Perimenopause is a significant phase in a woman's life that often comes with a myriad of symptoms affecting overall health and well-being. As a Family Nurse Practitioner specializing in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), I understand the profound impact that hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause can have on your body. Let’s explore why estrogen is vital and how BHRT can help alleviate symptoms and improve your quality of life.

The Importance of Estrogen

Estrogen is profoundly protective of your health. When it starts to diminish during perimenopause, it’s a big deal and should be treated as such. Estrogen receptors are present in almost every organ system in your body. As estrogen levels drop, these cells lose their ability to assist in maintaining your health, leading to a wide range of symptoms.

A study published in the journal ‘Menopause’ reported that a woman starting estrogen at fifty can expect to live up to two years longer than those who do not. Additionally, it’s associated with a 20-50% decrease in the risk of dying from any cause per year.

Common and Overlooked Symptoms

Perimenopause can bring about symptoms that extend far beyond hot flashes, night sweats, and loss of bone density. Unfortunately, many medical providers may not connect these symptoms to hormonal changes due to limited education on the topic. Here’s an extensive list of symptoms associated with perimenopause:

• Acid reflux

• Acne

• Changes in alcohol tolerance

• Anxiety

• Arthritis

• Asthma

• Autoimmune disease (new or worsening)

• Bloating

• Belly fat

• Body odor

• Brain fog

• Breast tenderness

• Brittle nails

• Burning sensation in the mouth/tongue

• Chronic fatigue syndrome

• Crawling skin sensations

• Depression

• Dizziness

• Dry/itchy eyes

• Dry mouth

• Dry skin

• Eczema

• Electric shock sensations

• Fatigue

• Fibromyalgia

• Frozen shoulder

• Headaches

• Heart palpitations

• High cholesterol/high triglycerides

• Hot flashes

• Incontinence

• Insomnia

• Insulin resistance

• Irritable bowel syndrome

• Irritability

• Itchy ears

• Itchy skin

• Joint Pain

• Kidney stones

• Low libido

• Migraines

• Muscle aches

• Muscle loss

• Night sweats

• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

• Osteoporosis

• Painful intercourse

• Sleep apnea

• Thinning hair

• Thinning skin

• Tingling in extremities

• Tinnitus

• TMJ

• Whiskers

• UTIs

• Vaginal dryness

• Weight gain

• Wrinkles

These symptoms are rarely put together as hormone issues and are often dismissed altogether.

The Benefits of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)

If you are a candidate for hormone therapy, using it may prolong your life and significantly improve your quality of life. BHRT uses hormones that are chemically identical to those your body produces, offering a natural approach to hormone therapy. Here’s how BHRT can help:

- Alleviates Symptoms: BHRT can effectively reduce or eliminate many of the symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause.

- Improves Overall Health: By maintaining optimal hormone levels, BHRT can help protect against conditions such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disorders.

- Enhances Quality of Life: Many women experience improved mood, energy levels, and overall well-being with BHRT.

Taking Your Symptoms Seriously

Your symptoms are real and deserve attention! You don’t have to just tough it out. As a healthcare provider, my goal is to help you understand your options and find relief through personalized hormone therapy. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms listed above and suspect they might be related to perimenopause or menopause, consider discussing BHRT with a knowledgeable provider.

You can take our hormone quiz HERE and see if your symptoms may be linked to hormone imbalance.