The Change Explained: What to Expect and How to Feel Better Through Perimenopause & Menopause
June 25, 2026
Categories: Womens Health
Perimenopause is the interval preceding the final menstrual period and can be marked by fluctuating hormone levels that result in changes in menstrual cycles and clinical symptoms. Menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation, confirmed retrospectively after 12 months of no menstrual cycles. The timing of onset, duration, and symptoms experienced during the menopause transition varies among women. The average age of menopause is 51 to 52, and most commonly occurs between 45 and 55.
The most common symptoms associated with the perimenopause/menopause transition include vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats), sleep problems, muscle and joint aches, difficulty remembering things (brain fog), decreased sex drive, weight gain, changes in skin and hair, genitourinary symptoms of menopause (vaginal dryness/irritation, pain with intercourse, recurrent urinary tract infections).
The great news is that there are treatment options available to help manage bothersome symptoms. Hormone Therapy is a treatment option that is effective for treating menopause related symptoms in healthy women when started ideally before age 60 and within 10 years of the onset of menopause. There are FDA-approved hormonal treatment options, as well as non-hormonal treatment options for women who have contraindications to hormone use.
Menopause Hormone Therapy provides well-established benefits such as relief of vasomotor symptoms, protection of bone health, treatment of genitourinary symptoms of menopause, lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and, if hormone therapy is started within 10 years of menopause, a potentially lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
We recommend meeting with one of our providers to discuss your menopausal symptoms and review your medical history to determine the best treatment option.
