About Premenopause

By Menopause Now Editorial Team | Updated: Sep 30, 2019

In order to understand the menopausal transition in its entirety, it is crucial that women first have developed knowledge about premenopause, the very first stage. Continue reading to learn all about premenopause, including its fundamentals, how long it lasts, and tests women can undergo to confirm they are still within their fertile years.

The Fundamentals of Premenopause

Premenopause is the first stage of the menopause process. Some define it as the time in a woman's life in which she is fully fertile and able to reproduce.

Premenopause starts with a woman's first period during puberty and finishes with the first symptoms of perimenopause, such as hot flashes and irregular periods, which is the second menopause stage.

During premenopause, it is not uncommon for many women to experience physical and psychological discomforts leading up to each menstrual cycle, commonly known as premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

How Long Does Premenopause Last?

It is hard to determine exactly how long premenopause will last because the age at which women enter puberty and then transition into perimenopause differs.

Assuming that most women have their first period - called menarche - in their early teens and experience the first hormonal changes of perimenopause in their mid-40s, it can be said that for approximately 30 years, women are fully fertile, granted they do not suffer from any health conditions that may cause infertility, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or endometriosis.

Moreover, even though some premenopause women suffer from symptoms related to perimenopause, that does not necessarily mean they are exiting their fertile years. In rare cases, however, women could in fact be undergoing premature menopause, if younger than 40, or early menopause, if between 40 and 45.

Therefore, in order to assure themselves that they still are in premenopause, tests can be undergone. Learn about them in the next section.

Premenopause Tests

Women can order a series of tests to determine if their symptoms are related to perimenopause or another underlying health condition.

A few of the tests undergone are:

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Test

Thyroid disease symptoms can closely mirror those of perimenopause, including fatigue, weight gain, irritability, irregular periods, and muscle aches. Speak with your doctor about necessary blood work that canbe done to confirm that your TSH levels are within normal.

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Test

Consistently elevated FSH levels can signify that a woman has entered perimenopause and is nearing her menopause date. However, one reading isnot sufficient enough as the hormone's levels vary on a daily basis. Accompanying symptoms are also considered in the diagnosis.

Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) Test

AMH is a hormone produced by maturing follicles in the ovaries. When its levels fall is a good indicator that the ovarian reserve is diminished,and a woman has entered perimenopause. Nevertheless, test results should be used with other labs and assessments.

Now that you have a better understanding of premenopause, the next step is to learn about the causes of premenopause symptoms, better known as PMS symptoms, so that you can manage them accordingly. Click on the preceding link to continue your path to better hormonal knowledge.

Premenopause Treatments

Sources

American Association for Clinical Chemistry. (2018). FDA Approves Blood Test for Menopause. Retrieved September 26, 2019, from https://labtestsonline.org/news/fda-approves-blood-test-menopause
Cleveland Clinic. (2016). Thyroid Disease. Retrieved September 26, 2019, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8541-thyroid-disease
Duke Health. (2013). When is Puberty Too Early? Retrieved September 26, 2019, from https://www.dukehealth.org/blog/when-puberty-too-early
Harvard Health Publishing. (2018). Perimenopause: Rocky road to menopause. Retrieved September 26, 2019, from https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/perimenopause-rocky-road-to-menopause
The North American Menopause Society. (n.d.). Menopause 101: A primer for the perimenopausal. Retrieved September 26, 2019, from https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/menopause-symptoms-and-treatments/menopause-101-a-primer-for-the-perimenopausal

4 Steps to Become More Active during Premenopause

For women in the premenopause stage, weight gain and general fitness can often become an issue associated with this period in their life. This article provides some simple ideas for how to start becoming more active and little lifestyle changes that can also contribute to physical activeness.

The Difference between Early Menopause and Premenopause

A woman's life is full of confusing menopausal phases that all have their own unique definitions.Should now be clear what the differences are between early menopause and premenopause. If you are experiencing any discomfort, then it is important to talk to a doctor, who can help you manage them.

During premenopause, the period of time from the first menstruation to menopause, many women experience a variety of symptoms due to hormone fluctuations. Most commonly occurring just before a woman's period, premenopause is better known as premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Read on to discover more about symptoms of premenopause and how to combat them.