Women deserve clear information about how aging may affect their health before symptoms begin to disrupt daily life. Concerns about sleep, memory or sexual health should receive thoughtful attention, even when they may be associated with aging. Recognizing that a change is common should lead to a discussion about its possible causes and appropriate care.
In my practice, I have recently noticed more women in their early 40s asking about hormones and what lies ahead. That observation does not establish a national trend. It does, however, raise a practical question: How well are we preparing women who do not yet know what to ask?
I believe preparation for perimenopause and menopause should become a routine part of midlife care. Women should not have to arrive with their own research before receiving an explanation of what may change, which concerns warrant assessment and what options might help. The Office on Women’s Health outlines three stages of menopause.
Perimenopause is the transition leading up to menopause. Menopause is a retrospective moment identified only after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. Postmenopause is the life stage that follows.
Understanding these stages can help women prepare for changes in their health rather than simply waiting for symptoms to pass. Even that basic conversation needs room. In my view, short appointments and competing clinical and administrative demands can make preparation difficult.
An annual examination may leave questions unanswered. A patient may assume everything relevant has been considered, while her clinician may not know which changes are troubling her most. This is where a more deliberate approach could help.
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