Symptoms of Perimenopause and Menopause

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Perimenopause is the precursor to full blown menopause. It is normally defined as the period leading up to menopause during which time your periods may become irregular, and other symptoms become apparent. Exactly when perimenopause starts, and how long it lasts varies considerably from one woman to the next. Full blown menopause happens between the ages of 45 and 55, but perimenopause has been know to start as early as the age of 30 and can last anywhere from between two to eight years.

Menopause is an unavoidable natural event in life as you age, and doesn't necessarily require any treatment or medication unless there are some symptoms which are causing you undue distress. It's a good idea to learn what you can regarding menopause before it takes place as this will help to prepare you for what you can expect once the onset commences.

As you grow older, your egg supply also ages with you and you will start to ovulate less regularly. It is a time when you body's levels of hormones are likely to change and fluctuate quite wildly, and it is these changes that affect the regularity of your periods and the emergence of some of the other systems we will detail for you shortly. Eventually your estrogen and progesterone levels drop sufficiently low to cause the utter cessation of your periods altogether. There are some medical treatments, such as a hysterectomy, that can result in what is called a medical menopause which is brought on by surgery.

The symptoms of both perimenopause and menopause itself will vary from person to person but may include the following:

A change to the pattern of your menstruation cycle. This may result in your flow becoming lighter or heavier. The interval may alter, with longer or shorter durations in between, and you may skip periods too.

Hot flushes or flashes are another common symptom.

Many women report insomnia or interrupted sleep patterns as another result of perimenopause. Some of this can be attributed to night sweats.

Mood swings often take place where one feels irritable for no apparent reason. Feeling depressed and/or worried are other symptoms often experienced. If these symptoms become severe, you should see your doctor who may be able to give you prescription medication to help with the symptoms.

Headaches are another common occurrence, as are heart palpitations, or the feeling that your heart is either beating too quickly or sometimes erratically.

Some women find that their concentration wanders and it is more difficult to stay focused. Memory can also be affected.

It is also quite common to experience vaginal dryness which can then cause pain during intercourse. There are special vaginal creams that can be bought "off the shelf" at your local drug store to deal with this particular symptom.

The severity of these symptoms will vary with the individual, causing differing levels of disruption to normal daily or nightly routines. The same symptoms are common to both perimenopause and menopause though often becoming more pronounced during the first twelve months of the actual onset of menopause itself. However, as time progresses and your hormone levels adjust and stop fluctuating, many of the symptoms will reduce in severity, and many, if not all, may disappear altogether.