As a woman, you’re probably aware of the menopause, even if you’re in 20s or 30s. The menopause is a stage of a woman’s life that’s influenced by hormone levels, that follows the other hormone related life events – puberty, your fertile years and then possibly pregnancy and breastfeeding.
But there’s another stage, that sits between your fertile years and your menopause that is less well known about, and that’s the perimenopause. So here, we’re going to talk about what the perimenopause is, what the symptoms are, and why it happens.
What is the Perimenopause?
The perimenopause is a transitional phase that occurs in the years before the menopause. It’s most common in women in their late 30s and early 40s and the symptoms can last up to 10 years, right up until the menopause, which women generally experience at around 50 years old.
It’s caused by the natural decline in levels of the female sex hormone, oestrogen. This natural decline usually begins when a woman is reaching her mid to late 30s, triggering the beginning of the perimenopause.
The symptoms of the perimenopause can be subtle, gradually becoming more noticeable as the menopause approaches and oestrogen levels reach a steeper decline, and are very similar symptoms to the menopause itself. Some women experience very noticeable perimenopause symptoms, whilst others don’t notice any at all.
What Are the Symptoms of the Perimenopause?
The first symptom you may notice is a change in the frequency, regularity and the flow of your periods. They may become more or less frequent and more difficult to plan for. Other common symptoms of the perimenopause include:
- Hot flushes
- Night sweats
- Difficulty sleeping
- Tiredness
- Brain fog leading to poor memory and concentration
- Mood swings
- Headaches
- Heart palpitations
- Breast tenderness
- Vaginal dryness
- Urinary incontinence
- Loss of libido
- Thinning hair
You may notice that urinary incontinence is a symptom of perimenopause. For this, a solution is searching for women’s adult diapers. Women’s adult diapers are specially designed to provide comfort and prevent leakage, making them a practical solution for handling this symptom.
How Can I Help Ease the Symptoms of the Perimenopause?
Looking after your physical and mental wellbeing is important throughout your life. But if you’re experiencing the symptoms of the perimenopause or you’re approaching your menopause, it can be even more beneficial.
Eating well, choosing fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein sources, oily fish, nuts, seeds and wholegrains will help to keep your body fit and healthy, your immune system strong and will help to maintain your weight.
Regular exercise is also key. Exercise helps with weight management and also strengthens the bones, which can be at risk of becoming weak due to a lack of oestrogen. But not only that, exercise releases feel good chemicals that help to support good mental health which is beneficial if you’re struggling with mood changes and difficulty feeling productive and engaged.
If you don’t like the idea of going to the gym, there are lots of online workouts available, that can be completed at some, such as this Bodyweight Exercise for the Femininely Fit Woman course. It helps to build strength whilst maintaining a feminine form.
Your GP may also be able to discuss the possibility of hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, with you. HRT replaces lost oestrogen helping to manage the symptoms of the perimenopause and menopause and many women find it very beneficial.
Knowing That You’re Not Alone
Not all women will experience the symptoms of the perimenopause. But if you’re struggling with various symptoms that you can’t put down to anything else then you could be experiencing the perimenopause.
This is a perfectly natural time in your life, and you may be surprised how many of your friends, colleagues and peers are also experiencing the same. Opening up the conversation with other women may help you to feel less alone and confused.
Enrolling on a course, such as this Meditation – A Powerful Tool for Wellbeing course can also be helpful for feeling more in control of your personal wellbeing.
Written by Hannah de Gruchy BSc (Hons)
