Perimenopause
Perimenopause is the medical term for the time before menopause which can begin 10 to 15 years before actual menopause. The average age for menopause to begin is about 51 years of age, but it can occur sooner or later than that. Perimenopause can occur in women as young as 35 years old. At this time, your body is changing and producing less hormones. You can experience some or all of the following physical and emotional symptoms:
• Menstrual changes – your periods become sporadic, some months you begin to skip your period or you could have heavier or lighter flow
• You could experience hot flashes or night sweats
• Unexplained weight gain – especially around the waist area as your body begins producing less estrogen
• Mood changes – depression, anxiety, irritability and mood swings due to fluctuating hormone levels
• Vaginal dryness – caused by decreased levels of estrogen
• Urinary problems causing increased urinary tract problems
• Loss of libido due to hormonal fluctuations – declining levels of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and DHEA
• Sleep problems due to hormonal fluctuations which cause hot flashes and night sweats
• Memory problems
• Difficulty concentrating
Healthy Solutions:
• Eat a healthy low carb diet, supplemented with vitamins and plenty of vegetables
• Have your doctor monitor your hormone levels and supplement if necessary with bioidentical hormones
• Quit smoking if you haven’t already
• Eliminate stress from your life
• Follow a regular exercise program
• Reduce your alcoholic consumption
• Add organic soya milk to your diet
• Switch to organic foods
• Consult a naturopathic doctor for information on nutritional supplementation for this stage in your life.
Speak with your health practitioner. You can deal with the symptoms of perimenopause or premenopause naturally and have a high quality of life.
Thanks for this great information. I think it’s not yet late for me to follow the simple solutions to stay healthy and avoid perimenopause. it just takes time, effort and money on medical consultations but could be worth than have a problem in early menopause. Maybe it’s time for other females to completely quit smoking and drinking. It’s cheaper to lead a simple healthy life.