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My Adventures in Perimenopause
Hi. My name is Amy, and I’m perimenopausal.
Do you know what perimenopause is? I didn’t know much about it until fairly recently when I embarked on a quest to figure out what this “condition” is all about. By reading a number of over-the-counter medical articles, I’ve learned that it can be a wacky rollercoaster ride caused by a shift in hormones. As a 42-year-old woman, according to the Internet, I’m apparently right on schedule to enjoy this not-quite-midlife experience.
If I sound unsure about how perimenopause works, it’s because I’m unsure about how perimenopause works. The ambiguity is among the primary points I’m aiming to address in my journey to spread awareness for the millions of women who are likely experiencing perimenopause right now — not to mention younger gals, who are next in line for the rollercoaster.
When I told my doctors about my symptoms and suggested that perhaps I have perimenopause, they neither confirmed the possibility nor gave me any hard-and-fast advice, which made me wonder whether I actually had a problem. But I thought, How could this be? I know I’m quirky, but surely I can’t be the only one going through this. Luckily, some of my lady friends are going through this too, and I’ve discovered a handful of doctors and health specialists writing about perimenopause, like Dr. Rebecca Levy-Gantt. After reading…