Years before estrogen production completely shuts down, HORMONE LEVELS start to FLUCTUATE wildly during that special time of life known as PERIMENOPAUSE. Waiting out bothersome hot flashes, mood swings, and insomnia is not generally the best strategy since perimenopause can last for years. In addition, it’s not as if those symptoms magically go away when you enter menopause!  
In this episode Dr. Streicher discusses:


WHEN perimenopause typically starts
The difference between SYMPTOMS of perimenopause and menopause

SOLUTIONS to cope with perimenopausal hormonal fluctuations
If taking BIRTH CONTROL PILLS is a good idea or a bad idea 

HOW LONG you can safely take birth control pills
The difference between birth control pills and MENOPAUSE HORMONE THERAPY (MHT)

Why it is a good idea to take birth control pills CONTINUOUSLY

When to start MENOPAUSE HORMONE THERAPY


Further information on perimenopause can be found in Hot Flash Hell: A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat



Lauren Streicher, MD is a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and the medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause. She is a certified menopause practitioner of the North American Menopause Society. 



Dr. Streicher is the medical correspondent for Chicago’s top-rated news program, the WGNMorningNews, and has been seen on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, NPR, Dr.Radio,Nightline,Fox and Friends, The Steve Harvey Show, CBS ThisMorning,ABCNewsNow,NBCNightlyNews,20/20, and WorldNewsTonight. She is an expert source for many magazines and serves on the medical advisory board of The Kinsey Institute, Self Magazine, and Prevention Magazine. She writes a regular column for The Ethel by AARP and Prevention Magazine. 



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Books by Lauren Streicher, MD


 Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock On Your Vagina-A gynecologist’s guide to eliminating post-menopause dryness and pain


Hot Flash Hell: A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat


Sex Rx- Hormones, Health, and Your Best Sex Ever


The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy