In our last post we talked about how bioidentical hormone replacement therapy could help relieve the symptoms of perimenopause for some women. But how do you know if you are experiencing perimenopause? The only way to know for certain is to be evaluated and tested by your physician. But there are some tell-tale signs that point to the likelihood of perimenopause and those signs and symptoms will be covered in the following paragraphs.
According to this article about perimenopause, a woman can enter this transitional stage anywhere from the 30s to 40s in age. One of the first signs is having irregular periods. That could mean your monthly cycle becomes shorter than usual or even longer than usual. Your flow may decrease or increase. This is because you aren’t ovulating as regularly as you once were.
The article states that is there is a fluctuation of more than seven days in the length of your cycle you could be in perimenopause. If you have completely missed at least two periods or have gone 60 days between cycles you are probably in late perimenopause. To actually be in full menopause you have to have not experienced a monthly period for at least 12 months.
Another common symptom of perimenopause is hot flashes. These could be during the day or night, along with sleep problems. Having mood swings is another commonly reported perimenopause symptom. Both the disrupted sleep and hormonal balance changes can cause them.
The low estrogen that goes along with bother perimenopause and full menopause can cause low sex drive, vaginal dryness and bladder or urinary issues as well. Some woman may also experience bone density loss and increased levels of cholesterol during this time.
If you have noticed any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to speak with your doctor about them. They generally are associated with perimenopause and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy may help. They could also be symptoms of other health issues, so if your periods are suddenly very heavy, longer than eight days or coming faster than three weeks apart be sure to see your doctor. Get evaluated and find the best treatment for your specific symptoms.
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