Weight Loss and Perimenopause

Are you having sudden hot flashes and sleeping problems? Do you find your mood swings getting out of control? Is your menstrual cycle not consistent? If these things are worrying you, it is time to ask yourself…

What Is It?

Perimenopause or better known as ‘menopause transition’ refers to the time when a woman’s body makes its natural transition towards permanent infertility, which is known as menopause. Women go through perimenopause at different ages; no two women are the same.

While most women may notice signs of progression towards menopause, such as irregular menstrual cycles in their 40s, there are a number of women who might experience this as early as in their mid-30s.

It is very common for estrogen levels, known as the main female hormone to fall and rise unevenly during the stages of perimenopause. This usually results in your menstrual cycles lengthening or shortening, and you might begin having menstrual cycles in which your ovaries do not release an egg, or better known as ovulating.

You might also experience some symptoms that are linked with perimenopause, such as hot flashes, sleeping problems as well as vaginal dryness. But of course, there are treatments out there that can help ease these symptoms.

Perimenopause ends when a woman has gone 12 months straight without having a menstrual period – this means she has officially reached menopause.

How Long Does It Last?

Usually, a woman would go through perimenopause for an average period of four years. However, in some rare cases; a menopausal transition can last for only a few months or even last for as long as ten years.

As mentioned earlier, perimenopause is only ended once a woman has gone through 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period.

What Symptoms Should I Look Out For?

Perimenopause, just like all the other things a woman has to endure throughout her life also brings changes to your body – some of them are subtle, while the rest might be drastic changes. Below are a few symptoms you should keep an eye out for:

Irregular Monthly Period

When perimenopause starts occurring in your body, the length of time between your periods may be longer or shorter, your period flow may vary from light to heavy and there would be some months you would not even have a period, this results in ovulation becoming more unpredictable.

If you are going through a persistent change of seven days or more in the length of your menstrual cycle, there are chances you might be in early perimenopause.

If you have a space of 60 days or more between periods, you are likely experiencing late perimenopause.

Hot Flashes and Insomnia

It is common for women to experience hot flashes during perimenopause. If that term sounds foreign to you, hot flashes are sudden feelings of warmth, usually more intense around the face, neck and chest.

Plus, is can also cause lots of sweating and leave you chilled. The intensity, length and frequency of hot flashes vary for each person.

Insomnia is also very common during perimenopause due to hot flashes or night sweats, but sometimes sleep patterns become unpredictable even without them.

Mood Swings

Some women experience mood swings. This result in a higher risk of undergoing depression during perimenopause, but the cause of these symptoms may be due to sleep deprivation caused by hot flashes.

Moods changes may also be caused by factors not related to the hormonal changes of perimenopause.

Vaginal and Bladder Problems

When estrogen levels decrease, it causes vaginal tissues to lose lubrication and elasticity, making intercourse painful. Low estrogen levels also put you in a higher risk of contracting urinary or vaginal infections.

Decreasing Fertility

When ovulation becomes irregular, your ability to conceive a baby decreases. However, as long as you are still having your menstrual period, there is a possibility of getting pregnant.

If you wish to avoid pregnancy, use a form of birth control unless you have not had a menstrual period for 12 months straight.

Sexual Function Change

During perimenopause, sexual arousal and desire may change. However, most women who have had satisfactory sexual intimacy before menopause would most likely continue enjoying it throughout perimenopause and beyond.

Loss of Bone Density

With decreasing estrogen levels, you start to lose bone density more quickly than you replace it, increasing your risks of osteoporosis – a disease that causes fragile bones.

Change in Cholesterol Levels

Declining estrogen levels may lead to changes in your blood cholesterol levels as well, including an increase in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol”) which contributes to an increased risk of heart disease.

At the same time, high-density lipoprotein (the “good” cholesterol) decreases in many women, so increases the risk of heart diseases.

When Should I Start Worrying?

It is common for women to seek medical attention when they start going through perimenopause. However, there are some who just deal with the symptoms or go through symptoms that are not severe enough to need attention.
If you start experiencing symptoms that interfere with your life or well-being and they do not feel normal to you, do consult your doctor about it. Here is a list of things you should see your doctor about as signs like these may indicate a problem with your reproductive system.

Bleeding is extremely heavy that you have to change pads every hour
Bleeding lasts longer than seven days
Bleeding occurs between periods
Periods regularly occur less than 21 days apart

What Can I Do To Reduce These Symptoms?

Professional Treatment

There are a number of treatments, mostly drug therapy that help to treat perimenopause symptoms. Before deciding on any form of treatment, talk to your doctor about your options and the risks that might come along with them. Some of them include:

Hormone Therapy

It comes in a form of pills, skin patch, gel or cream and remains the most effective treatment option for relieving hot flashes and night sweats. The level of dosage your doctor might recommend for you depends on your personal and family medical history.

Vaginal Estrogen

Estrogen can be inserted right into the vagina using a vaginal tablet, ring or cream to relieve vaginal dryness. This treatment releases a small amount of estrogen, which is absorbed by the vaginal tissue.

It helps ease vaginal dryness which causes discomfort during intercourse.

Antidepressants

Certain antidepressants may reduce menopausal hot flashes. An antidepressant for management of hot flashes may be useful for women who cannot take estrogen for health reasons or for women who need an antidepressant for a mood disorder.

Home Remedies

Alternatively, you could ease your symptoms with a few simple ways. Incorporate these simple steps into your daily routine and you are sure to feel healthier and happier.

Eat Healthy

A healthy diet is more important than ever. Practice a low-fat, high-fibre diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Add calcium-rich foods into your diet as well. Try to avoid alcohol and caffeine if they seem to trigger hot flashes.

Exercise Regularly

Exercising regularly helps prevention of weight gain, improves your sleep and elevates your mood. Try exercising 30 minutes each time for at least three times each week, although not right before bedtime.

Get Enough Sleep

Try to maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Avoid caffeine, which can make it hard to get any sleep and avoid alcohol which can make it hard to fall asleep.

Practice Stress Reduction Techniques

Things like yoga works great as a stress reduction because it promotes relaxation and good health throughout your lifetime.

Perimenopause is something all women go through at some point in their life, it is part of womanhood and it is something you should learn to embrace and deal with gracefully. Talk to someone about it if you feel this would help, as you are definitely not alone.