What You Should Know About Perimenopause?

Perimenopause transition starts several years before menopause. Women experience menopause in their 40s to 50s, though it can begin even in their 30s. 

It is a significant changing stage in women’s life where they experience frequent changes in their bodies and sometimes becomes challenging and depressing for them. 

Therefore, you must know what is happening with your body when premenopausal, and menopause stages appear to prepare you mentally and physically for such a sudden change. So read this article where I will give complete knowledge of premenopause and menopause.

What is Perimenopause?

In the perimenopause phase, your body begins transitioning to menopause. During this change, your ovaries start creating fewer hormones that cause your menstrual cycle to evolve inconsistent or irregular. So this is when your body is driving toward the end of your reproductive years.

The mid-30s through mid-50s are both possible starting points for perimenopause. Some women only experience perimenopause temporarily. While for many others, it continues for four to eight years. Simply put, when your cycles become unpredictable, this period is known as perimenopause.

During perimenopause, you might experience other physical shifts and symptoms since your body adjusts to various hormone levels. Also, your fertility declines, but you still can get pregnant. Each woman will experience perimenopause differently, as will the signs, the age it begins, and the duration. 

Difference Between Perimenopause and Menopause

Perimenopause is a transitional period that finishes with menopause. When you reach the menopause stage means, your periods have ended completely. Once you've gone 12 months without a monthly period, you've entered menopause and are no longer in the perimenopause stage.

Why Does Perimenopause Occur?

As you age, your ovaries start producing less estrogen to stop making eggs altogether. In the end, your body is getting ready to enter menopause, which is when you lose the capacity to conceive. A woman's reproductive cycle is a standard and natural process.

At Which Age Perimenopause Initiate?

Perimenopause initiates approximately eight to 10 years before menopause. It generally begins in your mid-40s, but it can even start before. When a woman completes menopause before age 40 is known as premature menopause. 

Some medical circumstances and procedures induce early menopause. If there is no medical reason for premature menopause, then it must be due to ovarian insufficiency in a woman.

Symptoms of Perimenopause

Since you hit puberty, your body has been generating estrogen. Your body must adapt to the hormone changes once estrogen levels start to fall. Although there are many other symptoms that most women experience, such as:

• Missed and irregular periods 
• Heavier or lighter periods than usual
• Hot flashes mean a hasty feeling of warmness that flares across your body
• Vaginal dryness 
• Hurt during sex
• Frequent urination 
• Sleeping issues like insomnia
• Low sex drive
• Breast sensitivity
• Lack of concentration
• Bone failure
• Tiredness
• Frequent changes in moods like irritability or sadness

You might experience these symptoms of perimenopause either for a few months or for many years. The reduction in estrogen also can conduct to bone thinning or varying cholesterol levels. You should have continued checkups with your doctor to monitor your health.

How Long Can Perimenopause Stay?

The moderate length of perimenopause is nearly four years. Some women might only be in this phase for a few months, while others might be in this evolution stage for more than four years. 

Can you Still Get Pregnant During Perimenopause?

If you have periods like the irregular ones during the perimenopause stage, you're still ovulating. You should presume your body is indeed ovulating until you haven't had a period for 12 linear months. 

When do you Need to See a Doctor During Perimenopause?

You don’t constantly need to see a doctor for perimenopause treatment. Most women catch and endure changes in their bodies without a proper diagnosis. If you have any severe symptoms from the following that are interrupting your everyday activities, then you should see a healthcare provider. 

• You notice blood clots in your menstrual discharge.
• You get spotting between periods.
• You encounter vaginal bleeding after sex.
• When emotional changes interrupt your capacity to perform daily work.

Following are some questions that you can ask a doctor:

• Are these signs of perimenopause?
• What can I do to reduce my symptoms?
• How long do you believe I'll be experiencing these symptoms?
• Having hormone therapy be a good alternative for me?
• Do I require to begin taking medicine or vitamins?
• Are there any examinations that I should perform?
• Is it possible for me to become pregnant?

Are there any Treatments Available for Perimenopause? 

Since perimenopause is a natural part of your life, there is no specific treatment to control it. 

Your healthcare provider might suggest the following few prescriptions to overcome perimenopause symptoms.

• Antidepression Medicines - These medicines can help with your mood swings or unhappiness.
• Birth Control Drugs - These medicines can assist in stabilising your hormone levels and naturally ease symptoms.
• Therapy for Estrogen - This treatment can maintain your estrogen levels. You might acquire estrogen therapy through cream, gel, or swallowable pill.
• Gabapentin - Some women who take this drug for headaches also find it helps with hot flashes.
• Creams for Vagina - Your doctor can suggest medicine and creams that decrease pain related to intercourse and ease vaginal dryness.
• Hormone Therapy can reduce hot flashes and vaginal pain or dryness.

Your doctor will review the advantages and disadvantages of perimenopause treatment with you and advise the best strategy based on your needs. A good diet, mild exercise, and avoiding substances or actions that cause hot flashes can help you reduce perimenopause symptoms.

What can you do to Control Perimenopause Symptoms at Home?

You can try to control your perimenopause symptoms at home by adopting the following tips. 

• You should eat a healthy diet enriched with fruits, green vegetables, grains, lean protein, and nutritious fats.
• You can do weight-bearing workouts like walking, hiking, or strength movement.
• You can improve your sleep habits by evading mobile screens and doing relaxing activities before going to bed.
• You should limit consuming alcohol and caffeine.
• You can do meditation or other stress management practices.
• You should stop smoking.
• If necessary, you can lose weight. Losing weight boosts your energy and lessens hot flashes and night sweats.

Conclusion 

I hope this guide has given you adequate information about perimenopause’s symptoms, risk factors, treatments, and much more. You might not encounter all such symptoms of perimenopause at once. It varies from woman to woman. 

If you feel severe signs of perimenopause, then you should consult with a doctor. I also suggest you travel this path with a group of women you can trust who understands you. Your support network will raise and bolster you when things get challenging throughout perimenopause and menopause.