Perimenopause: Understanding Subtle Signs and Talking to Your Doctor
If you’re a woman in your 30s or 40s and have started noticing some strange changes—like unexpected heart palpitations, dry itchy skin, or brain fog—you’re not alone. These subtle, sometimes confusing symptoms may be signs of perimenopause, the natural transitional phase before menopause.
Perimenopause happens because your ovaries begin producing less estrogen and progesterone, hormones that not only regulate your menstrual cycle but also influence many other systems throughout your body. These hormonal shifts can affect your brain, heart, skin, joints, and more, causing a wide range of symptoms that often feel unrelated or hard to explain.
According to Dr. Kaitlin Healy of Shore Physicians Group’s Ocean City primary care office, recognizing and talking about these symptoms openly with your healthcare provider is key.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all experience for perimenopause,” Dr. Healy explains. “But it’s crucial your doctor listens to you carefully. Even if a symptom doesn’t fit textbook descriptions, it’s still valid and worth addressing.”
A Holistic and Validating Approach
Dr. Healy takes a patient-centered approach, emphasizing the importance of validation and partnership in care. She encourages women to share all symptoms, even those that seem vague or unrelated.
“I might not always have an immediate answer,” she says, “but I’m here to work through it with you. The goal is to help you regain a good quality of life.”
Historically, women’s health issues during perimenopause have often been dismissed or minimized with reassurances that symptoms aren’t serious. But when symptoms disrupt daily life, such explanations don’t help. The good news? Awareness and research on perimenopause are growing.
“In the past couple of years, I’ve seen more research and more providers specializing in hormone health and a broader recognition that hormonal changes can start earlier and cause diverse symptoms,” Dr. Healy notes.
Beyond Hot Flashes: The Lesser-Known Symptoms of Perimenopause
While irregular periods and hot flashes are well-known signs, perimenopause can cause a surprisingly wide range of symptoms, including:
- Heart palpitations or increased anxiety
- Sleep disturbances
- New or worsening headaches
- Itchy or dry skin
- Joint aches and pain
- Heightened sensitivity to temperature
- Changes in body odor
- Mood swings or emotional sensitivity
- Hair thinning or loss
- Tingling or “pins and needles” sensations
- Fatigue or brain fog
“When patients come in with vague symptoms like palpitations or joint pain, I consider whether hormonal changes might be involved,” says Dr. Healy. “I’ve seen many women improve significantly after connecting with the right provider or trying hormone therapy and lifestyle adjustments.”
The Importance of Evaluation and Open Conversation
Dr. Healy typically begins with a thorough evaluation can include hormone panels (like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone), thyroid function tests, vitamin levels (such as D and B12), iron studies, and an EKG if cardiac symptoms are present.
She cautions that lab results don’t always tell the full story.
If needed, Dr. Healy refers patients to specialists in hormone replacement therapy and women’s wellness, aiming to empower women with options tailored to their unique needs.
“There’s no single solution for every woman,” she says. “Some find relief with medication or hormone therapy, others with lifestyle changes, and many benefit from simply understanding what’s happening in their bodies.”
You’re Not Alone — and You Don’t Have to Suffer in Silence
Dr. Healy reassures women that experiencing these symptoms doesn’t mean you’re “just being emotional” or imagining things.
“You’re not crazy. It might just be hormones,” she says. “And you don’t have to live with these symptoms without support.”
She encourages women to speak openly with their healthcare providers about any changes, no matter how small or unusual.
“It’s always okay to ask questions and seek help.”
Dr. Healy is currently seeing patients at Shore Physicians Group’s Ocean City office located at 1645 Haven Avenue. For more information or to schedule a visit with Dr. Healy, please call 609-399-6263.
