Perimenopause: a woman's transition to menopause

Perimenopause (premenopause) is a period of transition from the normal menstrual cycle to menopause. Usually, there are several symptoms that mark this condition, so that women can know their reproductive time is ending. Get to know more about perimenopause and its symptoms so you don't get them wrong

Perimenopause is the transition to menopause

Perimenopause is a period that indicates that you are approaching menopause. This period is marked by the instability of reproductive hormones.

Every woman will experience this period, but this condition will occur at different ages for each woman.

Most women around the age of 40 will experience symptoms from this transition period, but not a few women will experience it in their 30s.

Perimenopause symptoms will last until you reach menopause, which is when your ovaries stop releasing eggs. After that, during the last 1-2 years of this transition period, you will most likely experience menopause symptoms.

Perimenopause symptoms

In fact, the duration and symptoms of perimenopause that every woman experiences varies widely. There are some people who only feel the symptoms for a few months, others experience it for 3-4 years.

Some common symptoms that can indicate that you are in this transition include:

1. Irregular menstruation

One of the most common symptoms of perimenopause is irregular periods.

As reported by the page American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist , progesterone and estrogen hormone levels will remain stable in the normal menstrual cycle.

Ovulation usually occurs in the middle of the cycle and menstruation will occur about 2 weeks after that.

However, if you are premenopausal, these regularities may not occur. Symptoms that will appear, such as:

Bleeding and spotting irregular or not according to the usual schedule
Menstruation is longer and blood flows heavier.
Others may be shorter and lighter in duration.
The number of days between menstrual cycles can be increased or decreased.

2. Hot flashes and trouble sleeping

Hot flashes is the most common symptom of perimenopause. Usually, these symptoms will last for years.

If it occurs at night, the heat that feels in your body will make you sweat, and is called night sweats.

The earlier you experience these symptoms, the longer it will take hot flashes will interfere with your daily activities.

Not infrequently the quality of sleep can be reduced because the heat keeps women awake at night. Hence, there are a few tips that you might try to deal with hot flashes , as:

Drink a little cold water before bed
Keeps the room temperature comfortable and cool
Cover the bed with a base that is not too thick and rough
Using a fan or other air conditioner

3. Moods fluctuate

It is not uncommon for people who are approaching menopause to be synonymous with unstable mood swings. Ranging from irritability to an increased risk of depression.

There are several factors that influence mood. For example, the reduced production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone causes the body and brain to undergo many changes, which can relate to your mood.

4. Decreased sexual desire

With age, it is not uncommon for women who enter perimenopause to experience a decrease in sexual desire.

As previously explained, the instability of reproductive hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, makes you less excited about having sex.

However, if you had a satisfying sex life before menopause began, chances are your sexual desires will not change drastically.

5. Decreased fertility rates

Apart from altered sex drive, another common symptom of perimenopause is decreased fertility.

This is caused by the irregularity of your fertility period (ovulation period) which makes the chances of pregnancy drop sharply. However, that doesn't mean you can't have children at all.

As long as you are still having your period, even if it is irregular, you still have a chance of getting pregnant. Try to consult a doctor for the right solution.

Perimenopause complications

Basically, all women will definitely experience perimenopause and this condition is very normal.

Although normal, this period can also be characterized by several complications, such as:

Menstrual bleeding is very heavy and many are characterized by changing tampons or pads every 1-2 hours for more than two hours.
Bleeding lasts for more than seven days
Bleeding occurs between menstrual cycles
Menstrual cycles occur less than 21 days on a regular basis

If you experience the symptoms above, consult a doctor immediately because it is feared that there is a problem in your reproductive system and requires proper treatment.