Menopause, contrary to the misinformation around us, is a natural process that every woman experiences as she transitions out of her reproductive phase. It is said that a woman is in menopause when she doesn’t have a period for 12 months or more.
However, before this stoppage of menstrual cycles, females experience a wide range of symptoms and health concerns that are triggered by hormonal imbalance.
This is a unique stage called perimenopause, where most period patterns change, and oestrogen levels fluctuate. This gush of changes can be marked by irregular periods, unexplained weight gain or digestive issues - which could be confusing for the woman and the people around her.
The key to remember is that this is a perfectly natural phenomenon, and it’s always better to be prepared for it all by brushing up on our knowledge about perimenopause and its most common symptoms.
THE THREE STAGES OF MENOPAUSE
Many of us confuse menopause to cover the entire transition, which happens over 5-7 years. However, it is important to understand the 3 distinct stages and how every woman navigates through them.
Here are the three stages of menopause:
1. PERIMENOPAUSE:
This begins between the age of 38-45 when the body’s oestrogen levels decline. This decline marks the beginning of this stage, triggering symptoms like hot flashes, irregular periods, night sweats and other hormonal issues which could last for several years.
While women experience these symptoms and adapt to this change, their ovaries are still releasing eggs. This leaves a big chance for pregnancy.
2. MENOPAUSE:
This is when the body experiences its last period. It could be the last one, but it is only confirmed when the body has gone on for a year without experiencing a menstrual cycle.
Usually around this time, women may see lesser intensity and frequency in their symptoms of menopause, but could still have vaginal dryness, sleep issues and cardiovascular concerns.
3. POST-MENOPAUSE:
After hitting the one-year mark on experiencing the last period, it is said that a woman is now a post-menopausal woman. As the ovaries run out of their egg reserve, there is no chance of pregnancy anymore.
Keep in mind that after this phase, women could still experience other symptoms like joint pain, osteoporosis, loss of libido or skin degeneration.
MOST COMMON PERIMENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS
1. HOT FLASHES AND NIGHT SWEATS
If you suddenly experience a surge of heat on your face, chest and the rest of your body. It could cause skin inflammation and make you sweat profusely. This intense feeling of heat in the body compels women to stand under the air conditioner, take cold showers and find other ways to cool them down.
Hot flashes occur when the oestrogen decline impacts the body’s temperature regulation system. The dysregulation causes the blood vessels to dilate and increase blood flow to the dermis, giving a red appearance.
Night sweats are also caused due to the same temperature dysregulation, often causing women to experience extreme sweating, leading to drenched bedsheets and pillowcases. Some women experience sleep disturbance and wake up in the middle of the night, irritated and frustrated.
2. IRREGULAR PERIODS
If you’re noticing some fluctuation in your cycle, or if your periods or delayed or missed as you reach the age of 40, it’s very likely that you’re in perimenopause. Irregular periods are the most common perimenopause symptoms, often skipping periods for a month, a quarter or even for a few months.
It can also go the other way where you may experience shorter cycles back to back or have heavy bleeding during every period.
The cycles go awry as the oestrogen levels start fluctuating during perimenopause. As the periods haven’t completely stopped, there is still a chance to get pregnant.
While it is deemed as an uncommon sign, it could be a big indicator towards perimenopause. Defined by the vagina’s lack of lubrication during sexual activity or otherwise, vaginal dryness can prove to be very irritating and uncomfortable for women in perimenopause.
As the oestrogen levels drop in the body, the body’s blood flow to the intimate region is affected as well. The lack of blood circulation in and around the vagina decreases and it could cause loss of natural lubrication as well as her libido.
This can lead to pain and discomfort during penetrative sex.
4. MOOD SWINGS
With hormonal imbalance at the heart of perimenopause, most women will see a direct impact of this fluctuation on their mood. Due to the loss of oestrogen in the body, the serotonin and dopamine levels also take a nosedive, leading to a sense of irritation, anxiety, sadness or confusion.
These mood swings can occur at different times of the day, go on for multiple days and can intensify every feeling.
Mood swings can have a cause-and-effect result on your interpersonal relationships, leading to isolation, depression or loneliness.
5. SLEEP DISTURBANCE
Poor sleep quality is one of the lesser-known symptoms of this transition but is as common as it gets. Caused by temperature dysregulation and hot flashes, sleep quality can deteriorate from the onset of perimenopause and last throughout the transition.
Most perimenopausal women experience sleeplessness, and anxiety during the night and feel anxious due to this unexplained change in the body. Hot flashes occur mostly during the day, but they could also occur at night; causing a woman to wake up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat and unable to go back to sleep.
CONCLUSION
Navigating the journey of perimenopause can feel overwhelming, but recognsing the signs early on can empower you to take control of your health and well-being. By understanding these symptoms, you can seek appropriate guidance and make lifestyle adjustments that promote comfort and balance.
Perimenopause is a natural phase of life, and with the right knowledge and support, you can embrace this period with confidence and grace. Always consult with a healthcare professional to tailor a plan that suits your individual needs and helps you thrive during this transformative time.
