There isn't any treatment to stop perimenopause. Perimenopause is a natural part of life. The “cure” for perimenopause occurs when your periods stop and you enter menopause. But your healthcare provider may recommend over-the-counter or prescription perimenopause treatment to help ease symptoms.
Can you reverse early menopause? You can't reverse menopause or make your ovaries function normally again. However, your provider can help reduce the symptoms and side effects of menopause. In the case of primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), there's a small possibility you'll regain ovarian function.
Perimenopause can begin in some women in their 30s, but most often it starts in women ages 40 to 44. It is marked by changes in menstrual flow and in the length of the cycle.
Is there a perimenopause test? No, there isn't a test to find out if you are in perimenopause. It is very difficult to get an accurate measure of your hormone levels during this phase as your hormones are constantly fluctuating.
However, you may want to talk to a perimenopause doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms: Your periods are very heavy or they include blood clots. Your periods last much longer than usual. You experience spotting either between periods or after sex.
The average length of perimenopause is about four years. Some people may only be in this stage for a few months, while others will be in this transition phase for more than four years. If you've gone more than 12 months without having a period, you are no longer in perimenopause.
What causes perimenopause? Perimenopause is a natural process caused when your ovaries gradually stop working. Ovulation may become erratic and then stop. The menstrual cycle lengthens and flow may become irregular before your final period.
Causes of early menopause
Early menopause can happen naturally if a woman's ovaries stop making normal levels of certain hormones, particularly the hormone oestrogen. This is sometimes called premature ovarian failure, or primary ovarian insufficiency.
Key points to take away from this blog:
Eat foods rich in phytoestrogens like soy and nuts. Support your liver and your gut – both of these have a role to play in balancing hormones. Exercise regular and incorporate stress management techniques into your daily life if you struggle with stress and anxiety.
See a GP or nurse if:
you think you have perimenopause or menopause symptoms.
Perimenopause, or menopause transition, begins several years before menopause. It's the time when the ovaries gradually begin to make less estrogen. It usually starts in women's 40s, but can start in their 30s or even earlier. Perimenopause lasts up until menopause, the point when the ovaries stop releasing eggs.
Excessive stress, which leads to elevation of stress hormones, can also negatively affect reproductive ability, including by accelerating menopause.
Estrogen levels generally decline during perimenopause, but they do so in an irregular fashion. As detailed in the table below, the reduced production of estrogen beginning in perimenopause can affect your sexual function directly, such as through vaginal dryness.
This transition can be more difficult for some than menopause due to dramatic fluctuations in reproductive hormone levels. During perimenopause, these hormones are sometimes underproduced and sometimes overproduced. In menopause, reproductive hormones are at constantly low levels.
Rationale. In otherwise healthy women over 45, perimenopause and menopause can be diagnosed based on clinical history alone. In this age group, laboratory tests, particularly follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), do not help with the diagnosis because hormone levels fluctuate during the perimenopause.
A GP, nurse or pharmacist can give you advice and help with your menopause or perimenopause symptoms. There are also menopause specialists who have experience in supporting anyone going through perimenopause and menopause.