Peri-menopause (also called perimenopause) means around the time of menopause. In adult women, peri-menopause is the time in women’s lives that precedes complete menopause. Although peri-menopause lasts for a variable amount of time in different women, some women may experience peri-menopause for up to 10 years before menopause.
Feeling anxiety about peri-menopause, however, can cause a cascade of physiological events that can lead to more physical and psychological symptoms than you normally might have experienced.
Therefore, the best attitude for you to have during peri-menopause is to not label yourself and to not be anxious over a passage in life. Allowing your body to adjust to this transition in life and practicing lifestyle behaviors that create a sense of well-being will reduce the stress of natural changes in your life and help you to enjoy the ride.
During the transitional period of time, the amount of certain sex hormones (e.g., estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone) produced by the body decreases. Signs and symptoms caused by insufficient production of sex hormones during the transitional period of time may include:
• Irregularity of menstrual periods in regard to length of time since the previous period ended, heaviness or lightness of flow, and change in number of days of menstrual bleeding
• Fatigue that occurs several days prior to menstruation
• Hot flashes (i.e., sensation of the body feeling extremely warm)
• Night sweats
• Vaginal dryness and itching
• Loss of libido (i.e., decrease in sexual desire)
• Itching of the skin
• Weight gain
• Headaches that can include distortion of vision
• Dizziness
• Mood swings
• Changes in clarity of thinking
During peri-menopause, some women also may experience the following signs and symptoms:
• Increase in yeast infections of the vagina
• Low blood sugar level
• Heart palpitations
Despite the fact that some symptoms may occur during your body’s transition, many healthy approaches (such as a sensible diet, exercise, and a good support network of other peri-menopausal women and menopausal women) can help you prevent and manage symptoms. See our Q&A called Prevention & Management of Symptoms During Peri-Menopause.
Consult your integrative medical physician and gynecologist for guidance on prevention and management of symptoms during peri-menopause.
During your body’s transition, the wide range of lifestyle and medical options can help your life to be active, pleasurable, and full.
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