Cycles, perimenopause
and what follows.
Cycle changes, perimenopause and menopause — and the effects that reach well beyond the cycle itself.
Handled by Gynecology & Women’s Health
What this
usually looks like.
Hormonal change is often recognised late, because the symptoms rarely announce their cause.
- Sleep breaks up Waking at 3am, often before any hot flush is noticeable.
- Mood becomes unfamiliar Irritability or anxiety that does not match your circumstances.
- Temperature changes Flushes, night sweats, or a new intolerance of heat.
- Body composition shifts Weight redistributing despite no change in diet or activity.
- Joints and skin change Aching, dryness and thinning that arrive together.
More than
the cycle itself.
Oestrogen and progesterone act on far more than the reproductive system. Receptors sit in bone, brain, blood vessels, skin and the urinary tract, which is why hormonal transition presents as sleep, mood, cognition and joint symptoms as readily as it does as cycle change.
Perimenopause can begin up to a decade before the final period, while cycles are still regular. Being told you are "too young" is common and often wrong.
- Cycle history Pattern, changes and timing relative to your own baseline.
- Hormonal panel Interpreted in the context of your stage, not against a single range.
- Thyroid function Frequently mistaken for hormonal change, and vice versa.
- Bone health Because bone loss accelerates in the years around menopause.
- Cardiovascular markers Risk profile shifts measurably after the transition.
- Urogenital symptoms Asked about directly, since they are rarely volunteered.
Hormonal change is not only a cycle changing. It reaches bone, brain, sleep and skin.
How we
assess it.
Stage first, then symptoms, then what is worth measuring.
-
Consultant consultation
A full history with a gynaecologist — cycle, symptoms, family history and what matters to you.
-
Targeted investigation
Hormonal, thyroid and metabolic markers where they will change the decision.
-
Screening as indicated
Bone density, cardiovascular and gynaecological screening appropriate to your stage.
-
Management plan
Options explained with their evidence, including the option of doing nothing yet.
Who would
see you.
This concern is held by Gynecology & Women’s Health. If assessment points elsewhere, you are introduced to the right consultant rather than redirected to find one.
Visit the specialtyWhen more than one
system is involved.
Hormonal change reaches into mood, sleep, bone, metabolic and cardiovascular health. Where symptoms cross into those areas, your gynaecologist can involve the relevant Lavora consultant directly rather than discharging you to find one.
How Lavora connects careBefore you
get in touch.
Am I too young for this to be perimenopause?
Perimenopause commonly begins in the early forties and can start earlier. Regular cycles do not rule it out — hormonal fluctuation precedes cycle irregularity, often by years.
Will a blood test tell me definitively?
Not on its own. Hormone levels fluctuate considerably during perimenopause, so a single measurement can mislead. Diagnosis rests on your history and symptoms, with blood work supporting rather than deciding it.
Is HRT the only option?
No. Hormone therapy is one option among several, and it is not right for everyone. We explain what the evidence supports for your situation, including non-hormonal approaches.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can book directly with our Women’s Health service.
Start with
a conversation.
Nothing on this page is a diagnosis. An assessment is how you find out what is actually happening.
This page explains how Lavora approaches a concern. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace a consultation.