You are getting on in life, following your monthly routine, with no obvious changes in the body for the last 5 to 10 years. It works like clockwork, including your monthly cycle. Suddenly, your period is late! And your first thought is: ‘Am I pregnant?’. You are aware it is highly unlikely as you have an effective contraceptive. You do a pregnancy test and it is negative. Your period eventually shows up, however at the back of your mind you wonder if you are going through the menopause.
The good news is there is a transition period to get to the menopause. This can also be termed the perimenopause. This is a natural step in a woman’s body towards permanent infertility. It starts at different ages, however, women sometimes notice changes in their early forties, and occasionally in their mid 30s. This is due to female hormone changes, mainly oestrogen, rising and falling unevenly.
Here are 10 signs that you may be heading towards the menopause and tips on managing it.
Irregular periods
The hormone changes affects your ovaries releasing an egg and this in turn can make your period longer or shorter or absent for a couple of months. These could be signs of early and late perimenopause respectively. No periods for three months or more as well as very heavy periods, particularly if associated with feelings of tiredness or breathlessness warrants a review by your doctor, especially if you are under 40 years old.
Hot flushes
Suddenly going hot and sweaty can vary in duration and intensity throughout the day and at night – this often contributes to insomnia and sleep disturbances. This occurs as a result of the hormonal fluctuations and can be different for every woman. It can last anything between 2 years to 15 years. Wearing breathable clothing such as cotton and staying hydrated can help in alleviating symptoms. Avoiding other causes of hot flushes including being overweight, alcohol, excess caffeine, spicy foods, monosodium glutamate and some medications can also help in alleviating symptoms.
Mood disturbances
This can happen frequently with mood swings, as well as feeling irritable, short-tempered or anxious. A change from your usual temperament can be a sign of the perimenopause. A lack of good quality sleep can also contribute to this. Regular exercise and a healthy diet to ensure your blood sugar levels remain stable can help.
Vaginal dryness
The hormone changes mean the vaginal wall decreases the amount of fluid it produces and also its elasticity. Some women can find it generally uncomfortable, others only notice it during intercourse. Also, the length of time it takes to get aroused increases with age. Using vaginal lubricants can alleviate this.
Urine disturbances
In general, women are prone to urine infection because of our anatomy. This can happen for the first time during the perimenopause or increase in frequency. You might notice urine frequency and pain. This warrants a review from a healthcare professional. A decreased ability to hold urine can also happen. This is because the elasticity and tone decreases. Ways of preventing this includes passing urine after intercourse, using lubricants and doing regular pelvic floor exercises.
Loss of libido
There are various causes for this and the mood changes, lack of sleep and decreased arousal time can certainly contribute. However many women have no problems with this.
Problems conceiving
Ovulation decreases and this leads to fertility problems. It can take up to one year to fall pregnant naturally, however if you are in your very late 30s or early forties and have trouble conceiving, it is worth seeking medical advice sooner. Using contraception until 12 months after your last period is advisable if you do not want to fall pregnant.
General aches and pains
As oestrogen decreases, the body cannot replace bone as efficiently. The ligaments and cartilages are also affected. Research also suggests that the hormone changes are associated with the development of osteoarthritis. aches and pains can also be a sign that your bones are getting thin due to osteoporosis. Getting adequate level of calcium and vitamin d and exercising to strengthen the bones and muscles can help to prevent this. Several studies have looked at the use of glucosamine for pains and though individual women have reported improvement in their symptoms, evidence for its use is limited.
Weight changes
There are several contributory factors for this. This includes the metabolism and our ability to build muscle slowing done as well as higher levels of stress due to lack of sleep and worry about other signs mentioned above. Improving the underlying cause is therefore needed. Regular exercise and a healthy diet, with particular attention to your nutrient to calorie ratio can help negate weight gain. This is because you use up fewer calories as you get older. A sudden increase in weight warrants a visit to your doctor.
Chest pain
As oestrogen levels drops, the cholesterol and sugar level in the body increases. The heart and vessels also become more stiff. This puts you at risk of heart disease as it contributes to clogging up the blood vessels. Left sided chest discomfort, especially on exertion requires urgent medical attention.
The perimenopause is a natural transition in a woman’s life and should not be a cause for alarm. Lifestyle intervention can help significantly with the perimenopause. This includes regular exercise and a diet rich in phytooestrogens. These can be found in foods such as soybean, dark leafy green and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli. However, if it is interfering with your quality of life and well-being, then see your doctor. Depending on your symptoms, further tests may be carried out. Various medical therapies including hormone replacement and non hormonal options are available on prescription.
This has been posted on healthista.com and The Daily Mail online
Doctor Deyo 