Perimenopause Symptoms, Explained

Not from a symptom list alone. Fatigue, low mood, weight change and disrupted sleep all have several possible causes, and thyroid dysfunction in particular overlaps heavily with perimenopause. That is why an evaluation covers history plus testing across hormones and thyroid function rather than assuming hormones from symptoms.

A comprehensive workup looks at sex hormones and thyroid function. Testing runs through LabCorp: the patient receives an emailed lab order, schedules their own appointment, and visits a patient service center. Lab fees are billed by the laboratory, not the practice.

It is very common, and the overlap is part of the picture rather than a complication. Disrupted sleep worsens mood and concentration, night sweats disrupt sleep, and fatigue affects everything else. Because they compound, an evaluation looks at the pattern as a whole instead of treating each symptom as a separate problem.

Any bleeding after twelve consecutive months without a period, unusually heavy bleeding, or bleeding between periods should be evaluated rather than attributed to perimenopause. Persistent or worsening low mood also warrants care in its own right. In the United States, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day by call or text.

No, and any source suggesting otherwise is overstating it. Hormone therapy is prescribed for symptoms of the menopause transition where appropriate. It is not a treatment for depression, anxiety disorders, arthritis, or weight loss, all of which have their own established treatments. What is suitable depends on an individual's full medical history.

It starts with a free phone call of about 15 minutes with Kim Yadon, FNP-C — a chance to ask questions and see whether working together fits, and a lab order can be provided at no charge. A full initial consultation is separate, about 60 minutes at $200, once results are back.