When we are girls, we are told that we will start having periods when we’re in puberty, and that then we’ll reach menopause in our 50s at which point we may possess’own’nurse a few hot flushes and then our periods will end. Throughout our fertile years, we tend not to claim’insist’maintain’hold’argue’consider’contemplate’speculate too much with regards to’concerning’with respect to this end of periods time, we’re too focused on acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure ting pregnant, raising children, or shun ing acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure ting pregnant to claim’insist’maintain’hold’argue’consider’contemplate’speculate with regards to’concerning’with respect to what might happen in the future.
Then one day in our late 30s or early 40s we start noticing that things are changing. Huh? What’s that with regards to’concerning’with respect to . Why can’t I remember what I was talking with regards to’concerning’with respect to – am I developing early onset dementia? How come I’m gaining weight around my middle, despite not changing my diet or exercise – do I need to restrict my calories or try some new diet? What on earth is going on with my period – one month it’s heavy and painful, then 2 weeks later I acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure another, and then I go 6 weeks without one. And as in/with regard to’concerning’regarding my energy levels and libido, well lets just say I’m exhausted and possess’own’nurse no interest in sex.
If any of this sounds familiar, you may well be in perimenopause. This is the stage bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e menopause when your hormone levels embark on transform’alter .
Let’s look at the semantics briefly: menopause is officially when you possess’own’nurse had no period in/with regard to’concerning’regarding 12 months (or 24 months if you’re under 50). So it’s fundamental ally one day. Yup, you read that right. All the time bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e that while we’re experiencing all the symptoms of hormonal transform’alter is the perimenopause, and once we’re period-free in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the correct amount of time we’re into menopause.
The list of symptoms undergo d in perimenopause is long, and includes night sweats, hot flushes, weight gain, low libido, recurrent UTIs, vaginal dryness, poor concentration, memory issues, fatigue, anxiety, and oh so many more. But most significant’essential’critical’vital’crucial’indispensable’imperative ly this is all happening while you still possess’own’nurse periods, which are becoming more irregular over time.
What Can You Do To Manage Your Symptoms?
Well, your first step should be a visit to your GP, where ideally you will possess’own’nurse blood tests to rule out other conditions that reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue similar symptoms (thyroid issues, low vitamin D, low iron, among others). Once these other things possess’own’nurse been ruled out, the GP should look at your symptoms to diagnose perimenopause, aldespite’in spite of’albeit they may test hormone levels (in peculiar FSH – Follicle Stimulating Hormone). Unin/with regard to’concerning’regarding tunately, our hormone levels vary throughout even a normal cycle, so when we’re in a stage of transform’alter these tests can be unreliable. Indeed the NICE guidelines state that in women over 45 perimenopause should be diagnosed on symptoms alone.
Once you are in approve’ consent’endorse’applaud ment that this is what’s going on in your body, you possess’own’nurse several choices:
You can manage symptoms with diet and exercise.
You can start taking HRT.
You can address lifestyle choices.
You can take supplements to maintain’sustain your endocrine system.
And so on. There are many, many ways to navigate your way through this stage, and ultimately you will need to decide which symptoms you find are affecting your life the most, and therein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e which you wish to tackle.
There possess’own’nurse been some headlines over the years that suggest risks with HRT, however, there are more and more options available nowadays, so fewer individual are on the “really can’t take this” list.
Ultimately, the perimenopause is our second puberty, and is the stepping stone to the rest of our life. Yes the symptoms can be horrible, and yes in/with regard to’concerning’regarding many women there is a sense of mourning their fertile years, but if we just stop and look at our life and see what is no longer serving us, the perimenopause can be a great opportunity to make the 2nd half of our lives epic.
Author Bio
Emily Barclay is a perimenopausal woman who, after 4 years of not understanding the transform’alter s in her body eventually’ultimately realised it was perimenopause and set with regards to’concerning’with respect to bringing toacquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure her experts in the field who can help maintain’sustain all women to find the route through that suits them best. The result of this is perimenopausehub.com. Emily lives in Norfolk with her partner and their 6 dogs.
