Perimenopause is the time before the cessation of menstrual cycle after which the actual menopause occurs. After 12 months without period it’s already known that you were going through menopause and the previous year it was perimenopause phase you have undergone. The age of occurrence of perimenopause varies from women-to women. Most women find the signs of menopause in the range of 45-55 years of age. But in average it occurs at the age of 51.

What Is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause is the phase before the cessation of menstrual cycle after which the actual menopause occurs. At this time the hormones secreted by the ovaries starts declining and varying causing to show a host of symptoms of perimenopause.

It is not a disease but a natural symptom of aging and a sign of the end of a women’s reproductive life. In this period you won’t ovulate, ovulation is a phenomenon when you could become pregnant.

Symptoms Of Perimenopause

Mostly, two to three years before the onset of actual menopause the symptoms of perimenopause get noticed. The notable symptoms of perimenopause are hot flushes, coldness, mood changes, irritability, night sweats, dry skin or losing hair at a large rate. Dryness in vagina causes irregularity in periods and sometimes even brings heavy flow and shorter or longer cycles and loss of sexual desire. But you can reduce the symptoms of perimenopause to some extent by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Signs Of Perimenopause

There is a host of signs of perimenopause both physically and mentally that a women experiences during the transition to menopause. The fast and foremost sign is changes in menstrual cycle, you may experience heavy or light flow and your periods may be shorter or longer or may be that you will probably miss some periods. Hot flushes may be experienced by some women that are due to the variation in estrogen level in the brain. Another sign is urine leakage during coughing and sneezing and changes in mood like irritability, depression and anxiety.

Perimenopause Treatment

The treatment can be started at home by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. As at this time, you are vulnerable to heart disease and osteoporosis, therefore it is very necessary to have a healthy diet. Adopt a diet which is rich in fruits and vegetables. Try to stay away from caffeinated beverages and alcohol. Do some physical activities that will help in improving your sleep, elevating your mood and strengthening bones. Practice yoga and meditations to reduce stress.

Apart from these household remedies do always keep in touch with a gynecologist who can prescribe some useful drugs which will help in reducing the symptoms of perimenopause. Oral contraceptives are one of the effective treatments to relieve symptoms of perimenopause it can help in regulating periods and reducing vaginal dryness.

As a short term treatment hormone therapy can also be used in case of severe symptoms of perimenopause but have to be cautious about the dose as it should be taken as low dose an s possible. Supplements such as soy and black cohosh can also give some relieve from the symptoms of perimenopause.