Perimenopause | Johns Hopkins Medicine

What are the symptoms of perimenopause? · Mood changes · Changes in sexual desire · Trouble concentrating · Headaches · Night sweats · Hot flashes · Vaginal dryness ... SkipNavigation COVID-19Updates Masksarerequiredinsideallofourcarefacilities.Wearevaccinatingalleligiblepatients.Learnmore: Vaccines,Boosters&AdditionalDoses|Testing|PatientCare|VisitorGuidelines|Coronavirus|EmailAlerts FindmoreCOVID-19testinglocationsonMaryland.gov. HealthHome ConditionsandDiseases Perimenopause ShareonFacebook ShareonTwitter ShareonLinkedin ShareonPinterest ShareviaEmail PrintthisPage Whatisperimenopause? Perimenopauseisthetransitionaltimearoundmenopause.Menopauseiswhenawoman'speriodsstop.It'smarkedbychangesinthemenstrualcycle,alongwithotherphysicalandemotionalsymptoms.Thistimecanlast2to10years.Duringthistime,yourbody: Releaseseggslessregularly Produceslessestrogenandotherhormones Becomeslessfertile Hasshorterandmoreirregularmenstrualcycles Whatcausesperimenopause? Perimenopauseisanaturalprocesscausedwhenyourovariesgraduallystopworking.Ovulationmaybecomeerraticandthenstop.Themenstrualcyclelengthensandflowmaybecomeirregularbeforeyourfinalperiod. Symptomsarecausedbythechanginglevelsofhormonesinthebody.Whenestrogenishigher,youmayhavesymptomslikeyoumighthavewithPMS.Whenestrogenislow,youmayhavehotflashesornightsweats.Thesehormonechangesmaybemixedwithnormalcycles. Whatarethesymptomsofperimenopause? Notwowomenwillexperienceperimenopauseinthesameway.Thesearethemostcommonsymptoms: Moodchanges Changesinsexualdesire Troubleconcentrating Headaches Nightsweats Hotflashes Vaginaldryness Troublewithsleep Jointandmuscleaches Heavysweating Havingtopeeoften PMS-likesymptoms Thesymptomsofperimenopausemaylooklikeotherconditions.Alwaystalkwithyourhealthcareproviderforadiagnosis. Howisperimenopausediagnosed? Sometimesit’shardtotellifyouarehavingsymptomsofperimenopause.Yoursymptoms,medicalhistory,age,andaphysicalexammayhelpyourhealthcareproviderwiththediagnosis.Youmayalsohavebloodteststomeasureyourhormonelevels. Howisperimenopausetreated? Perimenopausedoesnotneedtobetreatedunlesssymptomsarebothersome.Treatmentsmayinclude: Hormonetherapyusingestrogenorestrogenandprogestinstolevelouthormonelevels Antidepressantstostabilizemoods Yourhealthcareprovidermaysuggestotherlifestylechanges: Eatahealthydietwithfruitsandvegetablesandwholegrains. Getatleast1,000-1,200mgofcalciumeachdaythroughyourdietorsupplements. Exerciseregularly. Findwhattriggersyourhotflashes(forexample,alcohol,coffeeortea)bykeepingarecord. Discusstheuseofothertreatmentsinrelievingsymptomswithyourhealthcareprovider. Youmayhearaboutherbalsupplementsthatclaimtohelpmanagehotflashes.It'simportanttorememberthattheFDAdoesnotregulatethesesupplements.Theyarenottestedliketraditionalmedicinestoprovetheireffectivenessandsafety. Talktoyourhealthcareproviderbeforeusinganyherbalsupplements. Keypointsaboutperimenopause Perimenopauseisthetimearoundmenopausewhenyourovariesgraduallystopworking. Thisisanaturalprocessthatcausesphysicalandemotionalsymptoms. Itdoesnotneedtreatment,buttreatmentcanhelplessensymptoms. Treatmentincludeshormones,antidepressants,andlifestylechanges. Nextsteps Tipstohelpyougetthemostfromavisittoyourhealthcareprovider: Knowthereasonforyourvisitandwhatyouwanttohappen. Beforeyourvisit,writedownquestionsyouwantanswered. Bringsomeonewithyoutohelpyouaskquestionsandrememberwhatyourprovidertellsyou. Atthevisit,writedownthenameofanewdiagnosis,andanynewmedicines,treatments,ortests.Alsowritedownanynewinstructionsyourprovidergivesyou. Knowwhyanewmedicineortreatmentisprescribed,andhowitwillhelpyou.Alsoknowwhatthesideeffectsare. Askifyourconditioncanbetreatedinotherways. Knowwhyatestorprocedureisrecommendedandwhattheresultscouldmean. Knowwhattoexpectifyoudonottakethemedicineorhavethetestorprocedure. Ifyouhaveafollow-upappointment,writedownthedate,time,andpurposeforthatvisit. Knowhowyoucancontactyourproviderifyouhavequestions. FindaDoctor SpecializingIn: GynecologyandObstetrics Amenorrhea AbnormalPapSmear AtAnotherJohnsHopkinsMemberHospital: HowardCountyGeneralHospital SibleyMemorialHospital SuburbanHospital FindaTreatmentCenter FindAdditionalTreatmentCentersat: HowardCountyGeneralHospital SibleyMemorialHospital SuburbanHospital Related AnatomyofFemalePelvicArea Women’sPreventiveCareTimeline:Infographic PeriodPain:CouldItBeEndometriosis? MyPapTestWasAbnormal:NowWhat? RequestanAppointment FindaDoctor 443-997-2663 Maryland 855-695-4872 OutsideofMaryland +1-410-502-7683 International FindaDoctor SeeMore Related SexualandReproductiveHealth AnatomyofFemalePelvicArea SexualandReproductiveHealth Women’sPreventiveCareTimeline:Infographic Endometriosis PeriodPain:CouldItBeEndometriosis? RelatedTopics Women'sHealth DiagnosisandScreeningforGynecologicConditions FertilityandReproductiveHealth Women'sSexualandReproductiveHealth