Perimenopause: Let It Be, But Not Too Early

When a girl turns to a young lady, she experiences puberty or adolescence where her breast and her hips start developing (leading to a more feminine figure) and her menstrual cycle begins. Such transition also occurs when a fertile woman has her period less than usual, and eventually loses it (menopause), and this transition stage is referred to as perimenopause. People usually interchange menopause and perimenopause although, technically, they are different stages. Menopause is the stage when the ovulation has completely stopped; meaning, the woman has become permanently unable to produce egg cells. Perimenopause, on the other hand, involves the ups-and-downs of a woman traversing from fertility to infertility.

If you have been asked are you in perimenopause? You probably need to check out some symptoms that you might be experiencing because perimenopause may actually occur as early as 30's. If you have not had your menstrual period for a year, then you are no longer in your perimenopause stage, instead, you already reached the menopause stage and after that, the post-menopause. Symptoms of perimenopause might include hot flashes, or sudden feverish feelings; mood swings like anxiety, depression and irritability; night sweats without any particular reason (hot weather); and, irregular or sometimes decreasing occurrence of menstrual period. These are the more common signs that you are on your way to menopause. It is a natural phenomenon, with all the hormonal changes your body experiences, but the onset of perimenopause can be delayed.

Are you in perimenopause and are you wishing to reduce the uncomfortable symptoms? There are varying approaches on how to slow down this process including hormone therapy where the patient is supplemented with either estrogen or progesterone (or a combination); however, many claims have gone against this because of the suggested risk leading to breast cancer. Nevertheless, natural therapy is fast becoming popular and it seems that patients are more positive about such treatment. For example, bioflavonoids, vitamin E and soy isoflavones are some suggested relief for hot flashes since they lower the severity of the symptom. Chamomile and kava root are natural sedatives that helps calm the mind and may lessen sleeping disorders.

Perimenopause and menopause will happen and there is no way to avoid it, however, the cases of premature perimenopause have been observed and this is primarily due to poor eating and health lifestyle. This will also help you with other severe effects of menopause like osteoporosis so as early as now (assuming you haven't experienced perimenopause), you should avoid foods high in cholesterol, exercise regularly, take in supplements for your bone and stop or do not smoke. Smoking has been regarded as a culprit for premature menopause.

When asked, are you in perimenopause? Do not be disturbed. It is only natural for women to experience such. It is not normal when you feel pain far from discomfort, like when you suddenly had excessive bleeding. While there is no way to delay what is to come, you can prevent it from happening too early, so starting today, you should make it a habit to live healthy.