What is perimenopause

Given the range of women's experience of perimenopause, it's unlikely that symptoms depend on hormonal fluctuations alone. Several treatments have been studied for managing perimenopausal symptoms.

Complementary therapies are also available, but research on them is limited and the results are inconsistent. This article was first printed in a previous issue of the Harvard Women's Health Watch.

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Staying Healthy. Smokers reach menopause about 2 years earlier. Many women report no physical changes during perimenopause except irregular menstrual periods that stop when menopause is reached. Other women experience symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats heavy sweating from hot flashes at night, often disturbing sleep , and thinning and drying of vaginal tissue that can make sex painful. How severe these body changes are varies from woman to woman, but for the most part these changes are perfectly natural and normal.

Hot flashes are the most common menopause-related discomfort. They involve a sudden wave of heat or warmth often accompanied by sweating, reddening of the skin, and rapid heart beat.

They usually last 1 to 5 minutes. Hot flashes frequently are followed by a cold chill. Night sweats are hot flashes at night that interfere with sleep. Treatments for night sweats and hot flashes include lifestyle changes, nonprescription remedies, hormone therapy with estrogen plus progestogen, or estrogen alone for women without a uterus , and nonhormonal prescription drugs. If the cause is determined to be perimenopause, then add revitalizing shampoos and conditioners to your haircare routine and opt for a wide-toothed comb to gently brush your hair.

Weight gain that seems to be unexplainable is often associated with perimenopause. Martin Kinsella. Shirin Lakhani. This condition, often called genitourinary syndrome of menopause GSM , commonly involves vaginal dryness, but it may also result in:.

Treatment can range from vaginal lubricators to hormone replacement therapy HRT. Others may experience hormonal headaches for the first time. A type of migraine thought to be triggered by fluctuating ovarian levels may also lead to dizziness and vertigo during this time. Other headache causes include stress, not drinking or eating enough, and vision problems. Limiting stress and increasing exercise levels can help if perimenopause is the cause.

In more severe cases, you may need to visit a doctor for prescription medication or try an alternative therapy like acupuncture. Plus, mental health conditions like anxiety or depression can worsen in this period. Here are some of the less obvious signs to watch out for as not all of the symptoms are widely discussed. You may start to feel irritable, frustrated, or even angry as perimenopause can be a challenging period in your life. Managing these feelings can be tricky. A general practitioner or primary care provider may even be able to help you find a professional who specializes in perimenopause.

Explaining your symptoms to a doctor will help them decide which tests need to be carried out to rule out any of the above. Try to commit to regular exercise , eating a balanced diet, carving out time for relaxation, and considering HRT. Throughout your life, hormones can influence your mood and even cause a rapid shift from one mood to another. The likes of premenstrual syndrome PMS , depression, and everyday stress can also cause shifts in mood.

Exercise — a natural releaser of serotonin — can help address them, as can a diet rich in fruit and vegetables but limited in alcohol, refined sugars, and highly processed foods.

Not only can this help you notice a pattern, but a diary can also be a great piece of evidence for a doctor or other healthcare professional. Depending on the symptoms, they can rule out other conditions, such as thyroid problems or an overactive bladder. They can then offer treatments such as HRT in an attempt to rebalance your hormone levels and refer you to specialists in menopause or mental health if needed. But those you trust can help support you through this time.