Perimenopause - Signs You are Starting Menopause

Perimenopause means ‘around menopause’. This is the time when your body is making the natural transition to menopause. It can also be called menopausal transition.

Women start perimenopause at different stages of their life. Some notice menstrual irregularity in their 40s, but some women notice changes as early as their mid-30s.

The main female hormone oestrogen rises and falls unevenly during perimenopause. Menstrual cycles may lengthen or shorten, as well as menstrual cycles where you do not ovulate. You may experience menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness and sleeping problems.

The perimenopause period is over once you have reached 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, and you will have officially reached menopause.

Symptoms

The symptoms throughout menopausal transition can be both subtle and not subtle changes to your body including:

- Irregular periods – Ovulation is more unpredictable, time between periods may be shorter or longer than usual, light or heavy flow, and you may miss some periods. You may have early perimenopause if you have persistent change of seven days or more in length of cycle. You may have late perimenopause if you have a space of 60 days or more between periods.

- Hot flashes and sleep problems – During perimenopause, hot flashes are common. They can vary in frequency, length and intensity. Night sweats or hot flashes can disrupt sleep.

- Mood changes – Hormonal changes of perimenopause can increase irritability and risk of depression.

- Vaginal and bladder problems – Low oestrogen may leave you more vulnerable to vaginal or urinary infections.

- Decreasing fertility – Your ability to conceive decreases as ovulation becomes irregular.

- Changes in sexual function – Sexual desire and arousal may change during perimenopause.

- Loss of bone – You start to lose bone more quickly than replace is with declining oestrogen levels.

- Changing cholesterol levels – When oestrogen levels decline, low-density cholesterol can increase, which increases risk of heart disease.

Some women only have minor perimenopausal symptoms and others tolerate the changes, both of which do not need medical attention. However, some women seek medical attention for their symptoms. It can be difficult to notice symptoms connected to perimenopause as they are subtle and come on gradually.

Symptoms such as mood swings and sleeping problems that interfere with your well-being or life, it is best to see your doctor.

Your body’s production of oestrogen and progesterone (another key female hormone) rises and falls through menopausal transition. Many of the changes are a result of decreasing oestrogen.

Risk factors

Menopause can occur earlier in some women due to these factors:

- Smoking – Menopause can occur one or two years earlier in women who smoke than those who do not.

- Family history – If there are women in your family who have experienced early menopause, you are likely to experience it yourself too.

- Cancer treatment – Chemotherapy or pelvic radiation has been linked to early menopause.

- Hysterectomy – If you have one ovary removed, the remaining ovary could stop working sooner than expected.

Irregular periods are normal and nothing to worry about. However, see your doctor if:

- Bleeding is extremely heavy

- Bleeding lasts longer than a week

- Bleeding happens between periods

- Periods are less than 21 days apart

These signs indicate that there may be a problem with your reproductive system that requires diagnosis and treatment.

Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/perimenopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20354666