The symptoms of progesterone/estrogen imbalance are often misdiagnosed if a physician only focuses on a few symptoms in isolation. The irregular bleeding of peri-menopause is often treated with birth control pills. This synthetic progesterone (progestins) controls the bleeding. However, other symptoms may worsen because the synthetic progesterone binds to progesterone receptors and blocks the progesterone made by your body. Some doctors may also prescribe estrogen which may worsen the symptoms and may lead to a D&C or hysterectomy.

Increased breast tissue growth caused by excess estrogen during perimenopause can lead to multiple biopsies and constant fear of breast cancer in women. This fear, however, is not totally unfounded because perimenopausal women are more likely to die from breast cancer.

Lifestyle changes such as exercise, weight loss, and dietary changes along with bio-identical hormone replacements can greatly reduce the negative symptoms of perimenopause.

Many doctors prescribe estrogen during this period when women are at high risk for osteoporosis which can lead to estrogen overload. Bone loss begins at age 35 when estrogen levels are normal or elevated. Therefore, estrogen alone does not improve bone health. Progesterone is responsible for new bone formation and estrogen helps prevent bone loss. The bone loss seen in perimenopausal women is due to a decline in new bone formation because of decreased progesterone levels.