Perimenopause is a period when your body is getting ready for menopause. Your body changes a lot and the natural ovulation cycle is disrupted; your periods become irregular and you suffer a lot of difficulties in life. Once permanent menopause happens you will not menstruate anymore and the period of perimenopause is over. Some of the most common symptoms of perimenopause are hot flushes, anxiety, depression, mood swings, dryness in the vagina, sleeplessness and weight gain. However, you will have to confirm it with your gynecologist that it is indeed perimenopause and not something else.
No matter how hard women try to keep their weight level down, they will keep on putting on weight around the waist and hip area. No amount of exercises and diet control will give them any respite. Many women are advised to accept the fact and suffer weight gain. The period of perimenopause will vary among women – for some they start right in the beginning of 40s and for some it might be much earlier than that. It can go into the late 50s too. If you do not menstruate for a period of 12 months or so then you can consider yourself to have passed the stage of menstruation.
More about Perimenopause Symptoms
There are certain symptoms that are typical of perimenopause. What causes these symptoms for perimenopause? As you age and near menopause there will be a change in the ovulation cycle, the changes will be subtle in the beginning and will become prominent later on. Sensitive women will notice the changes immediately, though some many not even notice that they are suffering through a perimenopause period. Your hormone levels go haywire and up and down. This happens when your ovaries begin to produce more and more estrogen and progesterone. Some researchers have based their facts on the theory that the ovaries decrease their estrogen level and it is the fat cells that actually increase the estrogen levels. Your body will begin to lose muscles and there will be more fat. There are not many ways to combat this weight problem. You will have to eat the right kind of foods in small quantities; you no longer need huge quantities of food as it will only lead to weight gain. You will notice a bulging tummy during this period. The abdominal muscles lose their toning as more fat gets deposited there.Your body goes through several emotional, physical and psychological changes during this period. You become more sensitive and often feel that your family and colleagues do not really understand you. If you understand that these feelings are related to your perimenopause period and that there is really nothing concrete for you to worry about then you will come out of it with flying colors. Women with perimenopausal symptoms often have teenage children and this aggravates a series of negative feelings. It is a situation you can cope with if you practice yoga and meditation. It is the best treatment for anxiety and stress. If you have a supportive family during perimenopause then you are indeed lucky.


