What is the first treatment for perimenopause?

Perimenopause is the transition before periods stop. Changing hormone levels can cause hot flushes, night sweats, sleep difficulty, mood changes, vaginal dryness and irregular bleeding. Treatment is chosen around the symptoms affecting you, your bleeding pattern, contraception needs, medical history and personal preferences rather than around a single routine prescription.

Keep a record of bleeding, flushes, sleep and mood, and review sleep habits, movement, alcohol, caffeine and room temperature triggers. A Hormonal Coil can provide contraception and help control heavy bleeding for some people. Hormone Replacement Therapy may ease several menopause symptoms when appropriate. Non-Hormonal Menopause Treatment can be considered when hormones are unsuitable or not wanted.

Book a clinical review for troublesome symptoms, bleeding that is unusually heavy or prolonged, or bleeding after sex. Seek urgent care for very heavy bleeding with dizziness or faintness, severe pelvic pain, chest pain, breathlessness or one-sided leg swelling.

Ask whether your bleeding pattern needs examination, which option fits your contraception needs, how your medical history affects hormone treatment, and when symptoms should be reviewed.