Menopause is the largest hormonal shift a woman will experience in her life and they are met with a lot of misinformation and dismissal from medical practitioners.
Here are 3 reasons why women get dismissed from their medical practitioners when trying to establish if they are in menopause:
No.1 - Age
Many women are told that they are too young for the menopause. The average age of menopause is 45-51 years old and menopause is described as 12 full months without a cycle; however the transition in to menopause does not happen overnight and that transition when estrogen begins to decline is referred to as the perimenopause can start anywhere between 5-10 years before menopause, meaning many women will start with menopause symptoms in their thirties.
No.2 - Blood Tests
There are no blood tests that can determine menopause.
No.3 - Change of Cycle
It is not uncommon for women to continue to experience their cycle as normal during perimenopause. Irregular periods, changes in duration and flow are only ONE of around 45 different menopausal symptoms.
Remember, you know your body better than anyone else. If you think that you are experiencing perimenopausal symptoms, schedule an appointment with a GP at your practice that has menopause knowledge/training (if possible) and go prepared with a list of your symptoms and how you are being impacted.
Read our perimenopause blog to check if your symptoms track.