Perimenopause can affect more than the menstrual cycle
During the menopause transition, changing hormone levels can be associated with hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disruption, vaginal or urinary symptoms, mood changes, and changes in concentration or perceived cognitive performance.
Many women also notice changes in weight or body-fat distribution during midlife. These changes can reflect aging, sleep, activity, nutrition, medications, metabolic risk, and the menopause transition rather than one hormone level alone.
What a visit may cover
- Menstrual and symptom history
- Hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disruption, and genitourinary symptoms
- Weight trajectory and body-composition concerns
- Mood, concentration, and quality-of-life changes
- Glucose, lipid, blood-pressure, and metabolic risk when relevant
- Personal and family medical history
- Cardiovascular, clotting, cancer, liver, and other relevant risk factors
- Current medications and prior hormone use
Hormone therapy is individualized
Hormone therapy can be an effective option for selected menopause symptoms, but it is not appropriate for everyone and is not, by itself, a weight-loss treatment.
For some patients, treating disruptive vasomotor symptoms may improve sleep and quality of life, while weight-management goals require their own metabolic, nutrition, activity, and medication assessment.
The type of hormone therapy, route, need for progesterone, expected benefits, and potential risks depend on symptoms, whether the uterus is present, medical history, age, timing, and other clinical factors.
This page is educational and does not establish a diagnosis or guarantee treatment. Recommendations depend on an individual clinical assessment, medical history, applicable law, and state availability.