artificial insemination syringe
Category: Lifestyle
By: Jamie Carter
Updated: May 18, 2021
Originally Published: May 17, 2021
The signs had been creeping up on me for months. I’d wake up drenched in sweat, despite having a fan blowing right next to me. One moment, I was furiously cleaning in a fit of rage, and the next, I found myself sobbing with a pint of ice cream in hand. Some mornings, I’d growl at my family, only to be nearly skipping around the house by evening—or vice versa.
It wasn’t until I started experiencing my period 2-3 times a month that I began to connect the dots.
Doesn’t that seem a bit strange? Yeah, I thought so too.
I had heard whispers about hot flashes and emotional swings, usually tied to menopause. But since I was still getting my period regularly (or even more frequently), I couldn’t possibly be in menopause. So what on earth was happening?
Turns out, it was perimenopause. Until recently, I hadn’t even heard that term, let alone understood it.
During a recent annual check-up, when I asked my nurse practitioner about it, she didn’t have much insight either. She confirmed that I wasn’t in menopause (which I already knew) and ran some hormone tests and an ultrasound. Everything looked normal, but something still felt off.
Her suggestion? Talk to my mom. If I could find out when she went through menopause, I might be able to gauge my own timeline. When I asked her, she couldn’t even recall when she went through menopause and had never heard of perimenopause, highlighting how much we’ve been kept in the dark for generations.
Dr. Laura Green, a leading expert in women’s health, expressed similar sentiments, stating, “You hear so many women say, ‘No one ever told me this,’ and it’s a common thread throughout generations.”
It shouldn’t be surprising that perimenopause remains a mystery to many. After all, menopause itself is still surrounded by myths and stigma. Dr. Emily Stokes, a historian specializing in women’s health, noted that menopause was once referred to as “women’s hell” and other derogatory terms prior to the 19th century.
Incredibly frustrating, right?
Here’s the scoop: the average age for menopause, defined as a full year without a period, is 51. Perimenopause, the transition phase leading up to menopause, usually starts around age 47, although symptoms can begin earlier or later. At 43, I can certainly attest to feeling the symptoms quite intensely.
Despite perimenopause potentially lasting several years, many healthcare providers are ill-equipped to support women during this time. According to recent studies, fewer than 7% of medical residents feel adequately prepared to help women navigate menopause. This is not only ridiculous but also quite sexist.
We have entire industries dedicated to male health issues, yet women often feel dismissed when seeking help for menopause or perimenopause. As one woman shared, her doctor insisted her symptoms couldn’t be perimenopause because she was still menstruating, and she ultimately “gave up trying to educate her.”
The situation is even more dire for Black women, who are reported to experience more severe symptoms yet receive inadequate healthcare support.
The combination of challenging symptoms and a lack of medical knowledge can be infuriating. We need more information and better resources. Don’t suffer in silence; keep the conversation going with friends. You’re not alone, and you aren’t losing your mind. If your doctor can’t provide the help you need, consider seeking a new one.
For more insights, check out this related blog post on our site.
Summary
Perimenopause can be a confusing and challenging time for many women, often accompanied by unexpected symptoms like irregular periods, mood swings, and hot flashes. Despite the commonality of these experiences, there is a significant lack of awareness and medical support. Women are encouraged to speak up, share their experiences, and seek out knowledgeable healthcare providers.
SEO Metadata
Keyphrase: perimenopause experiences
Tags: [“home insemination kit”, “home insemination syringe”, “self insemination”]