What is Peri-menopause?
Hello,
Perimenopause, or menopause transition, is the stage of a woman’s reproductive life that begins several years before menopause, when the ovaries gradually begin to produce less estrogen. It usually starts in a woman’s 40s, but can start in a woman’s 30s or even earlier.
Here are some Signs of Perimenopause
- Hot flashes
- Breast tenderness
- Worsening of premenstrual syndrome
- Decreased libido (sex drive)
- Fatigue
- Irregular periods
- Vaginal dryness; discomfort during sex
- Urine leakage when coughing or sneezing
- Urinary urgency (a pressing need to urinate more frequently)
- Mood swings
- Difficulty sleeping
This phase of hormonal imbalance is the beginning of the natural transition between the reproductive years and menopause. (You may not initially notice the transition if you have previously suffered with PMS, since the symptoms are similar and both are the result of estrogen/progesterone imbalance.) It may start as early as your late thirties or early forties and last as many as ten years. Your periods may become more irregular. You may not ovulate some months, and thus not produce any progesterone. This may disrupt the estrogen/progesterone balance, causing symptoms such as bloating, breast tenderness, night sweats, anxiety, insomnia, headaches, irritability and much more.
