Written by Dr Deirdre Lundy, Clinical Lead, Complex Menopause Service, NMH, Holles St
Levels of female reproductive hormone will start to become less predictable and then drop; sometimes gradually with age, sometimes abruptly as a result of disease or medical treatments. The transition typically kicks off naturally from about the mid- 40’s and the symptoms resulting from hormone derangement or loss are commonly referred to as “The Menopause” by patients and HC (even though we know that the word ‘menopause’ actually means “end of the monthly”). So while menopause officially is defined as the last ever natural menses and most commonly occurs in the early 50’s, the symptomatic phase of the lead into sex hormone changes – more accurately referred to as ‘perimenopause’, often precede the final menstrual period by many months or even years. We use those terms interchangeably. This transitional time (‘Perimenopause’) puts some patients in the unenviable position of having to juggle midlife hormonal symptoms as well as contraceptive concerns fertility may decline in your 40’s & 50’s but it’s not gone!
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