Many women have never even heard of perimenopause. Perimenopause is the phase your body is in before it transitions into menopause. In some cases, it can start as early as your mid-thirties, but usually, it begins in your forties. Your body is beginning the process of shutting down the ovaries for good, which causes many menopausal type symptoms.
Perimenopause symptoms can be frightening and frustrating if you do not know what is happening within your body. Some women think it is just related to PMS and that their body is reacting differently for some reason.
Common Perimenopause Symptoms
You will find that many of these symptoms are as those of menopause. However, since your ovaries are still producing estrogen, they may not last quite as long. One of the first noticeable physical symptoms many seem to have is hot flashes. They can come on out of the blue and create havoc on your day. No one wants to be at work and have a sudden hot flash where your face, neck and chest become red and blotchy. This can be very embarrassing.
There are some other common physical perimenopause symptoms that are equally uncomfortable. Bladder leakage or urinary incontinence can be humiliating as well as inconvenient.Vaginal dryness is another symptom and can lead to the loss of sexual intimacy. You may further notice you are retaining water and carrying a few extra pounds even though nothing has changed in our diet. These are all just symptoms of perimenopause.
In addition to the physical symptoms, there are emotional and physiological symptoms as well. You can become overly emotional over what would, under normal circumstances, be considered trivial matters such as dropping your car keys. Mood swings are one of the more noticeable physiological symptoms and can range from depression to anxiety to anger. Another very common symptom is the loss of mental focus. You may notice that it becomes increasingly difficult to concentrate on your work, projects, or even your daily life.
Another perimenopause symptom that has been reported is the lack of energy and drive. This can make it hard to even get out of bed sometimes and can lead to other symptoms like depression. You may also experience bouts with vertigo. If you ever feel dizzy be sure to stand and walk slowly, but only after you have your focus again. This way you can avoid a nasty tumble.
In order to not fear the road ahead of you from perimenopause and into menopause, one of the best things you can do is educated yourself on this phase in your life. The more you know the less of a frightening mystery it will be. You should also become more familiar with your own body and how it functions from day to day. This can be helped along by making sure you see your doctors for regular checkups.
Furthermore, it is best to begin a healthy lifestyle change if you are not living one already. Include plenty of nutrient rich foods and supplements into your diet, such as dark green leafy vegetables, fresh fruits, nuts, whole grains and an array of superfoods. You should cut out processed and fast foods as much as possible. This can make a huge difference on the severity and amount of perimenopause and menopause symptoms you may experience.
