormones offsets the estrogen effects and gets women feeling back to normal.

The underlying cause of perimenopause is the same in everyone, but the exact recipe for the best results is different for every woman. At RegenCen in Bloomfield Hills / Birmingham, Michigan, we’re experts at measuring and adjusting chaotic perimenopausal hormones – these women are some of our happiest patients. They’ve often been told there’s nothing to be done, and when they actually get proper treatment and feel like they used to, it’s like a miracle. With the right approach, perimenopause doesn’t have to disrupt your life – it can be a smooth transition into a healthier, more vibrant you.

To make an appointment with Dr. Lo’s team in Bloomfield Hills / Birmingham, Michigan, call or text (248) 855-1004.