Perimenopause and Menopause
Your journey through perimenopause and menopause is unique to you and deserves a compassionate and mindful consultation.
Dr Beck and her team are specialised in the assessment and management of perimenopause and menopause, providing individualised care to help you navigate this transition with confidence.
Whether you need support managing symptoms, understanding your options, or prioritising your overall well-being, we are here to listen, guide, and empower you every step of the way.
Understanding perimenopause and menopause
Perimenopause is the period of time before your last menstrual period and includes the year following your last menstrual period. It is the transition from your reproductive life to your postmenopausal years and is characterised by sometimes extreme hormonal fluctuations, particularly oestrogen, which can lead to changing bleeding patterns and an array of variable physical and mental symptoms. Perimenopausal symptoms will often start in your 40s and can last for a variable length of time. On average women experience symptoms for 4-6 years but can vary from 1-10 years.
Menopause marks the end of your reproductive menstrual cycles. You are postmenopausal when you have had 12 consecutive months without a period. The average age of menopause is 51 years although can occur between 45 and 55 years of age and can also happen earlier and later than this. The post menopausal state is characterised by hormonal deficiencies in oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone which can have significant impact on chronic health risk.
80% of women will have symptoms of perimenopause or menopause of variable severity and at least 30% of these women may benefit from treatment.
Dr Beck is specialised in perimenopause and menopausal medicine and appreciates how personal the journey can be. She is happy to chat through with you your individual experience, concerns and wishes to help you better understand your options.
Common symptoms
Brain fog: a broad term which describes a womens experience of cognitive change due to perimenopause and menopause. This has been described as a ‘cloudiness’ , difficulty concentrating or finding the right words and poor concentration amongst others
Fatigue: women describe feeling more tired than usual and some cases severe fatigue can impact work and home life
Hot flushes: can be experienced with variable frequency and intensity. Often experienced as a rising heat from the chest to the head and can affect sleep through night sweats.
Mood changes: many women report anxiety, irritability, low mood which may have significant impacts on relationships
Vaginal/urinary symptoms: these may include vaginal dryness, incontinence and painful sex
Joint pains: due to the anti-inflammatory effect of estrogen, when in low levels, women may experience increase in joint pains and aches
Headaches and migraines: the frequency of headaches may increase with the hormonal fluctuations and deficiency of perimenopause and menopause
Sleep distrubance: is commonly reported symptom and can often improve with
Skin changes: your skin may feel more itchy, dry and sensitive. some women
How Elara can support you
Our personalised care plans are designed to address your specific concerns and may include:
Lifestyle Advice: Perimenopause/menopause specific diet, targeted exercise programmes, approaches to stress reduction and optimising sleep
Menopausal Hormonal Therapy (MHT): The replacement of hormones (oestrogen , progesterone and testosterone) to improve hormone deficiency, manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Mental Health Support: Provision of a mental health plan to help you navigate the physical, emotional, sexual and relationship changes of perimenopause and menopause.
Non-Hormonal Treatments: For women for whom MHT may not be suitable or for preference, a discussion around non hormonal alternatives is available.
Supplementation: Advice on vitamins and minerals to support bone health and overall wellbeing.
Take the First Step
Ready to prioritise your health? Book an appointment today to start your journey towards a happier, healthier you.