Perimenopause - What is it?

Perimenopause is the time leading up to the menopause, where you've not quite got the full blown symptoms of menopause, but you can tell that your body is changeing and you don't feel a hundred percent normal.

Perimenopause usually starts between the ages of 45 and 55 but some start earlier than that and some women even start in their thirties.
Bearing in mind that the year just after you stop your periods is still classified as perimenopause. That is until you have been period free for 12 months in a row exactly. That's when menopause begins.

During the perimenopause, your ovaries start to shut down, making less of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. This change is a natural part of aging that signals the ending of your reproductive years and you will likely notice menopause related symptoms, and changes in periods.

Perimenopause Symptoms and Signs

As you get older, your body changes and some symptoms are just those related to normal ageing.
Again like the menopause, some women will not have many symptoms, just the periods stopping, whereas others will have a long list of symptoms. It just depends on the individual and also what other stressors you have in your life at that time, as stress does seem to aggravate any symptoms.

Here is a list of some of the symptoms that come with the perimenopause and they are basically the same as those that come with the menopause.

- hot flashes
- night sweats
- insomnia
- memory changes
- changes in your periods
- changes in libido (sometimes getting stronger)
- vaginal dryness
- PMS getting worse
- depression
- fatigue
- migraine headaches

This is a long but not exhaustive list, but not everyone will have all the symptoms.

Perimenopause Treatment

Orthodox treatment consists of taking a very low dose contraceptive pill. They may not be enough to prevent pregnancy so check with your doctor. And yes, you can get pregnant during the perimenopause.

However, within the ethos of this website, I think that the better treatment options are:

Exercise - Regular exercise helps keep your weight down, helps you sleep better, makes your bones stronger, and boosts your mood. Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.

A Healthy Diet - Eat a healthy diet (with plenty of whole grain, fruit and veg) and try to incorporate some Calcium and Magnesium from calcium rich foods such as dairy and magnesium rich foods such as nuts. Get plenty of sunshine as the body makes vitamin D from this which helps you absorb the calcium and magnesium. If you can't control your diet, take supplements.

Stress Coping Mechanisms - learn to cope with your stress by starting Pilates, Yoga, Meditation, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) etc.

All this will stand you in good stead when you do actually start the menopause.