Menopause and perimenopause- is it getting hot in here?
Menopause is defined as the inevitable, natural decline in reproductive hormones of someone with a uterus. This reproductive turning point usually occurs by the ages of 40 to 50 and is considered officially reached when you stop menstruating and can no longer conceive. There is a journey of symptoms leading up to the milestone of menopause, and this is known as perimenopause. The postmenopausal phase is reached when menstruation has ceased for 12 months. This is when those symptoms will usually begin to fade.
The phase of perimenopause can last a few years before menopause. No matter what age you start at, you’ll likely experience some physical and emotional changes. These are key to watch out for in preparation for your menopausal journey. Since during perimenopause, your ovaries decrease the production of the hormone estrogen and progesterone, the most obvious change will be changed to your menstrual cycle. Your period may become heavier, more painful, or irregular with some spotting. If you notice any of these changes, it’s time to see your GP about menopause.
While everyone is different, these are reportedly some of the most common symptoms of perimenopause that you should pay close attention to if you are ever feeling:
– Hot flashes and night sweats
– Trouble sleeping
– Anxiety and mood swings
– Fatigue and brain fog
– Breast tenderness
– Weight gain
– Joint or muscle pain
– Dry skin, brittle hair, and nails
At what age can you are feel any of these symptoms?
Perimenopause can start with mild symptoms as early as your 30s, however, most women begin to report symptoms by their mid-40s. Everyone is unique, and symptoms can depend on multiple factors such as lifestyle choices and genetics.
Perimenopause can have a reputation for being a rocky road to menopause. Learning everything you can about this stage will help you not only survive the severity of symptoms but truly thrive in your next stage of life. Women have reported menopause “hitting them like a tonne of bricks”. However looking back on the prior years of joint aches, brain fog, and anxiety, these ‘unrelated’ issues can be early symptoms of menopause. If you think you are experiencing perimenopause symptoms, keep track and visit your GP for information about the menopausal phases. We understand this new stage of life can be daunting, but you don’t have to go it alone. We are here to empower you with the knowledge and tools you need to stay healthy and knowledge about what to expect.
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