Premenopause: From ’Peri’ to ‘Post’ to ‘Menopause!

Perimenopause and menopause are transitional stages in life that signify the conclusion of your reproductive years. Premenopause, in contrast, occurs when a person has no symptoms of either.

Menopause is considered the end of reproduction in women.

This stage of life is very familiar, but there are stages of menopause that are important to be aware of and understand. Menopause, as such, is officially when you stop menstruating.

Perimenopause, however, is from the Greek word “peri,” which means “around,” which makes sense since it refers to the years around menopause. It’s also referred to as the menopause transition and is named as such because it occurs before menopause.

While they both belong to the larger life change, menopause and perimenopause have distinct symptoms and treatments.

Talk to your OB-GYN about any questions, concerns, or unusual symptoms.

Premenopause vs. perimenopause

You may wonder what the difference is between perimenopause and premenopause.

The terms premenopause and perimenopause are often used interchangeably, but, appropriately, the words refer to quite distinct times in a woman’s life.

You have no symptoms of perimenopause or menopause Premenopause.

You still have periods — whether they’re regular or irregular — and would be said to be in your reproductive years. Some hormonal shifts are happening, but there’s nothing you can see or feel.

So, on the other hand, you’ll begin to notice symptoms related to menopause in perimenopause. They may include:

• Changes in your period cycle
• hot flashes
• sleep disturbances
• mood swings

When perimenopause occurs

Meanwhile, perimenopause happens long before you reach menopause.

Hormonal shifts occur 8 to 10 years before menopause, according to the Cleveland Clinic. And this happens in your 30s or 40s, well before you face the start of perimenopause.

A decrease in the primary female hormone made by the ovaries — estrogen — characterizes perimenopause. Erratic estrogen fluctuations can cause irregular or absent periods and other symptoms.

In the last stage of perimenopause, you will start to produce less and less estrogen. And despite declining levels of estrogen, it is still possible to get pregnant. It can range from a few months to 4 years.

Menopause officially begins when the ovaries make so little estrogen that eggs are no longer released. It also makes your period stop.

Your doctor will confirm menopause once you have gone a whole year without menstruating.

• You could go into menopause sooner than the average person if you:
• Have ancestors who went through early menopause.
• are a smoker
• have undergone hysterectomy or oophorectomy
• are cancer survivors’ use of drugs for cancer therapy

Signs of Perimenopause and Menopause

If you have not already experienced it, you will soon. Symptoms of perimenopause/menopause include: – Night sweats – Loss of hair – Memory lapses – Moodiness, sadness, and irritability – Vaginal dryness, itching, and decreasing sex drive—lost sex drive – Thinning skin – Difficulty sleeping – Irregular periods, either heavy or light – Insomnia – Aching Joints and Muscles – Stress – Weight gain around the abdomen – Facial hair 57

When it comes to menopause, people tend to think about the symptoms more than anything else. Those can include the notorious hot flashes, but you might experience many other things as you go through this period of change.

Perimenopause symptoms

These include symptoms of it:

• irregular periods
• heavy or light periods
• PMS (premenstrual syndrome) is much worse than before periods.
• breast tenderness
• weight gain
• hair changes
• heart palpitations
• headaches
• loss of sex drive
• concentration difficulties
• forgetfulness
• muscle aches
• urethral and bladder infection
• And that’s especially true when it comes to fertility in women trying to get pregnant.

Menopause symptoms

As your estrogen levels decrease, you may notice menopausal symptoms.

• night sweats
• hot flashes
• depression
• anxiety or irritability
• mood swings
• insomnia
• fatigue
• dry skin
• vaginal dryness
• frequent urination

Cholesterol

Cholesterol levels can rise during perimenopause and menopause as well. This is one of the reasons postmenopausal women are at even greater risk of heart disease.

Keep track of your cholesterol with a test every year at a minimum.

When to call a doctor

You don’t have to call your doctor to be diagnosed with perimenopause/menopause, but there are times you should visit your OB-GYN.

If you have something to do, Call immediately. Keep these numbers handy (add these numbers to your cell phone and post them in a prominent place):

• Spotting after your period
• clots while on period
• Bleeding after sex
• periods of much longer or much shorter duration than average

It could be related to hormonal imbalances or fibroids, which could be treated. But you also want to make sure there is no cancer growing.

You should also see your doctor if the symptoms of either perimenopause or menopause are so severe they interfere with your day-to-day life.

Medications to treat perimenopause and menopause 

There is a range of potential treatments for perimenopause, as well as for menopause.

Prescriptive and over-the-counter (OTC) treatments exist for lack of estrogen occurring in the perimenopausal and menopausal periods.

Estrogen

Estrogen (hormone) therapy helps even out the ups and downs, so you end up with fewer symptoms. Some types of estrogen may even lower the risk of osteoporosis.

Estrogen is a prescription and over-the-counter medication. It should be noted that the FDA does not oversee all OTC choices.

Estrogen is often combined with progestin and is available in a variety of preparations, such as

• oral pills
• creams
• gels
• skin patches

Buy estrogen over the counter.

Other medications

More targeted menopause drugs exist. For example:

• Prescription vaginal creams can also help relieve dryness and pain during sex.
• Mood swings can be treated with antidepressants.
• Some women may benefit from a seizure drug, gabapentin (Neurontin), for hot flashes.

At-home solutions for perimenopause and menopause

I developed a dry cough after a week of tightness, and my doctor said it sounded dry and unproductive, so it’s irritating them. These steps can also help relieve your symptoms at home.

Exercise can help lift your mood, prevent weight gain, and may even minimize (ironic alert) your hot flashes.

I look forward to doing something physical each day. Just don’t exercise before bed, which has been shown to exacerbate insomnia.

Getting a good night’s rest might sound impossible when you have insomnia.

Consider practicing a peaceful activity before bedtime, like gentle yoga or soaking in a warm bath. Don’t take naps during the day, which may limit your ability to sleep at night.

Here are a few other things you can try to help ease symptoms:

• Be mindful of what you eat and eat light meals.
• Quit smoking if you smoke.
• If you drink alcohol, limit the amount you drink.
• Restrict caffeine to minimal amounts and consume only during the morning.

Outlook

Both perimenopause and menopause are periods of transition that signal the end of your reproductive years.

Of course, there is much to work on, but I want to remind you that not all is bad.

With all the treatments available, you can navigate these stages with a little more comfort and fewer limitations.