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PERI-MENOPAUSE; Complete Lessons

Peri-menopause marks the interval in which a woman's body begins its transition into menopause. It encompasses the years leading up to menopause. This could be anywhere from two to eight years plus the first year after a woman's final mensuration. It's a natural part of aging that signals the ending of a woman's natural reproductive years. Oestrogen level rises and falls evenly during perimenopause. A woman's menstrual cycles may lengthen or shorten, and she may begin to have menstrual cycles in which she does't ovulate anymore. Menstrual irregularity in women in their 40s is probably one of the first signs of impending menopause. Some women however notice changes as early as their mid-30s. Peri-menopause causes some subtle (and some not-so-subtle) changes in the body. Some things a woman might experience during peri-menopause include:

Menstrual Irregularity: As ovulation becomes more erratic. The intervals between periods may be longer or shorter. Menstrual flow may be scanty to profuse, and some woman may skip some periods.

Decreasing fertility: As ovulation becomes irregular, a woman's ability to conceive decreases. However, as long as a woman is still menstruating, pregnancy remains a possibility.To prevent unwanted pregnancy, a woman in Peri-menopause should use birth control until she has had no period for 12months

Loss of bone density: With declining oestrogen levels a woman start to loose bone more quickly than she replaces it, increasing her risk of bone fracture in post-menopausal women when they fall.

Hot flashes and sleep problems:The most well-known symptom of menopause is the "hot flash", a sudden increase in body temperature causesed by declining oestrogen levels. The "flash" sensation in a "hot flash" occurs as the body temperature peaks and begins a  rapid return to normal. Hot flashes can become so strong that they can raise the body temperature multiple degrees in a very short period of time and cause the sufferer to feel weak and break out in heavy sweating. About 65 to 75 percent of women experience hot flashes during peri-menopause. Their intensity, duration and frequency vary. Sleep problems are often due to hot flashes or night sweats, but sometimes sleep becomes erratic even without them.

Mood changes: Some women experience mood swings,  irritability or depression during peri-menopause, but the cause of these symptoms may be sleep disruption or other menopausal symptoms rather than the hormonal changes of menopause.

Vaginal and bladder problems: When oestrogen levels diminish, vaginal tissues may lose lubrication and elasticity (vaginal atrophy), Making intercourse painful. Low oestrogen levels may also leave a woman more vulnerable to urinary or vaginal infections, Loss of tissues tone may contribute to urinary incontinence.

Changes in sexual function: During peri-menopause, sexual arousal and desire may change. But for most woman who have had satisfactory sexual intimacy with their husband before menopause, this will continue through peri-menopause and beyond

Weght Gain: In peri-menopause years, most women will gain weight, especially in the lower abdomen, buttocks and thighs, a bodily adaptation in humans over the time to both retain what little oestrogen is left in the body longer (oestrogen are fat-soluble) and to protect the long bones with padding as oestrogen levels decrease and the risk of osteoporosis increases

Changing Cholesterol Levels: Declining oestrogen levels may lead to unfavourable changes in blood cholesterol level, including an increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol - the "bad" cholesterol which contributes to an increased risk of heart disease.At the same time, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)  Cholesterol-the "good" cholesterol-decreases in many women as they age, which also increase the risk of heart disease.



Others: Other common symptoms encountered during the peri-menopausal period include dry skin, wrinkles, fatigue, and memory problems.

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