Everything You Need to Know About Perimenopause and Irregular Periods

By Your Health Magazine

A woman’s natural transition from her reproductive years to menopause is known as perimenopause or the shift to menopause. The body may undergo several changes during this time, with irregular periods being the most obvious.

Women may manage perimenopause more easily and confidently if they know what it involves. An understanding of how it affects their menstrual cycle and what symptoms to look out for can help them prepare for it.

How Perimenopause Affects Menstrual Cycles

Variations in the menstrual cycle are among the initial indicators of perimenopause. Throughout a woman’s reproductive years, her periods usually recur every 21 to 35 days and last for 3 to 7 days on average. During the perimenopause, this rhythm frequently becomes erratic.

Period irregularities can take many different forms for women. Periods can grow lighter or heavier, the cycle might get shorter or longer, and some months may go by without any menstruation.

For example, a woman with a 28-day cycle may start having periods every 40 days. Alternatively, she may skip a month and then experience an unusually extended period. This unpredictable nature can be annoying and make it challenging to anticipate when to expect the next cycle.

The most challenging part about perimenopause is that it can be very long. According to CBS News, it can last from 7-10 years through your 40s and 50s. This can be very difficult for women to cope with due to the hormonal changes occurring due to perimenopause.

What leads to inconsistent periods during perimenopause?

The body’s decreased production of progesterone and estrogen leads to irregular ovulation or the release of an egg from the ovary. The irregularity in the timing and severity of menstruation during perimenopause is caused by this irregular ovulation. Women may occasionally get spotted in between their cycles or have longer-than-usual periods.

Symptoms Beyond Irregular Periods

Perimenopause is characterized by irregular periods, but there are many additional symptoms that go along with this change. Numerous symptoms of this nature are associated with changes in hormone levels and can impact a woman’s physical and mental health in different ways.

Hot flashes, which are abrupt, all-over heat waves frequently accompanied by perspiration and a flushed face, are one typical symptom. These can last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes, and they can happen day or night.

According to Harvard Health Publishing, they can last for one to five minutes at a stretch. Their intensity varies from a brief sensation of warmth to the sensation of being engulfed in flames “from the inside out.” Between 35% and 50% of perimenopausal women experience these heat waves, which include flushing and sweating.

Similar to heat flashes but happening while you sleep, night sweats can cause restlessness and weariness. Aside from mood swings, perimenopausal women may also feel anxiety, despair, or irritability. Hormonal changes may play a role in these mood swings. However, they might also be brought on by the difficulties associated with this time of life.

As noted by EVEXIAS Health Solutions, these symptoms may sometimes continue even in postmenopausal years. This happens due to a condition called menopausal syndrome, which creates an imbalance in the number of hormones in the body. Since most of these symptoms are associated with hormonal imbalances, there are treatments available for controlling them.

A hormone imbalance treatment is advised for symptoms or illnesses caused by irregular production of these chemical messengers of the body. For instance, it is required when the body generates insufficient amounts of a specific hormone to restore stockpiles and preserve normal production levels.

The JAMA Network Journal conducted a study of 161,808 postmenopausal US women and the benefits of using this therapy. It was found that there are some risks to using hormone therapy, but the benefits far outweigh them. The study also found that the therapy is much safer for women below the age of 60 years.

Do you lose bone density in perimenopause?

Before and during menopause, when estrogen levels decline, bone loss may happen quickly. Osteoporosis is a degenerative bone disease that weakens bones; postmenopausal women are more susceptible to it because of this. One cannot regain lost bone density, but women can preserve their existing bone density by eating a balanced diet and regular weight-bearing exercise.

How Long Does Perimenopause Last?

The usual duration of perimenopause is around four years. However, it can continue anywhere from a few months to many years. This stage might last up to ten years for some women, while it might be shorter for others.

Estrogen production will drop over this period until it reaches a level that is consistently low, indicating the start of menopause. Another sign of the end of the perimenopause period is the increasing length of periods. Most doctors consider a woman approaching the end of her perimenopause when her periods start to come every 60 days.

The actual menopause is characterized by a 12-month interval of no menstruation. Menopause starts when this milestone is reached, marking the end of the perimenopausal period. It’s important to remember that perimenopausal symptoms, including hot flashes and mood swings, can persist throughout menopause. However, they usually lessen in severity and frequency with time.

When to Seek Medical Advice

Even though perimenopause is a natural aspect of aging, some symptoms need to be seen by a doctor. Consult a healthcare physician if your periods are really heavy, lengthy, or accompanied by excruciating discomfort. In a similar vein, bleeding during or after sex may indicate the presence of various medical issues, including:

Fibroids
Polyps
Endometrial cancer

Should I see a mental health expert during perimenopause?

Consult a healthcare physician or mental health expert if your quality of life is being negatively impacted by mood swings, anxiety, or sadness. Mood fluctuations during perimenopause are common in women (4 out of 10) and are quite comparable to premenstrual syndrome. Medication, therapy, and counseling are a few effective treatments that can help control these emotional problems.

Menopause is a normal and unavoidable aspect of aging, but each woman’s experience with it will be unique. While some women experience little difficulty throughout the shift, others could deal with the symptoms for years.

Knowing the telltale signs and symptoms of perimenopause, including irregular periods, will make it easier for you to navigate this stage of life. Although perimenopause might present new difficulties, it also ushers in a new phase of life for women.