What experts are saying about perimenopause symptoms
Here's what the experts have to say.
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Quick facts
Perimenopause is the transition before menopause, when cycles and hormone patterns change. Symptoms and timing vary between people. The transition ends when menopause is reached after 12 consecutive months without a period.
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Dr. Mary Claire HaverMD, FACOG, MSCP, board-certified OB-GYN and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner
Medical doctor
Dr. Haver discusses perimenopause and menopause symptoms, timing, and related health topics in this episode.
Dr. Haver discusses perimenopause as the years before the last menstrual period. She describes hormone fluctuations during perimenopause before hormone levels decline. The episode lists hot flashes among the symptoms discussed for perimenopause and menopause. It also covers sleep disruption in connection with nighttime symptoms.
Dr. Jolene BrightenBoard-certified naturopathic endocrinologist, FABNE, Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP)
Licensed practitioner
Dr. Brighten discusses perimenopause symptoms, timing, and phases in this episode.
“Perimenopause is more than just hot flashes.”
Dr. Brighten states that perimenopausal symptoms can occur seven to ten years before menopause, as she presents the timeline. She lists hot flashes and night sweats among symptoms people may track in perimenopause. She asks listeners to note frequency, duration, and whether symptoms interrupt activities, as part of describing symptoms to a provider. She describes several phases of perimenopause based on cycle and symptom changes.
Dr. Gunter explains the menopause transition, also called perimenopause, and its timing definitions.
“Menopause is the end of ovulation.”
Dr. Gunter describes the time leading up to menopause as the menopause transition, also called perimenopause. She lists transition features including menstrual changes, hot flashes/flushes, and sleep disturbance. She states that menopause officially starts one year after the final menstrual period, so the diagnosis is made in retrospect. She notes that vasomotor symptoms can start several years before the final period.
Dr. Attia discusses perimenopause and menopause symptoms, diagnosis, and hormone topics in this AMA episode.
Dr. Attia describes menopause as diagnosed retrospectively after 12 months without a period, without another obvious cause. The show notes state that symptoms can occur before the 12-month point is reached. He discusses FSH and, to a lesser extent, LH and estradiol in evaluating the approach to menopause. The full episode is subscriber-only, with a public preview and show notes on the page.
The Peter Attia Drive podcast, AMA #52 · October 16, 2023See the original ↗
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Dr. Lisa MosconiPhD, neuroscientist
Researcher
Dr. Mosconi discusses menopause symptoms in relation to the brain during menopause.
The TED description lists hot flashes and night sweats among menopause symptoms that she describes as starting in the brain. She presents research on changing hormone levels and brain aging in the talk. She also discusses memory, sleep, mood, and anxiety in the same talk description. This source presents a brain-focused discussion of these symptoms.
Dr. Stacy SimsMSc, PhD, exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist
Researcher
Dr. Sims discusses menopause body composition and exercise topics in this article.
Dr. Sims discusses estrogen in relation to muscle stem cells and muscle maintenance during menopause. She writes about resistance training in relation to muscle, bone, and cardiovascular topics as she presents them. She also discusses sprint intervals in relation to insulin sensitivity and visceral fat topics in the article. This source focuses on exercise and body-composition topics in the menopause context.