Perimenopause can begin in some women in their 30s, but most often it starts in women ages 40 to 44. It is marked by changes in menstrual flow and in the length of the cycle.
Hormone testing is done through a hormone panel to test your levels of estrogen and other sex-linked hormones. This kind of testing can often show whether you are nearing or in menopause.
There are two stages of perimenopause. The early stage is marked by the changes in menstrual flow and the length of cycles. The late stage is the transition to menopause which will be when women begin to miss their periods until they finally stop.
By incorporating natural supplements for perimenopause into your daily regimen, you can relieve the associated symptoms while also safeguarding your long-term health.
When testing for menopause is warranted, doctors may order an FSH test to detect elevated levels of FSH in the blood. Measuring FSH can help determine if a woman is perimenopausal or has already gone through menopause.
Contributors to weight gain at menopause include declining oestrogen levels, age-related loss of muscle tissue and lifestyle factors such as diet and lack of exercise. Treatment options include a healthy diet, regular exercise, strength training and menopausal hormone therapy.
However, if you're also experiencing bloating, quickly feeling full when eating, unintended weight loss, pelvic pain, changes in elimination (like constipation), and incontinence, make an appointment with your doctor. Cognitive challenges that go beyond brain fog.
Systemic estrogen therapy — which comes in pill, skin patch, spray, gel or cream form — remains the most effective treatment option for relieving perimenopausal and menopausal hot flashes and night sweats.
A change in regularity, timing, nature of periods—anything irregular in menstrual bleeding pattern month after month—could be a sign that perimenopause has begun. If you are saturating pads or tampons every hour, bleeding between periods, or having longer periods, contact your doctor.
What is the difference between premenopause and perimenopause?
Premenopause is the time between a woman's first period and the onset of perimenopause. Perimenopause is the transition phase into menopause that typically lasts about six years. It typically occurs in women in their 40s to early 50s, according to the National Institute on Aging.
But women are more likely to gain excess belly weight -- especially deep inside the belly -- as they go through perimenopause and into menopause, when their menstrual cycle ends.
A combination of diet and exercise may help symptoms. A person can perform exercises that burn fat, such as running, walking, and other aerobic activity. Reducing the calories a person consumes can also help.
Your GP can usually confirm whether you are menopausal based on your symptoms, but a blood test to measure your hormone levels may be carried out if you're aged 40 to 45. Blood tests may also be carried out to help diagnose suspected premature menopause if you're under 40 and have menopausal symptoms.
