Of course, you know about menopause…the dreaded “M” word. But before we get into menopause, we should talk about its precursor; perimenopause. Many women haven’t even heard of it. Perimenopause refers to the years of hormonal upheaval that precede a woman’s final period. Usually, around age 35, progesterone, estrogen and testosterone (yes, you’ve got it) levels begin to decline and become erratic. Perimenopause varies greatly from one woman to the next. The average duration is three to four years, although it can last just a few months or extend as long as a decade. (10 years? Yikes!) While perimenopause is an extended transitional state, menopause is a point in time, defined by a lack of period for 12 months or more. The average age of menopause onset is 51 years. (But I’m too young to be in menopause!) However, this isn’t the case for everyone. (Not me, not me…please…)
AND YOU THOUGHT YOUR PERIOD WAS A CURSE.
Probably the first thing you think of with menopause are the dreaded hot flashes that can send a woman to an open fridge begging for icy relief. Truth is, nearly 75 percent of peri-menopausal and menopausal women experience hot flashes. But wait…oh, but wait…perimenopause and menopause can be a shipwreck to rival the Titanic:
- Night sweats
- Low libido
- Vaginal dryness
- Weight gain
- Hair loss or thinning
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Breast tenderness
- Fatigue
Sadly, Mother Nature doesn’t always play fair.