Learn what you can do to prepare yourself for this transition in life.
Are you in your late 30’s or 40’s and feeling irritable and anxious? Are you depressed sometimes for no reason? Are your periods irregular? You’re not going crazy. You're probably going through perimenopause.
Menopause occurs when your periods stop altogether. But you’ll experience body changes up to 10 years before. That’s when you know you're in the throes of perimenopause.
Common Signs
- Changes in your menstrual cycle. You might skip periods altogether or they may come closer together.
- Hot flashes. You’ll feel warm from your head to your chest. It might feel like a wave is coming over your body.
- Vaginal dryness. Applying an estrogen cream might help.
- Problems with your urinary tract. You may experience more bladder and urinary tract infections. Talk to your doctor about treatment options.
- Bone loss. Declining estrogen levels cause you to lose bone mass faster, leading to Osteoporosis.
- Decreasing fertility. As your periods become more irregular, so does your fertility. But as long as you have periods, pregnancy is a possibility. Continue to use birth control until you’ve had no periods for a year.
- Headaches, night sweats and insomnia. Decreasing estrogen levels and hot flashes may trigger these symptoms.
It’s time to call a doctor when:
- You experience heavier than normal bleeding
- Bleeding that lasts longer than usual
- Bleeding more often then every three weeks
- Bleeding after sexual intercourse
- Blood staining between periods
Help for Hot flashes
- Dress in Layers
- Sleep in a cool room
- Avoid alcohol and drink water when you feel a hot flash beginning
Treatment
Sometimes doctors prescribe birth control pills for perimenopausal women to regulate periods, minimize hot flashes and combat vaginal dryness. Also healthy lifestyle choices can make a difference:
- Eat nutritious foods. Now is the time to start that low fat, high fiber diet that’s rich in calcium. If you’re not getting enough calcium in your diet, take a supplement. Avoid or minimize caffeine. It could trigger hot flashes.
- Hit the gym. Regular exercise does more than slim you down. It strengthens bones, elevates your mood and improves sleep patterns. Try for at least 30 minutes a day.
- Chill out. Stress aggravates the symptoms of perimenopause. So practice stress reduction techniques like yoga or meditation. If you’ve never relaxed before, now is the time.
And remember, perimenopause is not a disease, it’s a transition.
Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians, National Institutes of Health, National Women’s Health Information Center. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Mayo Clinic
