Women's Health - What is Perimenopause?

It's common to hear woman talk about 'going through menopause', but the truth is that menopause itself begins the day that you have gone 12 months without a period. The time leading up to menopause is called perimenopause (or sometimes premenopause) and it can start in women as young as 30. What are some of the signs and symptoms that signal the onset of perimenopause?

What is Perimenopause? - Changes in Your Menstrual Cycle

This is the most common perimenopausal symptom. Women entering perimenopause often have changes in the length of their cycle (time from one period to the next), duration and flow of their menstrual period. The menstrual cycle can become longer or shorter, the duration of your period may be a week or a day, and the flow can be much heavier or much lighter than usual - and it can al change from one month to the next.

What is Perimenopause? - Hot Flashes and Night Sweats

Hot flashes are perhaps the best known and most joked about of perimenopausal symptoms - but it's no laughing matter for the women who suffer them. Hot flashes are characterized by a sensation of heat to the upper body that comes on rapidly, and can produce extreme discomfort and profuse perspiration. If they happen in your sleep, they're known as night sweats, and are often followed by an uncomfortable chill. Hot flashes can be accompanied by headache, nausea, dizziness and acute anxiety.

What is Perimenopause? - Vaginal Dryness

Vaginal dryness is one of the less spoken about signs of perimenopause. It can lead to itching and discomfort around the opening of the vagina, similar to the sensation of a yeast infection. Vaginal dryness can also cause discomfort during sex which can lead to a decreased desire for sex. Some women find that using a lubricant during sex helps.

What is Perimenopause? - Mood Changes, Trouble focusing, Trouble Sleeping

Perimenopause can cause emotional and mental disturbances for some women, to include mood swings, trouble concentrating or focusing on tasks and insomnia. Some women find the mood swings to be more extreme than those they suffered with premenstrual syndrome. Other women may begin to suffer from depression.

What is Perimenopause? - Hair Loss

Hair thinning and hair loss is a much less known symptom of perimenopause. As many as 40% of women suffer from some hair loss, and the cause is often perimenopausal hormone changes in the body. Unlike men who typically show patterns in hair loss, women are more likely to have an all-over thinning of the hair.

Although some women pass through perimenopause with few problems, for others it can be a very difficult and uncomfortable time. However, there is help for women suffering from perimenopausal symptoms. While the recommendations of eating a healthy diet and getting exercise can help, if symptoms are upsetting your daily life it's advised that you consult your doctor for the latest medical treatments or to discuss other options.

Sources:
Perimenopause - Frequently Asked Questions, US Dept of Health and Human Services, womenshealth.gov
Vaginal Dryness, MayoClinic.com
All About Hot Flashes, BreastCancer.org
Women's Hair Loss, American Hair Loss Association, americanhairloss.org