Perimenopause: What No One Tells You

While the term menopause is popular, very few people know what perimenopause means. This is a silent process where the female body starts preparing itself for menopause. This stage can be confusing for many women as the symptoms are unclear. Although your periods still come, things aren’t like before. Your monthly flow time now becomes hard to determine. Perimenopause is very real and understanding it is dangerous. Read on as we will be explaining in detail what his condition means.

What is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause is a time before menopause when hormone levels began fluctuating. During this time, levels of estrogen and progesterone rise and fall in unpredictable patterns. Usually, this starts happening when a woman is in her late 30s and early 40s. While most women experience perimenopause for a few months, for others, it can be years. Women are often diagnosed with menopause when they go 12 months without seeing their monthly flow, but this isn’t the case with perimenopause.

Common Symptoms of Perimenopause

People usually expect irregular periods when they are getting older, but with Perimenopause, many subtle signs catch women unawares. They are:

• Mood swings
• Unexplained irritation
• Sleep problems
• Sudden weight gain
• Lack of concentration
• Depression
• Muscle pains

While the above symptoms may seem minor, once they persist for weeks. Most women just think they’re stressed, not knowing it’s their hormones at work.

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It’s Not Just Physical

There is more to perimenopause than its physical effects; it affects your mental and emotional wellbeing. Women have reported feeling anxious and withdrawn without knowing the cause. Also, relationships and work are often affected when this happens. This hormonal activity can make you feel isolated and tired. However, it’s important to keep your emotions and mental state in check during this period.

What to Do

When you are in this phase, don’t panic. To manage this condition, here are some steps that you can take :

• Use a Journal to track the symptoms

• Talk to your doctor about things that can help, like therapy, supplements, or small lifestyle changes

• Reduce caffeine intake and sleep more

• Engage in regular exercise to improve your mood and physical shape.

• Stay socially connected

Final Thoughts

Perimenopause is a natural phase of every woman’s life; however, not everyone is aware of it. Your knowledge during this period will let you make better lifestyle and health decisions. While every woman’s experience during this phase differs, with the proper care and support, you will pass this phase without issues.