WHAT KIND OF DOCTOR SHOULD I SEE TO GET HRT?

When you first start to see signs of peri, you probably won’t be able to tell right away if what you’re experiencing is peri or not. If you are, you may be wondering if you should look into HRT.

But how can you find out if things like waking up too early or a change in your period cycle mean you are entering the peri phase of life? Surely there is a way to physically confirm, like a blood test for example?

That’s what I thought. I assumed I would need to see the doctor on a specific day of my cycle. I also assumed I would at the very least need a blood test. I was wrong on both counts. 

Next, I wondered what kind of doctor I should see to get HRT. It’s hormones, so an endocrinologist, right? Or perhaps I should make an appointment with my OB-GYN? It was SO confusing, and googling only made it worse, with search results bombarding me with hormone “specialists” and supplements.

Here’s what I found out: A single blood test will not diagnose peri. Due to the wild fluctuations of hormones, your estrogen can be high one minute and low the next. As blood tests aren’t conclusive, peri is generally diagnosed by symptoms.

As for figuring out the kind of doctor I should see to get HRT, I realized that regardless of the specialty, the single most important thing was finding a knowledgeable one who is up to date on peri and is experienced in treating it. 

It turns out most doctors did not study peri or menopause in college (apparently the average student spends like, two hours on it in medical school) and so they often lack experience and knowledge in the area. I certainly didn’t want to waste an appointment seeing someone who knew even less than me on the subject.

I found a great doctor on the Upper East Side, who took insurance. I told her the litany of symptoms and said I wanted to try HRT. She listened, told me she saw a lot of women around 40 who are in peri and wrote me a prescription for HRT. I felt relieved and very lucky, because I knew that women go to an average of nine appointments at various places before finding the right help.

As it stands right now, when a woman sees her doctor she is often told that she is too young to be in peri, as many healthcare professionals are (incorrectly) still of the mind that peri is something that starts around age 45. Peri can start in your mid/late thirties. If you’re sitting in the doctor’s office at 40 telling them you are experiencing symptoms of peri, you should not be dismissed. 

Seeing how so many women were being dismissed by their doctors, Massachusetts menopause expert Dr. Heather Hirsch decided to create a way for women to access up-to-date care in states other than her own. In 2023, she launched Health by Heather Hirsch MD Collaborative, a private telemedicine practice of clinicians, all of whom have trained under Dr. Hirsch herself. There are now doctors in 23 U.S. states and you are guaranteed to speak to one who is up to date on all things peri and meno.

There are very reasonably-priced telehealth options such as Evernow, Alloy and Midi. where you can avail of FDA-approved treatments.

You can also check out the NAMS database. It has a list of practitioners and you can search by zip code for one in your area. 

The Perisphere is not medical advice. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider.