The American Journal of Nursing (AJN)Recognizing and Managing Perimenopause

🎓 Expert Commentary

Perimenopause can involve sleep disruption, cognitive complaints, palpitations, and other symptoms beyond hot flashes. This editorial describes patient uncertainty, clinician education gaps, and fragmented care, while emphasizing nurses’ role in obtaining a hormonal history and supporting evaluation. Its clinical value lies in awareness and communication; it does not establish a diagnostic pathway, evaluate a nursing intervention, or provide comprehensive treatment guidance.

Clinical Considerations

• Symptoms overlap with thyroid disease, premenstrual symptoms, and mental health conditions; hormonal explanations should not displace broader evaluation.
• Age alone is insufficient to dismiss perimenopause; the article notes that symptoms can begin in the late 30s.
• Education gaps provide context for missed recognition, but the cited surveys do not establish individual clinicians’ competence.
• Hormone therapy claims require qualification; this editorial does not provide enough detail to determine individual treatment eligibility or safety.

Practice Applications

• Explore menstrual and symptom history within nursing assessment responsibilities and local protocols.
• Document symptom timing, functional effects, and patient concerns for communication with the evaluating clinician.
• Clarify that symptom recognition supports clinical evaluation rather than confirming a perimenopause diagnosis.
• Discuss treatment questions with the care team without presenting hormone therapy as universally appropriate.