Perimenopause or menopausal transitions begins before menopause. It begins several years before and it is when ovaries gradually begin to produce less estrogen, the main hormone of females.
Perimenopause can start at age 30’s or even earlier but it usually starts at 40’s. It is somehow ********** because it lasts up until menopause, the time when ovaries stopped releasing eggs for ovulation.
In menopausal transition, you will experience several symptoms and fortunately, it will end when you reached menopause period. If you’ve gone through straight 12 months without menstruation, it means you’re menopause and the perimenopause period is over.
These are the symptoms of perimenopause,
- Irregular periods – if you don’t have menstruation for 60 days or more between menstruation periods, you’re likely in perimenopause.
- Hot flashes and sleep problems – hot flashes or night sweat are often cause of sleep problems.
- Mood changes – you quickly became irritable and it increases the risk of **********.
- Vaginal and bladder problems – lower estrogen means losing vaginal lubrication and elasticity. Love making becomes painful.
- Decreasing fertility – ovulation decreases.
- Changes in love-making function – arousal and bed desires changes.
- Loss of bone – decreasing estrogen increases risk of osteoporosis, you will be having fragile bones.
Healthy lifestyle can ease some symptoms. There are also treatments for perimenopause such as hormone therapy, vaginal estrogen, antidepressants, and gabapentin (Neurontin) but you should visit doctors before doing so.