PERIMENOPAUSE AND IRREGULAR CYCLES
Perimenopause begins in a woman in as early as late thirties or anytime throughout the forties. It lasts for a variable length of time. Think of it as a transition period. Dr Steven R. Goldstein a Perimenopause Specialist in NYC, past President of the International Menopause Society and a Certified Menopause Practitioner says that irregular is what becomes regular during this phase of a woman’s life. Dr Goldstein has patients at his office immediately when their cycle is off. While the majority of women may have great irregularity to their cycle, they may not be aware of it. The change is often subtle. Women do not always notice if their period is a few days late or a few days early, particularly if they are not worried about getting pregnant. For example, a patient who we will call Marilyn, forty five, came in for an annual exam. Her complaint was that she was having horrible PMS. She said she never had a problem before, not even cramps in high school. She went on to say she now has about one week a month where she is symptom free, her breasts do not ache and she doesn’t want to scream and yell at those around her. When asked if she noticed any changes in her menstrual cycle, she said she was a little irregular. Not being in a relationship, she didn’t care whether her period was early or late because she knew she wasn’t pregnant.