Symptoms alone are not diagnosis
Hot flashes can come from menopause, thyroid disease, infection, or medication. Brain fog can be perimenopause, vitamin deficiency, sleep apnea, or depression. Testing disambiguates.
Hormonal Life Stages
Your hormones change dramatically across your lifespan. Understanding these shifts — perimenopause, menopause, andropause, thyroid changes — helps you recognize when symptoms warrant professional evaluation. At Oshun, we provide education alongside clinical expertise.
Perimenopause (Age 40–55)
The transition into menopause, typically lasting 8–10 years before your final period. Hormone levels fluctuate unpredictably—estrogen and progesterone rise and fall erratically—causing irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, sleep disruption, and joint pain.
Menopause (Age 51, on average; range 40–60)
Defined as 12 consecutive months without menstruation. Estrogen and progesterone levels drop and stabilize at lower levels. Symptoms—hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood changes, bone loss acceleration—can persist 5–10 years post-menopause without intervention.
Andropause (Age 40–70 in Men)
A gradual decline in testosterone (unlike the sharp drop in women), causing low libido, erectile difficulty, fatigue, mood changes, muscle loss, and cognitive fog. Less dramatic than menopause but equally impactful on quality of life.
Thyroid Dysfunction (Common at Age 40+)
Thyroid health often declines in midlife, especially in women. Subclinical hypothyroidism (normal TSH but fatigue, cold intolerance, hair loss) and inadequate T4-monotherapy response are common but underdiagnosed.
Do Your Symptoms Match a Hormonal Phase?
Lab work can answer definitively. A simple blood test measures estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, FSH, TSH, and other markers to pinpoint where you are and whether hormone optimization is right for you.
Explore Hormone Replacement Therapy