Most women tend to worry when the menstrual cycles suddenly start to change in length and flow. Perimenopause is a normal physiologic event experienced by most women and is not a life threatening condition. The hallmark of perimenopause is irregular periods. On most cases, the periods start to become longer and the blood flow is scant. However, this is nothing to worry about it especially if it occurs in the 40s. During the initial phase of perimenopause, periods can be heavy and one may have to frequently change the pads, but soon the flow will become scant. In some cases spotty bleeding may last anywhere from 4-8 days. Another feature of perimenopause is that the periods tend to occur less than 21 days apart.
Often these changes prompt women to visit their doctor to ensure that nothing sinister is going on. If one is worried about the symptoms, a visit to the doctor is justified. Unfortunately, there is no one test that can make a diagnosis of perimenopause. The doctor can only make a diagnosis of this disorder based on the individual's history, symptoms and physical exam. The body symptoms experienced generally are the strongest clue that perimenopause has set in. Rarely some doctors may order hormonal levels to confirm the diagnosis, sometimes thyroid hormones are also checked because deficiency of thyroid hormone can also present with similar changes.
In any case, the majority of women go through perimenopause, which may last 3-9 months and enter menopause.
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What are symptoms of perimenopause?
Unlike menopause, the symptoms of perimenopause are not always clear cut. The changes may be so slight that one may not even notice them. Some of the symptoms of perimenopause include:
Irregular menstrual cycles. As one approaches menopause, the menstrual cycles become irregular and erratic. The intervals between periods may become longer or shorter and the flow rate may also be scant or there may be no period. As menopause sets in one may start to miss periods regularly.
The next set of symptoms which occur in about 70% of women are hot flashes. Facial flushing and sensation of feeling warm occur periodically. Associated with the hot flashes are difficulty in sleeping, chills and drenching sweating episodes. Sleeping difficulties are one of the most common complaints in women in the perimenopausal period.
Mood changes are also common in the perimenopausal period. Some women may feel down or depressed for no reason. These mood disorders during menopause are not strictly associated with fluctuating hormone levels but to other factors which remain unknown. The depression does tend to be mild but can be easily triggered by any number of factors.
Other common symptoms of perimenopause include vaginal dryness or loss of lubrication in the genitals. Thus, sexual intercourse is very uncomfortable or painful. Most women will not be able to conceive during perimenopause because the menstrual cycles have started to become irregular. In any case, if you do not want to get pregnant, use birth control until you have complete absence of periods for at least 6-12 months. Fortunately for most women perimenopause does not depress libido but in fact creates more desire for sex. This is a common observation in many women. Some unlucky women may start to complain of bone pain due to excessive bone thinning. In general, osteoporosis does not become evident much later after menopause has set in.
One does not always need to see a doctor when perimenopause sets in. If the symptoms of perimenopause are mild and tolerated, simple changes in life style and homes remedies will suffice. However, if the symptoms like depression are severe, then it is important to seek medical help.
Irregular menstrual cycles. As one approaches menopause, the menstrual cycles become irregular and erratic. The intervals between periods may become longer or shorter and the flow rate may also be scant or there may be no period. As menopause sets in one may start to miss periods regularly.
The next set of symptoms which occur in about 70% of women are hot flashes. Facial flushing and sensation of feeling warm occur periodically. Associated with the hot flashes are difficulty in sleeping, chills and drenching sweating episodes. Sleeping difficulties are one of the most common complaints in women in the perimenopausal period.
Mood changes are also common in the perimenopausal period. Some women may feel down or depressed for no reason. These mood disorders during menopause are not strictly associated with fluctuating hormone levels but to other factors which remain unknown. The depression does tend to be mild but can be easily triggered by any number of factors.
Other common symptoms of perimenopause include vaginal dryness or loss of lubrication in the genitals. Thus, sexual intercourse is very uncomfortable or painful. Most women will not be able to conceive during perimenopause because the menstrual cycles have started to become irregular. In any case, if you do not want to get pregnant, use birth control until you have complete absence of periods for at least 6-12 months. Fortunately for most women perimenopause does not depress libido but in fact creates more desire for sex. This is a common observation in many women. Some unlucky women may start to complain of bone pain due to excessive bone thinning. In general, osteoporosis does not become evident much later after menopause has set in.
One does not always need to see a doctor when perimenopause sets in. If the symptoms of perimenopause are mild and tolerated, simple changes in life style and homes remedies will suffice. However, if the symptoms like depression are severe, then it is important to seek medical help.
Is menopause and perimenopause the same thing?
Perimenopause is the transition period or the interval before one truly becomes menopausal. The perimenopausal time period is a natural shift of the hormonal cycle to irregular cycles and finally towards permanent infertility – the loss of eggs. The timing of perimenopause is variable and starts at different ages. For most women it starts in the 40s but in some cases, it may even start in the late 30s.
A woman may notice that her periods are becoming irregular and may vary in length of days from longer to shorter; and the actual menstrual cycle may also vary. This may go one for several months and eventually lead to permanent cessation of the menstrual cycle.
Associated with the perimenopausal period is the start of some symptoms like hot flashes, difficulty sleeping and vagina dryness. In most cases, the perimenopausal period lasts about 9-12 months. Once a woman has gone through 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, she has then medically reached the stage of menopause.
A woman may notice that her periods are becoming irregular and may vary in length of days from longer to shorter; and the actual menstrual cycle may also vary. This may go one for several months and eventually lead to permanent cessation of the menstrual cycle.
Associated with the perimenopausal period is the start of some symptoms like hot flashes, difficulty sleeping and vagina dryness. In most cases, the perimenopausal period lasts about 9-12 months. Once a woman has gone through 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, she has then medically reached the stage of menopause.
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