What are the symptoms of perimenopause?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Symptoms of perimenopause include:
- Irregular periods
- Heavy bleeding
- Headaches
- Vaginal changes
- Insomnia or broken sleep
- Decreased sex drive
- Hair loss
- Fatigue
- Fuzzy thinking
- Anxiety
- Depression
Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulSymptoms of perimenopause include: Irregular periods Heavy bleeding Headaches Vaginal changes Insomnia or broken sleep Decreased sex drive Hair loss Fatigue Fuzzy thinking Anxiety Depression More -
NorthShore University HealthSystem answered:During perimenopause, a woman's body changes in many ways. The most common symptom is menstrual irregularity. Your periods might become shorter or longer, more spread apart or closer together, and may sometimes be heavier or lighter. During this time many women also begin to experience hot flashes or sweating during the night. Vaginal dryness is another common symptom. Some women also experience sleep problems.
During perimenopause, a woman's body changes in many ways. The most common symptom is menstrual irregularity. Your periods might become shorter or longer, more spread apart or closer together, and may sometimes be heavier or lighter. During this... More -
Dr. Dawn Marcus answered:The perimenopause is a time of marked hormonal change, usually beginning 6 or more months before menopause. Hormone levels fluctuate during perimenopause, resulting in menstrual irregularities, hot flashes, sweating, and other unpleasant symptoms. Menopause is officially diagnosed after a woman has gone 1 year without a menstrual period.
Find out more about this book: The Woman's Migraine Toolkit: Managing Your Headaches from Puberty to Menop...
The perimenopause is a time of marked hormonal change, usually beginning 6 or more months before menopause. Hormone levels fluctuate during perimenopause, resulting in menstrual irregularities, hot flashes, sweating, and other unpleasant... More -
Dr. Julia Schlam Edelman answered:Women usually spend anywhere from 2 to 10 years in perimenopause. For some women this is a trying time. The erratic hormone shifts may produce debilitating hot flashes and night sweats, irregular menstrual periods, disturbing mood changes, and poor sleep quality. For other women, these changes are mild and barely noticeable. For a fortunate minority the transition is invisible. Twenty percent of women do not experience any hot flashes or night sweats.
During perimenopause, levels of progesterone, the other female hormone made in the ovaries, are erratic and often too low. They may be too low to effectively counterbalance high estrogen levels. Bloating, irritability, and breast tenderness may result. Imbalances of estrogen, progesterone, or both are characteristic of the perimenopausal years. When there is no ovulation for a cycle, little or no progesterone is released and the monthly shedding of the lining does not take place, often resulting in a missed period.Women usually spend anywhere from 2 to 10 years in perimenopause. For some women this is a trying time. The erratic hormone shifts may produce debilitating hot flashes and night sweats, irregular menstrual periods, disturbing mood changes,... More -
Discovery Health answered:In this clip from Discovery Health's "Women's Health Tips," learn the symptoms and how to cope with peri-menopause which affects women in there late 40s.
In this clip from Discovery Health's "Women's Health Tips," learn the symptoms and how to cope with peri-menopause which affects women in there late 40s. More -
Honor Society of Nursing (STTI) answered:Perimenopause is the transitional period that begins 8 to 10 years before menopause, when fertility ends. Most women start perimenopause in their 40s, but it can start in your 30s.
Perimenopause usually lasts about four years and ends when menopause begins. Symptoms of perimenopause include:
- Fatigue
- Hot flashes
- Irregular periods
- Vaginal dryness or sexual discomfort
- Frequent urination
- Breast tenderness or sensitivity
- Worse premenstrual syndrome
- Sleep problems
- Mood swings
Perimenopause is the transitional period that begins 8 to 10 years before menopause, when fertility ends. Most women start perimenopause in their 40s, but it can start in your 30s. Perimenopause usually lasts about four years and ends when... More -
Dr. Lisa Rogo-Gupta answered:'Menopause' is not a single day, is a gradual process that can take many years for some patients. We typically think of menopause as 12 months since the last menstrual period. For years before this some women experience changes in their periods, vaginal symptoms such as dryness, discomfort or bleeding, changes in their urinary and bowel habits, hot flashes, and even more skin wrinkles. The perimenopausal period can also cause difficulty with memory, changes in sleep patterns, and even depressive episodes. These are important symptoms!'Menopause' is not a single day, is a gradual process that can take many years for some patients. We typically think of menopause as 12 months since the last menstrual period. For years before this some women experience changes in their periods,... More -
RealAge answered:Many women don't realize that they can have perimenopausal symptoms long before menopause. In fact, you may experience more symptoms during perimenopause -- even though you're still having periods -- because that's when your hormones are in the biggest state of flux.
According to Margery Gass, MD, executive director of the North American Menopause Society, the first sign of perimenopause is menstrual cycle irregularity -- where your period can show up an entire week early or late. As you progress into late perimenopause, your menstrual cycles become longer, and you may go as long as 60 days without a period. "It's during this time that women will start to have some symptoms, such as hot flashes, but only during that time of the month," says Volkar.
In addition to hot flashes, you may be bothered by fatigue, irritability, or weight gain. The biggest perimenopausal complaint Volkar sees is emotional instability. "When you have a sullen teenager, you say, 'Oh, it's their hormones.' Well, you have a lot of that same feeling when you're perimenopausal, because you can have such wild hormonal fluctuations from day to day," she explains. The result can be that you get weepy or angry over things that wouldn't normally bother you.Many women don't realize that they can have perimenopausal symptoms long before menopause. In fact, you may experience more symptoms during perimenopause -- even though you're still having periods -- because that's when your hormones are in the... More -
Paula Greer answered:Perimenopause is the period 8-10 years before actual menopause. Your body will start to change gradually over time. Your hormone production and egg releases will change. Menopause is defined as no menstrual cycle for one year. Many things may change prior to actual menopause occurring. Many women will start to have vasomotor symptoms like night sweats and hot flashes. Some will complain of decreased sex drive, vaginal dryness and things like those stubborn stubbly chin hairs. Most of these symptoms are related to decreasing estrogen. Eating a healthy diet may help. If you have questions and think you are in perimenopause talk with your OB/GYN or Midwife.Perimenopause is the period 8-10 years before actual menopause. Your body will start to change gradually over time. Your hormone production and egg releases will change. Menopause is defined as no menstrual cycle for one year. Many things may... More -
Some of the symptoms of perimenopause:
- Irregular periods and/or a change in your menstrual cycle - You may notice your period coming more or less often, and perhaps it’s heavier or lighter than it’s been before. Maybe you’re even skipping periods when you never have before.
- Hot Flashes - About 65-75 percent of women experience hot flashes. They come on quickly and can feel like a burst of warmth or like burning up from the inside out, leaving you flushed, sweaty, and confused. They don’t last long but are hard to miss.
- Insomnia and night sweats - A balanced hormonal cycle was one part of what made sleeping easier when you were younger. But now that your hormones have begun to shift, drifting off to sleep and staying asleep isn’t as easy as it once was. You may find yourself restless and wide awake in the middle of the night and, if you’re having night sweats, a close relative of hot flashes, even if you do get to sleep, you can wake up so clammy and chilled that you need to get out of bed, change bed clothes or sheets.
- Vaginal and bladder problems - Lower estrogen levels lead to less elasticity and lubrication in the vagina over time. You may find sexual intercourse uncomfortable and less estrogen may mean more vaginal or urinary infections for some women. During perimenopause, some women also experience a degree of urinary incontinence.
- Decreased interest in sex - If you’re less interested in sex these days, is it because it’s physically uncomfortable or because you have less sex drive and desire than in your 20s and 30s? The combination of physical and emotional changes can make sex less appealing for many women during perimenopause.
- Bone loss - Osteoporosis risk rises during menopause because with less estrogen, you begin to lose bone faster than you replace it. The risk of osteoporosis is greater for Caucasian and Asian women.
- Rising cholesterol levels - Your blood cholesterol levels may have always been within normal ranges, but perimenopause and menopause can cause shifts that affect those levels and put you at greater risk for heart disease. In some cases, your “bad” cholesterol (LDL) can increase just as the “good” cholesterol (HDL) starts to drop. The double whammy can leave you vulnerable to diseases of aging.
Some of the symptoms of perimenopause: Irregular periods and/or a change in your menstrual cycle - You may notice your period coming more or less often, and perhaps it’s heavier or lighter than it’s been before. Maybe... More
