Perimenopause
Do you have any of these problems? Check the symptoms you have.
- changes in your menstrual cycle (longer or shorter
periods, heavier or lighter periods, or missed periods)
- hot flashes (sudden rush of heat from your chest to
your head)
- night sweats (hot flashes that
happen while you sleep)
- vaginal dryness
- sleep problems
- mood changes (mood swings, depression, irritability)
- pain during sex
- more urinary infections
- urinary incontinence
- less interest in sex
- increase in body fat around your waist
- problems with concentration
and memory
These are all symptoms of perimenopause. It is the time leading up to
menopause (when you have not had your period for twelve months). During
perimenopause, your body starts making less of certain hormones (estrogen
and progesterone), and you begin to lose the ability to become pregnant.
How long does perimenopause last?
It varies. Women normally go through
menopause between ages 45 and 55.
Many women experience menopause around age 51. However, perimenopause can
start as early as age 35. It can last just a few months or a few years.
There is no way to tell in advance how long it will last OR how long it will
take you to go through it.
I've been depressed in the past. Will this affect
when I start going through perimenopause?
It could. Researchers are studying how depression in a woman's life
affects the time she starts perimenopause. If you start perimenopause early,
researchers don't know if you reach menopause faster than other women or if
you're just in perimenopause longer.
I don't understand why I get hot flashes. Could you
tell me what's going on with my body?
We don't know exactly what causes hot flashes. It could be a drop in
estrogen or change in another hormone. This affects the part of your brain
that regulates your body temperature. During a hot flash, you feel a sudden
rush of heat move from your chest to your head. Your skin may turn red, and
you may sweat. Hot flashes are sometimes brought on by things like hot
weather, eating hot or spicy foods, or drinking alcohol or caffeine. Try to
avoid these things if you find they trigger the hot flashes.
I am feeling so emotional lately. Is this from the
changes in my hormones?
Your mood changes could be caused by a lot of factors. Some researchers
believe that the decrease in estrogen triggers changes in your brain causing
depression. Others think that if you're depressed, irritable, and anxious,
it's influenced by other symptoms you're having, such as sleep problems, hot
flashes, night sweats, and fatigue-not hormonal changes. Or, it could be a
combination of hormone changes and symptoms. Other things that could cause
depression and/or anxiety include:
-
having depression during your lifetime
-
feeling negative about menopause and getting older
-
increased stress
-
having severe menopause symptoms
-
smoking
-
not being physically active
-
not being happy in your relationship or not being in a
relationship
-
not having a job
-
not having enough money
-
low self-esteem (how you feel about yourself)
-
not having the social support you need
-
regretful that you can't have children anymore
What can I do to prevent or relieve symptoms of
perimenopause?
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