Menopause brings some significant changes for a woman’s body, but menopause doesn’t happen all at once. Instead, there is a transitional period where certain hormonal changes begin to take place. This is known as perimenopause, and it can be an uncomfortable reality for many women in their forties and fifties.
While we can’t take all of the discomfort out of this transitional period, we are confident that we can share some tips for making perimenopause a little more comfortable. Below, we share some advice for navigating perimenopause.
Understanding Perimenopause
As we touched on in the introduction, perimenopause is the transitional period before you reach menopause, which is classified as going a full 12 months without your period. During this time, your body will begin to slow its production of estrogen, a hormone that regulates a number of key functions inside a woman’s body. When estrogen levels begin to decrease, you may experience a number of different symptoms, including:
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Irregular periods
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Periods that are heavier or lighter than normal
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Vaginal dryness
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Insomnia
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Hot flashes
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Irritability
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Bone loss
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Weight gain
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Mood swings/Depression
Symptoms can come and go based on fluctuating hormone levels in your body, which can make it tough to account for these conditions on a regular basis. Also, many of these symptoms may be tied to one another. If you’re having trouble sleeping, you may be more irritable, or if you’re depressed or experiencing mood swings, you may cope with food, leading to weight gain. This is why it is so important to try and manage perimenopause and keep symptoms from leading to additional issues.
Making Perimenopause More Comfortable
You aren’t going to be able to stop this transitional period with treatment, nor would it be good for your body. Instead, you’ll be looking to pursue different ways to make life more comfortable based on your experience. For example, here’s a look at some techniques for managing certain perimenopause symptoms.
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Depression – Your doctor may recommend counseling or antidepressants to help treat symptoms of depression.
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Period Problems – Birth control can help to stabilize hormone levels in your body, helping to relieve a variety of perimenopausal issues.
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Hot Flashes – Some doctors may prescribe certain medications like Gabepentin to help relieve hot flashes.
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Estrogen Therapy – Estrogen therapy can help to regulate estrogen levels and create less of a shock to the body if hormonal irregularities are contributing to symptoms.
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Calcium Supplements – Getting more calcium and Vitamin D in your diet or through medical supplements can help to combat bone loss.
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Dryness – Certain creams, medications and lubricants can help to mitigate dryness that could be making sex uncomfortable or painful.
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Sleep – Regular exercise, an improved sleep schedule and melatonin supplements can make it easier for you to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Perimenopause can last for years, but this period doesn’t have to be uncomfortable if you keep some of the above tips in mind and you have an open conversation with your women’s care provider about your symptoms and your experience with perimenopause. We want to make this time as comfortable as possible, and while that won’t always come easy, we’re here to help in any way we can. For more information about perimenopause, menopause or another women’s care topic, reach out to the team at MetroPartners OBGYN today at (651) 770-3320.