Perimenopause - Symptoms, Coping and Complications - HealthSurgeon - Healthy Living and Fitness

Perimenopause is natural and normal. It is the time when you are transitioning into menopause. Menopause occurs when you have had 12 months in a row of no period. During perimenopause your periods will become more irregular because your hormones are changing. Your body during this time makes less estrogen. Perimenopause can happen as early as your mid thirties or as late as your mid fifties. The normal time frame is usually mid forties. Perimenopause can last a few months to a few years. On average a person will be in perimenopause for around four years. You can still become pregnant during this transition. Your body starts to release eggs less regularly which can make your menstrual cycle shorter and more irregular.

Symptoms

Usually the first symptom of this transition is that your period starts to be more irregular. You may also start to experience other symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep problems. You may experience mood changes such as more irritability or be at a higher risk of depression. You may develop vaginal and bladder problems. You may start going to the bathroom more frequently. You may have changes in your sexual function and start to have decreased fertility. Loss of bone, changing cholesterol levels, trouble concentration, short-term memory problems, and worse premenstrual symptoms can all be symptoms of perimenopause.

Diagnosis

Your doctor may be able to diagnose you just from your symptoms alone. You can have a blood test done to test your hormone levels. Your doctor may have you do blood tests over a course of time to check for a pattern since hormone levels can fluctuate. There are at-home tests to check your FSH, or follicle-stimulating hormone. This is not always accurate because your FSH levels can fluctuate throughout a woman’s normal cycle. Most people go and see their doctor when symptoms of perimenopause become intolerant and uncomfortable.

Coping with Perimenopause

You cannot stop perimenopause or treat it. You are at a higher risk of perimenopause if you smoke, have a family history of someone closely related to you that went into perimenopause early, have undergone cancer treatment, or a hysterectomy. All these things can speed up your body to go into perimenopause. Perimenopause isn’t something to try and stop, it is a woman’s body’s natural progression. Treatment options usually help to ease symptoms that have become too uncomfortable. There are medication treatment options as well as lifestyle changes that can help ease symptoms. Medications you can try are antidepressants, birth control pills, hormone therapy, and hormone replacement therapy. Gabapentin is a medication for seizures that can help alleviate hot flashes, another medication that can help with hot flashes is oxybutynin.

If you don’t want to take medications there are some lifestyle changes you can try to help ease symptoms. Making sure you are eating lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats every day. Exercising such as walking, hiking, or strength training. Dressing in layers can help you balance your body temperature when you start to have a hot flash. Keeping your house cooler than normal can also help with hot flashes. Make sure you are getting good quality sleep each night. This may need to be achieved by stopping using any electronics before bed. Limit your caffeine and alcohol intake. Maintain a healthy weight for you.

Complications

Perimenopause usually is nothing of concern. There are some complications that can arise from perimenopause. Your body through this time is producing less estrogen than normal. This can lead to your bones not being as strong. This can lead to you developing osteoporosis, which can lead to weakened bones that are more easily fractured. Heart disease and other cardiovascular health conditions also raise risk during the perimenopause stage. If you have any complications such as bleeding extremely heavy during a period, bleeding lasts longer than seven days, bleeding occurs between periods, or periods regularly occur less than 21 days. All of these complications need a doctor’s attention. Abnormal vaginal bleeding can be signs of an infection, fibroids, blood clotting disorders, polyps, or cancer.

Takeaway

Perimenopause is the transition a woman’s body goes through before reaching into menopause. Menopause is when you have twelve months in a row with no period. Perimenopause women will start to experience irregular periods, as well as some other symptoms that can be uncomfortable. During perimenopause your body will release eggs less regularly, make less estrogen and other hormones, become less fertile, and have shorter and more irregular cycles. You still can become pregnant during this time. Perimenopause usually occurs when a woman is in her mid forties but can happen as early as mid thirties or as last as mid fifties. Perimenopause cannot be cured or stopped is a normal natural progression in a woman’s body. Finding ways to help ease symptoms can be helpful through this time since this phase can last on average about four years.

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