Perimenopause and the early years of menopause are a critical window for health, and that’s true even if you don’t have symptoms. It is a sensitive period or inflection point, during which time small health problems could, if not addressed, amplify into larger and more permanent health problems later in life. Symptoms can include:

• Change in cycle length

• Headaches

• Anxiety

• Mood swings

• Depression

• Low Libido

• Trouble sleeping

• Hot flashes

• Night sweats

• Vaginal dryness

• PMS

• Achy joints

• Irritability

• Brain fog

• Weight Changes

• Skin/hair changes

Some women have no symptoms during menopause. Their period stops and that’s it. But they are in the minority. 80% of women experience some symptoms and for half of them these symptoms last for years. The medium duration of hot flashes and vasomotor symptoms among these women was 7.4 years You should start BHRT

during perimenopause. The closer you start to menopause the better the long -term outcomes for preventing bone loss and osteoporosis.

We produce progesterone when we ovulate. The first hormone to go down when we start ovulating less or sporadically is progesterone. Progesterone converts to a neurosteroid called allopregnanolone which calms GABA receptors. Progesterone is our calming hormone that helps with mood, anxiety and sleep

Throughout our lives, our bodies depend on estrogen to keep us healthy and going strong. Not only is it essential for our reproductive activities, it also affects our urinary tract, heart and blood vessels, bones, breasts, skin, hair, pelvis muscles and our brain.

Every woman is different, but estrogen and progesterone benefits can be felt in as little as 1-7 days. Testosterone usually takes longer at about 4 weeks. To experience the full benefits of HRT, it is best to be patient and know that dosing adjustments may need to be made to find the correct levels for your individual needs.