Menopause is a natural phenomenon for women that is as common as menarche. However, sometimes, menopause can happen faster in young women than in the older ones. Menopause should happen when you are in your 40s or nearing 50. However, due to the busy lifestyle of today, a lot of girls experience perimenopause and early menopause. Early menopause can be bad for girls as this means that your chance of motherhood is cutting short faster, and your reproductive system is also shutting down.
You will also face a lot of hormonal changes that are not explained by any other cause. Therefore, the diagnosis of perimenopause and the treatment of perimenopause and its symptoms is necessary. Perimenopause is something that happens in women in their late 30s or early 40s, and it is very normal. However, if you see signs of perimenopause earlier in your life, it is a sign of concern.
What causes perimenopause?
The early menopause symptoms start showing up as many changes in the female body. For example, your periods will start becoming irregular, and you will face a lot of mood changes. Perimenopause can last up to 2 to 10 years, and it can go unnoticed quite often. However, it is important to understand perimenopause because it is a part of a woman’s reproductive life. Perimenopause happens when the woman’s body releases eggs less frequently, and it could be a sign that the egg is no longer developing normally.
There are also many hormonal changes that come during this time. For example, the woman will face some symptoms because of the drop in oestrogen levels. Oestrogen is the female sex hormone, and its low levels can cause a lot of complications in your body. The low levels of oestrogen show that your reproductive abilities are on the decline.
The woman will become less fertile and have lesser chances of conception and childbirth. It is easier for a woman in her 20s to conceive and give birth to children. As you go towards perimenopause, your menstrual cycles will become more irregular and will also go for fewer days. The typical age for menopause is 40 to late 50s.
Symptoms of perimenopause
Some women can show signs of menopause at 40 or earlier. The common signs of perimenopause are as follows-
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Mood changes
Your mood can change suddenly, and you can also face extreme emotions during the perimenopause phase. The perimenopause phase is when you face hormonal changes that can affect your mental health. You might also feel that you are losing track of time and cannot concentrate on the basic chores and actions.
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Change in sexual desire
You might also feel a change in sexual desire and libido. Because of the lowering of oestrogen levels, you will feel a decrease in sexual desire and the need for sexual encounters. You will feel irritated and not enjoy the sexual experiences you have with your partner.
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Headaches
You will also face a lot of headaches and pain in the neck as you go through your perimenopause phase. You might feel very stressed and experience migraines.
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Hot flashes
Hot flashes and night sweats are very common for women going through perimenopause. Even if the temperature is favourable, you will feel hot and humid and might also start sweating randomly at night. These are menopause symptoms at age 47 and can worsen with time.
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Trouble with sleeping
If you feel that you are unable to sleep at night and are turning into an insomniac, it could also be a sign that you are going through perimenopause. The lack of sleep is often linked to your age and also your hormonal levels. If you do not have enough natural melatonin in the body and your body is stressed, it will not be able to sleep easily. A lot of women who are ageing face trouble with their sleeping patterns.
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PMS like symptoms
You will face a lot of PMS-like symptoms when you are going through perimenopause. However, you might ignore them, thinking that these are common for women and that there is nothing to worry about. If you see the symptoms of perimenopause, you should take it seriously and go to your gynaecologist for an FSH test. We also conduct different hormone tests for the detection of perimenopause. The FSH test is a test that measures the amount of Follicular stimulating hormone a woman produces in her body during her menstrual cycle. The FSH is a major female hormone that affects the development of female eggs, fertility and chances of pregnancy in women. To make sure that your signs and symptoms are not of perimenopause, we conduct tests for FSH levels. If your FSH levels are declining, that can be a sign that you are closer to menopause than you think.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of perimenopause is done after taking a lot of factors into consideration. The factors that are taken into consideration are hormone tests, physical examination and other diagnostic processes. Your gynaecologist will also look at your medical history and then decide if you are at risk of perimenopause or not. The doctor might suggest frequent blood tests to monitor your hormone levels over a period of time before declaring the results. The blood tests that are conducted also look for female sex hormones like Estrogen and FSH so that the reproductive stage of the patient can be confirmed.
Also Read: Guidance for Dealing with Menopause – Five Effective Suggestions
Treatment of perimenopause
After knowing that you have perimenopause, you can opt for ways to manage the symptoms. If you have early menopause symptoms, the treatment of these symptoms becomes more important. For example, the doctor might suggest you go through a cycle of hormonal therapy so that the risk of perimenopause is reduced to a great extent.
The doctor will also tell you about the lifestyle changes that you need to make to keep your reproductive system healthy. The doctor will also give you some safe anti-depressants that will keep your mood stable and healthy. You might also have some home remedies to deal with hot flashes and night sweats. The doctor will also tell you to improve your diet and include calcium-rich foods and supplements in it.
Conclusion
Perimenopause is a common health issue in ageing women in their 40s. However, if you see the signs of this condition early on, you need to consult with your gynaecologist. You should also take care of your lifestyle and diet so that your menstrual cycle goes on as before. You also need to opt for tests at Agilus Diagnostics to see if you are at risk for perimenopause and if your reproductive system is healthy. We help you live a healthy life and ensure a smooth transition through different stages of your life.
Agilus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited
