How does perimenopause affect my body?

During perimenopause a woman's body goes through many physical changes. These changes may be subtle at first because the amount of estrogen the body is making is erratic and can fluctuate widely from day to day and hour to hour. It’s different for everyone. You may skip a period or two, or your menstrual flow might get heavier or lighter. Some women stop menstruating suddenly. You may feel a few hot flashes or night sweats, and you may notice your vagina feels dryer or more irritated. Behind the scenes your bones may be losing density, which is a risk factor for osteoporosis. It is important to note that if you are perimenopausal you may still be producing eggs, which means you could become pregnant.

The hormonal changes of perimenopause affect your body in several ways, mostly caused by the fact that at a certain age, the ovaries stop generating two hormones called estrogen and progesterone. As the level of these hormones in your body fluctuate unpredictably in perimenopause, you experience physical and emotional side effects. Most noticeably, your periods become irregular; when they have stopped completely for one year, you are in menopause. You may also have sleep problems, experience hot flashes, or become irritable or nervous.