Peri-menopause is the time in a woman’s life when menstrual cycles start to get a bit erratic. Yes, periods may come every 2 weeks or skip every other month (and many other permutations of same). Even though you might be missing some cycles, it is important to know that you still can get pregnant during this time. Various birth control options are available and will be discussed to determine the best fit for you and your needs.

One of my favorite tools to track your symptoms during this time is my “Symptom Tracker Sheet”. On this sheet, you mark the days of your cycle and track your symptoms as the month progresses. These symptoms include:

• hot flashes
• night sweats
• sleep disturbances
• mood swings
• irritability
• breast tenderness
• feeling overwhelmed
• brain fog
• food cravings

Many of my patients love these Symptom Tracker sheets because it gives them a real snapshot of how they are feeling during the different times of the month. By seeing it in black and white on paper, the different ways to best target your symptoms with a treatment plan can be developed – including natural, lifestyle and hormonal therapies.