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All About Women

A patient-centered practice for all stages of a woman's life

Gainesville, FL (352) 331-3332
6440 W Newberry Rd, Ste 111

Lake City, FL (386) 754-1744
4447 NW American Ln, Ste 102

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Blog / Women's Health Awareness / Understanding the Causes and Symptoms of Perimenopause

Understanding the Causes and Symptoms of Perimenopause

October 1, 2021 By Liliana Zapien

perimenopause symptoms causes

Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when her body stops producing the hormones associated with her menstrual cycle and her fertility ends. Most women, regardless of their age, are familiar with this cycle that most women experience at some point in their lives.

However, there is another period prior to menopause that is less known and not well understood by many women.

The transitional period leading up to menopause is known as perimenopause. Perimenopause is highlighted by both physical and emotional symptoms, and it can last anywhere from 2 to 10 years.

Causes and stages of perimenopause

As a woman approaches menopause, the body’s production of estrogen and progesterone begins to fluctuate. The reduction of these 2 chemicals (particularly estrogen) leads to many of the symptoms commonly associated with menopause.

Every woman’s body is different, however. Women as early as their mid-30s can begin to notice some of the changes, But most women begin to notice some kind of menstrual irregularity by their 40s.

That said, there are many Gen X and Millennial women who have begun to experience perimenopause—many who are uninformed (or misinformed) about what’s happening and what it means.

Take, for example, 49-year-old Angie McKaig, who explained to the New York Times how perimenopause has affected her job at Canada’s largest bank. McKaig, who refers to perimenopause-induced brain fog as “peri brain,” reported having such severe brain fog that she would forget a point she was trying to make in the middle of her sentence during a presentation to colleagues.

At first, McKaig worried she might have early-onset Alzheimer’s or that her symptoms were caused by the grief she was experiencing from her mother’s recent death.

She described it “like somebody had taken my brain and done the Etch A Sketch thing.”

Since being diagnosed with perimenopause, McKaig has made it her mission to be open about her “peri brain” with her work colleagues in order to help normalize this natural, but little understood, phase in a woman’s life.

Common signs and symptoms of perimenopause

Given that during perimenopause a woman’s body is moving toward the end of her reproductive life, it’s understandable that her body would be going through changes. Some changes are subtle while others are dramatic.

While every woman is different, some of the most common perimenopause symptoms are hot flashes and irregular periods. As ovulation becomes more irregular, your body can fluctuate the amount of time between periods. The length can vary from shorter or longer than your usual cycle. Your flow can fluctuate as well.

Additionally, you could experience:

  • Changing cholesterol levels
  • Changes in sexual function
  • Concentration problems
  • Decreasing fertility
  • Headaches
  • Joint and muscle aches
  • Loss of bone
  • Mood changes
  • PMS-like symptoms
  • Sleep problems
  • Vaginal and bladder problems

Risk factors for early perimenopause

Even though menopause is a completely normal phase in a woman’s life, there are certain risk factors that make a woman more likely to begin menopause (and thus, perimenopause) earlier than others. These risk factors include:

  • Smoking. Women who smoke can experience the onset of menopause up to 2 years before those who don’t smoke.
  • Family history. If your mother began menopause early, there’s a higher chance that you will also experience menopause earlier than “normal.”
  • Cancer treatment. Women who have cancer that requires chemotherapy or pelvic radiation treatment have been known to experience menopause earlier than others.
  • Hysterectomy. When a woman has a hysterectomy, her uterus is removed, but the ovaries remain to continue to produce estrogen. That said, having a hysterectomy can lead to early-onset menopause.

Even with all the changes that are occurring during the process of your body moving into perimenopause (and later menopause), this part of your life doesn’t have to become your whole life.

At All About Women, our Gainesville well-woman care doctors can offer you effective treatments to help alleviate some of the discomforts that come along with perimenopause and menopause. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

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6440 W Newberry Rd, Ste 111
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Gainesville and Lake City OB/GYN Care
OB/GYN doctors at All About Women, Obstetrics & Gynecology offer personalized, technologically advanced obstetrics and gynecology services from Board Certified OB/GYB physicians. Besides expert women's healthcare, permanent birth control and prenatal care, OB/GYN doctors also offers advanced hysterectomy surgery in and around the Gainesville area.


Women's Health Care in Alachua & Columbia Counties
With offices in Gainesville and Lake City, Florida, All About Women, M.D. provides expert OB/GYN services covering the entire range of women's healthcare needs. Our OB/GYN physicians and nurse midwives provide expert care during pregnancy as well as state of the art in-office treatments for gynecologic disorders including Novasure endometrial ablation to treat/stop heavy menstrual bleeding.


Personalized & Expert Prenatal Care
Gainesville obstetricians at All About Women, M.D. help ensure pregnancy goes as smoothly as possible by offering the best prenatal care available. And for those having difficulty getting pregnant, AAW obstetricians and gynecologists offer couples the best infertility help and treatment available.


Advanced Minimally Invasive Surgery: daVinci Surgical System
Clinic founder Dr. Anthony Agrios, Board Certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist also specializes in the daVinci Robotic surgery system, a minimally invasive option commonly used for a hysterectomy and other procedures. Instead of creating several small incisions like traditional surgical methods, OB/GYN surgeons simply open one incision with the daVinci system to complete the procedure. Not only do patients experience less pain and blood loss, they recover and get back to normal much faster.


Pregnancy & Prenatal Care: Creative Pregnancy Announcement : Fruits for Pregnant Women

OB/GYN Tips: Choosing an OB/GYN : Robotic Hysterectomy

Infertility & Reproduction Health: Infertility Treatment : Permanent Birth Control

Women's Health: Preventive Care : Well Women Care : Mammogram Screenings : Abnormal Periods

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