The concept of menopause plays out in the media as if it’s a decades long event that wreaks havoc on a woman’s life. In reality, menopause is merely a point in time. Instead, perimenopause is the process where things start to change in a woman’s body. It’s where you’re periods change. It’s where irregular periods, cramps, and changes in your skin tone start to surface. It leaves you feeling like a teenager all over again.
These changes don’t necessarily show up at a specific age. Typically, a woman starts noticing changes somewhere in her 40s or 50s, but some women notice differences even in their late 30s.
During this time, your body starts producing less estrogen. With declining levels of estrogen, you may notice things like:
Period changes
You aren’t as regular as you once were
You have spotting between cycles
Your periods are closer together and last longer overall
You stop having periods for months and then start up again
Hot flashes - sudden changes in estrogen can leave you with periods of extreme heat, heavy sweating, followed by cold chills
Mood changes - you may feel irritable or moody at different times of the month
Body changes - some women notice muscle stiffness, pain in different places, weight gain, and sexual changes
These changes can go on for years.
At some point, the ovaries stop releasing eggs and stop producing the estrogen necessary for this process to take place. Menopause is the point when you’ve gone 12 months in a row without a period.
You may see this time also referred to as postmenopausal. This is a time when the symptoms you’ve experienced through perimenopause subside. It’s also a time when new symptoms may begin to surface.
Because your estrogen levels have decreased, you’re more at risk for things like osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. That’s why it’s more important than ever to work with your doctor and create a plan to ensure you stay as healthy as possible throughout this transition.
What questions do you have about perimenopause?