Perimenopause Care, Covered By Insurance

Perimenopause is defined as the months or years leading up to menopause. During this time, estrogen levels are dropping, but not in a steady way. Instead, they may fluctuate wildly, triggering physical and emotional symptoms.

Perimenopause typically starts between 40 and 50, but some women experience it earlier (it in their 30s) or later (in their 50s).

The average length is four to six years, but perimenopause can last up to ten years.

Once it’s been 12 months since your last menstrual cycle, perimenopause is over and you’ve reached menopause. The average age of menopause is 51.

Yes, you can still ovulate during perimenopause, so pregnancy is a real possibility. But certain types of hormonal birth control can provide protection and help manage hot flashes and mood swings.

Symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can be similar to perimenopause. These include irregular or missed periods, mood changes, weight gain, and difficulty sleeping. But PCOS-specific symptoms include acne, facial hair growth, and skin darkening. Your Midi clinician may order blood tests or a pelvic ultrasound to check for PCOS.

At-home kits promise to ID if you’ve reached perimenopause. The problem: Hormone levels fluctuate wildly at this stage, so a single test can’t accurately pinpoint your body's overall levels. That’s why Midi doesn’t usually recommend hormone testing. One exception: If you’re having irregular periods during perimenopause, we may test your hormones to see if your ovaries are still functioning.

Unfortunately, there's no one test that can tell you when the transition will start, or even say you that you're in the middle of it. Your hormones are going up and down a lot during this stage, so a blood test can be misleading. That said, your doctor can consider your age, the age that your mother or sister entered menopause, your health history, and all the symptoms you might be experiencing and then order a series of blood tests at different times to measure hormone levels. This might provide a clearer picture.