The following article courtesy Women-to-Woman Website
Signs and symptoms of perimenopause and menopause
For most women in today’s world, hormonal imbalance seems almost inevitable. The demands we place on our bodies simply outweigh the support we give them. That’s why it becomes so vital to take better care of ourselves as we age. The underlying factors of hormonal imbalance — high stress levels, suboptimal nutritional support, lack of exercise, and cumulative exposure to toxins — can be resolved easily and naturally in almost all women. When they are, what began with severe or disruptive menopausal symptoms becomes a healthy, vital and natural transition.
Common symptoms of menopause
Below is a list of symptoms that many women experience in the months or years leading up to menopause. The better your health foundation as you enter these perimenopausal years, the less disruptive your symptoms will likely be.
Hot flashes, night sweats
Sleep disorders such as insomnia, difficulty falling asleep, waking up frequently, or restless sleep, leading to fatigue
Mood swings, irritability, depression, anxiety, or nervousness
Decreased libido, lack of desire, vaginal dryness and atrophy, vulvar thinning
Menstrual changes, including heavier periods, uterine fibroids, spotting between periods, or skipped cycles, as well as worsening PMS (premenstrual syndrome) or PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder)
Fuzzy thinking, decreased or impaired memory and attention
Weight gain, food cravings, increased insulin resistance, difficulty controlling blood sugar
Digestive problems, such as irritable bowel, bloating, or acid reflux
Cardiac complaints, such as heart arrhythmia, chest pain, or palpitations
Joint and muscle symptoms, including inflammation, stiffness or pain
Dizziness, decreased balance, headaches or menstrual migraines
Breast tenderness, breast cysts, or nipple discharge
Hair loss; unwanted facial hair growth; dry eyes, skin, or hair; midlife acne
Pelvic or urinary complaints, including incontinence, urinary tract infections (UTI’s), pelvic prolapse, cystocele, rectocele
Increased allergies and sensitivities, hives
In the above list of symptoms you may recognize some of the many ways your body manifests its fluctuating hormonal tides. For some women, the signs and symptoms of perimenopause cause considerable discomfort and disruption in their lives. The good news is, there are many things we can do to smooth out the hormonal blips of perimenopause, decrease both frequency and severity of our symptoms, and set the stage for better-than-ever health as we enter our menopausal years.
To assess the severity of your own symptoms, take our free Hormonal Health Profile.
To learn how you can take control of your own hormonal balance, click here for a list of our in-depth articles on menopause and perimenopause.
Original Publication Date: 02/12/2007
Last Modified: 7/3/2007
Principal Author: Marcella Sweet
