Perimenopause
Perimenopause is the term used to refer to the time period immediately prior to menopause and the first year after menopause. It commonly occurs in women between the ages of 35 and 45 – some still having periods and some still having babies.
Hormonally, things are beginning to change and some of the following symptoms may occur:
Changes in periods –
One of the first signs may be a change in the normal period cycle. It may become unpredictable and irregular, the flow may be lighter (or heavier) than usual, and it may be shorter (or longer). Just like the changes in the flow, you may experience changes in cramping, either for the better, or worse. Some women may experience spotting between periods and periods may come less than three weeks apart.
Hot flashes –
Your face and neck become hot or flushed, and red blotches may appear on your chest and arms. This may also be accompanied by heavy sweating, followed by cold chills. The hot flashes can come in varying degrees from very mild to severe enough to wake you from a sound sleep. They can last from 30 seconds to 5 minutes.
Insomnia –
Those hot flashes can be the cause of some sleep problems – trouble getting back to sleep. A good night’s sleep may be hard to come by for some women from time to time. Ways to relax and get back to sleep may be the key to solving this one.
Mood changes –
Changes in estrogen levels may have an effect on a woman’s mood, though other factors such as stress, family changes or just being plain tired can play a part in these changes. Keep in mind though, that depression is not a symptom of menopause.
Loss of sex drive –
Some women may have difficulties when it comes to sex, due changes in estrogen levels that can cause vaginal dryness, which may make sexual intercourse painful. The good news is that there are easy ways to solve this problem.
Urinary Problems –
Some women have more urinary tract infections, while others may have a hard time holding their urine long enough to get to the bathroom. Coughing, exercising, laughing, or even sneezing can send some running to the bathroom.
The manner in which these symptoms are treated usually have something to do with the severity. Some women will seek medical treatment in the form of hormone therapy, while others may choose to use alternative treatments
For more about the phases of menopause, continue on here