Perimenopause symptoms are caused by pronounced fluctuations in hormonal levels. They can be experienced with varying intensity, sometimes completely undetectable for years or mistaken for PMS and other symptoms. Therefore educating yourself to recognize symptoms can help you find a solution.
Vasomotor symptoms
Hot flashes cause feelings of intense heat and sweating which last between 20 and 30 minutes. Their frequency varies from occasional to as many as twelve episodes a day. When the occur at night (night sweats also called hyperhidrosis), they cause sleep disturbances and in turn affect mood, concentration and energy levels during the day.
Urogenital symptoms
Some watery vaginal discharge is normal but a change in discharge may indicate hormonal imbalance of the perimenopause. Bleeding, itching and dryness should also alert you. You may also feel the need to urinate more frequently, more urgently or suffer incontinence. However itchiness and bad vaginal odors may be nothing more than bacterial vaginosis.
Skeletal symptoms
Hormonal changes in your body may cause gradual osteporosis (a reduction in the bone mineral density leading to increase risks of fracture). Joint pain (arthralgia), muscle pain (myalgia) or back pain can also appear.
Dermatological symptoms
During the perimenopause some women notice changes in their breast size (breast atrophy); their skin may feel thinner or lose elasticity; they may experience sensations of pins and needles (formication).
Psychological symptoms
From occasional to more unsettling, psychological disturbances include irritability, mood changes, fatigue, loss of memory, depression.
Sexual symptoms
Painful sexual intercourse (dyspareunia) is often cause by the vaginal dryness discussed above. Decreased libido and difficulty in reaching orgasm also indicate possible hormonal changes linked to perimenopause.
The more symptoms you experience, the more likely it is to be perimenopause. It is important to accurately diagnose before attempting to treat the underlying condition. If you treat the wrong illness, then you take the risk of delaying proper treatment and/or cause it become more severe. Make sure to talk to your doctor about any symptoms.
Vasomotor symptoms
Hot flashes cause feelings of intense heat and sweating which last between 20 and 30 minutes. Their frequency varies from occasional to as many as twelve episodes a day. When the occur at night (night sweats also called hyperhidrosis), they cause sleep disturbances and in turn affect mood, concentration and energy levels during the day.
Urogenital symptoms
Some watery vaginal discharge is normal but a change in discharge may indicate hormonal imbalance of the perimenopause. Bleeding, itching and dryness should also alert you. You may also feel the need to urinate more frequently, more urgently or suffer incontinence. However itchiness and bad vaginal odors may be nothing more than bacterial vaginosis.
Skeletal symptoms
Hormonal changes in your body may cause gradual osteporosis (a reduction in the bone mineral density leading to increase risks of fracture). Joint pain (arthralgia), muscle pain (myalgia) or back pain can also appear.
Dermatological symptoms
During the perimenopause some women notice changes in their breast size (breast atrophy); their skin may feel thinner or lose elasticity; they may experience sensations of pins and needles (formication).
Psychological symptoms
From occasional to more unsettling, psychological disturbances include irritability, mood changes, fatigue, loss of memory, depression.
Sexual symptoms
Painful sexual intercourse (dyspareunia) is often cause by the vaginal dryness discussed above. Decreased libido and difficulty in reaching orgasm also indicate possible hormonal changes linked to perimenopause.
The more symptoms you experience, the more likely it is to be perimenopause. It is important to accurately diagnose before attempting to treat the underlying condition. If you treat the wrong illness, then you take the risk of delaying proper treatment and/or cause it become more severe. Make sure to talk to your doctor about any symptoms.
