What is Perimenopausal?
Perimenopause is the transitional phase a woman’s body goes through right before she begins menopause. It typically occurs in women who are as young as their late 30’s to about their mid-50s.
Perimenopausal: Many women want to know about perimenopause, a time in a woman’s life when her body is preparing to enter a menopausal state.
This period in a woman’s life is marked by a decline in estrogen levels where your eggs are preparing to stop releasing themselves every month. Perimenopause can last anywhere from 4-8 years depending on a woman’s genetics or medical history.
What are the signs that you’re perimenopausal?
Probably the most obvious sign is an irregular menstrual cycle. If you’re perimenopausal, you may notice that your periods are starting to become more erratic. You might be bleeding significantly heavier or lighter than usual. You might also observe that your periods are taking longer to show up, or are happening more frequently.
With the onset of perimenopause, you may find yourself experiencing vaginal dryness or dryness of the mouth and eyes. Your body’s decline in estrogen means that your body is holding on to less water than it usually would which results in less natural body moisture.
You might notice that your skin is drier, itchier, or more sensitive than usual. Your body is going through a significant hormone change, so you may notice that you’re experiencing acne around your jawline. This is a key sign that your body’s hormones are fluctuating.
Perimenopause can bring about disruptions of sleep such as insomnia or sudden hot flashes in the middle of the night. It can also bring about weight changes. You might find it more difficult to maintain your weight, and your old methods of staying fit no longer seem to be working. Your resting metabolism naturally declines as you age, and when your body recognizes that estrogen levels are dipping, your body goes into defense mode and wants to hold on to as much fat as possible.
Typically you don’t need a formal diagnosis to confirm that you’re perimenopausal, as your symptoms will likely speak for themselves. However, if your symptoms are interfering with your daily life, you may want to consider seeing a healthcare provider to find a way to manage them.
Some symptoms to keep an eye out for are blood clots in your menstrual discharge, spotting between periods, bleeding after penetrative sex, significant emotional disruptions, extremely heavy periods, periods that last for more than 7 days, or periods that regularly occur less than 21 days apart.
Despite these unpleasant symptoms, there are things that you can do for yourself to manage the effects of perimenopause. You can start out by making sure that you’re eating a diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
Performing weight-bearing exercises such as walking, hiking, or strength training can also help to curb the effects of perimenopause. You should try to limit your alcohol and caffeine intake and absolutely quit smoking.
Although it may be more difficult to do during this time, try to lose some weight if you can. Weight loss will help in reducing hot flashes and night sweats as well as improve your energy levels and overall mood.
Conclusion:
Perimenopause is a natural thing that happens to every woman eventually. It’s a temporary state, so just remember when you’re experiencing symptoms of perimenopause, that you’re not alone. Also remember that your doctor is an excellent resource to help you navigate through the symptoms and experiences perimenopause brings about.
