Is this perimenopause?

Emily is 42

She wakes most nights at 3 a.m. She feels stressed and increasingly anxious.

She’s gained 10 pounds despite continuing to work out, and she can’t explain why she no longer feels like herself.

Her periods are still regular so she’s told

“You’re too young"

"this can’t be perimenopause”

But perimenopause isn’t diagnosed by reaching a certain age, and regular periods do not rule it out. For many women, the earliest changes aren’t hot flashes or missed periods.

They may be psychological and cognitive: new anxiety, irritability, low mood, disrupted sleep, difficulty concentrating, or a sense of simply feeling “off”

Perimenopause begins while cycles are still regular! The pattern of symptoms, their timing, medical history, and exclusion of other possible causes matter far more than hormone testing. During perimenopause, estrogen and FSH levels can fluctuate substantially from one day, or one menstrual cycle to another. A single normal result is only a snapshot.

But, perimenopause should not become a catch-all diagnosis

Not every new symptom in a woman over 40 is caused by hormones.

Persistent anxiety, depression, fatigue, palpitations, sleep disturbance or weight change may also warrant assessment for thyroid disease, anemia or iron deficiency, sleep apnea, medication effects, pregnancy and other physical or mental health conditions.

What women need to know

You do not have to wait until your periods stop!

You do not have to wait until your symptoms become unbearable!

And you do not have to prove what you are experiencing with one abnormal hormone level before asking for help!

At Mountain Light Wellness your treatment is individualized

Depending on the symptoms, medical history and personal preferences, options may include:

• Sleep, nutrition and exercise strategies

• Psychological support or therapy

• Menopausal hormone therapy

• Vaginal estrogen or other treatments for vaginal and urinary symptoms

• Other nonhormonal prescription treatments

• Prescription weight management (including GLP1 medications such as Ozempic & other options)

• Treatment of contributing conditions such as thyroid dysfunction, iron deficiency or sleep apnea

Hormone therapy is not right for everyone, and it is not the only option.

But women deserve an informed conversation about potential benefits, risks and alternatives, not automatic dismissal based on arbitrary data, or outdated research.

If you are experiencing changes that are affecting your sleep, mood, cognition, relationships or quality of life, you do not need to wait until your periods stop to seek support

At Mountain Light Wellness, I take the time to look at the whole picture, consider other possible causes and develop an individualized treatment plan based on your symptoms, medical history, risks and preferences.

You know when something has changed.

It is worth exploring why.

K. Shuflita, NP(F)