Monday, April 18, 2011

A Guide to Perimenopause Symptoms

Before menopause actually takes place, perimenopause must first occur and its manifestations are usually chronic which can last between two and ten years. When perimenopause commences, hormonal levels such as estrogen will gradually decrease. But these alterations will not have a circadian flow since they are typically mercurial. Hormonal changes are followed by symptoms affecting the emotional, mental and the physical health of a woman. But the duration usually varies from one woman to another.

Perimenopause symptoms usually begin at late 40s or early 50s where the woman will be having an irregular menstrual cycle. Sometimes, the cycle seems to be shorter than the usual duration and there are also moments when it is longer. Blood loss can also vary. The blood coming out may be scanty or heavy.

Hormonal changes can also make the woman experience warm feelings in the morning and being sweaty at night.

Perimenopause symptoms are not continuous since most of them are intermittent. You may be experiencing night sweats tonight but it won't occur tomorrow. Due to these aberrant flows, it is definitely hard to fathom the nature of menopause and knowing the suitable treatment methods can also be arduous.

So what are the common symptoms that are present in perimenopause:

1.) Irregular menstrual flow
Since fertilization becomes erratic at this point, it is hard to tell if the menstrual cycle will be longer or shorter. Even the amount of blood lost is hard to determine since it can be minimal or profuse. Moreover, you may even miss the entire menstrual cycle.

2.) Hot Flushes and night sweats
This can give a woman an outlandish type of feeling. One minute she feels warm and she becomes diaphoretic (profuse sweating) all of a sudden. However, these symptoms' duration, intensity and frequency varies from one woman to another. Commonly, night sweats can even cause sleep disruptions.

3.) Mood Swings
Among all perimenopause symptoms, this is one of the most common. Several women experience irksome feelings then suddenly undergo depression. These abrupt emotional changes are also triggered by hormonal alterations. This kind of symptom is closely congruent to a menstruating woman. However, the only difference is that the latter's changes are not that transparent.

4.) Difficulty in sleeping
Due to night sweats, a lot of women find it very hard to sleep. When they are finally asleep, they immediately wake up in the middle of the night and they could no longer sleep anymore.

5.) Decreased libido or sex drive
When perimenopause symptoms are beginning to take place, the vaginal lining of the woman starts to become thinner. Due to decreased estrogen production, the vagina will become dry, itchy and less lubricated, hence, leading to a painful sexual intercourse. This is the reason why women experiencing these changes no longer have the desire to engage in sex.

6.) Body weakness and fatigue
Due to the numerous symptoms that the woman is experiencing during perimenopause, it is no doubt that her energy will decrease and she will be exhausted. Other factors that can weaken a woman are the reduction in the production of testosterone as well as thyroid imbalances.

7.) Weight gain
Finally, weight gain is highly possible to happen since the woman's metabolism becomes slower. Furthermore, women experiencing perimenopause also have food cravings which are great contributors of weight increase.

Do you suffer from perimenopause symptoms? Find out which menopause treatments are the most effective.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_L_White

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