Unfortunately, you can’t avoid it, but you can recognize when it’s at the door.
Many women are not really looking forward to it: menopause. The ailments such as sweating, hot flashes and irregular menstruation are anything but pleasant. Unfortunately, you can’t avoid it, but you can recognize when it’s at the door.
Duration of the transition
Women’s health expert Maisie Hill wants to better prepare women for what to expect from menopause. In her book Perimenopause Power: Navigating your hormones on the journey to menopause, she cites science and tells more about it. The transition itself only takes a year.
Difference
Some women will now think: but my mother, girlfriend or aunt suffered from menopause for much longer! According to Hill, it is not surprising that you think that. Menopause and perimenopause are often confused with each other. Perimenopause is the period surrounding menopause. And that period lasts an average of four years.
The perimenopause
Hill describes perimenopause as “a period in which you still have periods, but you also experience menopausal symptoms.” This includes fatigue, forgetfulness and mood swings. Not all women realize that this has to do with perimenopause, because many women still think of symptoms such as an irregular cycle, a lot or little menstrual blood loss and hot flashes when they go through menopause.
Age
“Perimenopause often starts in your 40s, but for some it starts in your 30s,” Hill tells Red Online. “It can last as little as two years or sometimes 12 years and if more women were aware of the subtleties of menopause we could recognize it and really do something about it.”
Beginning of perimenopause
According to Hill, there are a few signs that your perimenopause is (almost) starting. “At the beginning you will notice that your periods become heavier and your cycle is shorter,” she explains. The health expert also says that you may be more likely to suffer from menstrual ailments, such as painful breasts, night sweats and headaches. “As time passes, symptoms will occur more frequently. In the final phase of your perimenopause, your periods will become less frequent.” In addition, you may also experience vaginal dryness, joint pain, and bladder changes during this period.
Do you have severe complaints around your peri(menopause) and are you experiencing a lot of inconvenience? Always contact your doctor or gynecologist.
