Why do I need to know whether I'm in it?
"You benefit from knowing what's normal and what's abnormal; it's one of those areas where some baseline knowledge will save you a lot of worrying and wondering what is going to happen," says ob-gyn Jan Herr, MD, a menopause expert at Kaiser Permanente Northern California. For example, if you begin to experience vaginal dryness, knowing you're in perimenopause can help you understand that discomfort during intercourse may be caused by physical changes, not problems with your romantic relationship. (Although it could be that too. Be honest: Perimenopause is not an excuse.)
"It's good to know, just so you can get emotionally prepared for the endgame: not getting periods anymore," says Jerilynn Prior, MD, director of the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research at the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver.
Perimenopause should also send up the red health-alert flag: Your risk for certain illnesses, such as cancer and heart disease, increases with age, and once you start toward menopause, you should consider making risk-lowering lifestyle changes and scheduling early-detection screening exams. Realizing you're in perimenopause can be the starting gate for being more vigilant and proactive about your health.
