Perimenopause is a natural process that happens in a woman’s body when she is about to reach menopause. Knowing what it is, the symptoms of perimenopause, and how to get tested for perimenopause can help you to take care of your own hormonal health. Here we take a deeper look into perimenopause.
Perimenopause Explained
Perimenopause happens before menopause and can happen anytime in a woman’s life. Usually, perimenopause occurs when a woman reaches her 40’s, but this is not always the case. Some women go through early menopause and may have symptoms of perimenopause from the age of 30, or even younger. Perimenopause is the time before menopause.
Your hormones levels will begin to drop at a gradual level and around 1 to 2 years before you hit menopause, your oestrogen levels will begin to drop much quicker than before. This is usually the time you experience symptoms, but some women get symptoms much earlier than this. Perimenopause commonly lasts around four years, but some women can go through this stage for ten years, whilst others may only go through perimenopause for a few months.
Common Signs of Perimenopause
There are common signs of perimenopause that you can look out for, including:
- Trouble sleeping
- Hot flushes
- Painful or tender breasts
- Tiredness
- Vaginal dryness- this may be noticed if sex suddenly feels uncomfortable
- Irregular periods (if they weren’t irregular before)
- A need to pee more often
- Mood swings
Most women going through perimenopause will have at least a few of these symptoms. Even if you are experiencing these symptoms, you should get tested to know for sure if you are going through perimenopause or if there is a different health concern. As you are still releasing eggs at this point, even if you have perimenopausal symptoms, you can still conceive a baby.
How to Get Tested
Getting tested for perimenopause is the best way to determine if this is the cause of any symptoms you may have. Female Hormone Mapping is a great way for women who are aged 40 and over to determine whether they are going through perimenopause.
Forth offers this female hormone mapping test which can give you a better insight into what is happening in your body and with your hormones. The test can be delivered straight to your home address and involves taking a blood sample from the finger, one at day 14 of your menstrual cycle, and another at day 21. The results can then be mapped out to show if your hormone levels are changing or decreasing.
Treatments for Perimenopause Symptoms
If you think you are experiencing perimenopause, it’s important to speak with your doctor. They can provide treatment that can help with symptoms, such as the birth control pill. Caring for your wellbeing is also important to help with treating symptoms, such as exercising, quitting smoking, getting enough sleep, and consuming less alcohol.
Perimenopause is something that most women will go through at some point in their lives. Knowing the symptoms can help you determine when you may be going through this stage. If you have any worries or concerns about perimenopause, speak to your doctor.
