10 Common Signs of Perimenopause You Should Know
Perimenopause is the time during which your body naturally goes into menopause. It also defines the end of the reproductive years. Perimenopause begins at a different age in every woman. You may notice its perimenopause symptoms around the age of 40 but some women notice these changes already at the age of 30.
These causes are usually caused by the level of estrogen (the main female hormone) that rises and falls unevenly during perimenopause. In this article, we gathered 10 common signs of perimenopause you should know.
Table of Contents
Perimenopause Symptoms
1. Breast pain
Hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause can lead to the tenderness of the mammary glands even if you don’t expect your periods to come. Moreover, since perimenopause results in irregular cycles, it is almost impossible to know when your breasts will begin to pulsate. Your breasts may also feel more uneven than before.
Read: Evening Primrose Oil for Breast Pain
2. Eye dryness
It may look quite strange but excessive lacrimation is a sign that your eyes are desperately trying to moisturize themselves. You should know that hormonal fluctuations are responsible for this condition. Hormones affect the eye tissues and change the composition of tears which leads to excessively dry eyes and even changes in vision.
Read: Retinal Vein Occlusion
3. Hair on chin
Don’t be upset if tweezing hair from different body parts during perimenopause becomes a routine. You are not alone suffering from this unpleasant issue. Approximately 15 percent of women have hair on the chin, upper lip, or cheeks as a symptom of perimenopause. Moreover, the hair on the head can become thinner and drier.
4. Cardiopalmus
A sudden increase in heart rate or irregular heart rate is not a well-known sign, but it is a common symptom of perimenopause. Some studies show that adrenaline and norepinephrine (the neurotransmitters that control heart rate and blood pressure), tend to fluctuate in women in perimenopause.
Read: Ovarian Cysts
5. Urinary urgency or leakage
If you have noticed that there is a small amount of urine on your clothes after workouts, coughing or sneezing, you can blame perimenopause for this. The reality is that low estrogen levels lead to thinning of the urethral lining.
Moreover, urinary urgency or leakage can be caused by weakened pelvic floor muscles that can appear as a result of vaginal delivery.
6. Dry skin
Low estrogen levels can lead to acne and dry skin in menopausal women. This condition is also called “reverse puberty”. In addition, exacerbations or new cases of allergies and eczema often occur at this time.
Read: Healthy Skin Tips
7. Irregular menstruations
If your period is light one month and heavy with cramping the next, it is one of the most common signs of perimenopause. Irregular periods not only create inconvenience but also increase the risk of pregnancy. That’s why it is better to use contraceptives during this period of time if you don’t want to conceive.
Read: Benefits of Yoni Steam
8. Headaches
Women in perimenopause can experience severe headaches because of hormonal fluctuations. However, these hormonal headaches tend to disappear after menopause, when hormonal levels are approximately stable. The reality is that only five percent of women after their 60s experience hormonal headaches.
9. Vaginal dryness
Pain during sex that is caused by vaginal dryness can also be considered one of the most common causes of perimenopause. The decrease in estrogen levels results in a thinner, drier, and less elastic tissue of the vagina and reduced blood flow in the genital area. This leads to vaginal dryness, itching, and painful sensations during intercourse.
10. Weight changes
Fat in the abdominal area is quite common for perimenopausal women. Such five factors as hormones, diet, exercise, stress, and genetics affect a woman’s weight before and during menopause. Moreover, you can also lose muscle mass if you are not physically active and don’t consume enough protein.
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