Symptoms of perimenopause, early menopause symptoms, Signs of peri menopause

 

The term “menopause” comes from two Greek words that mean “month” and “to end.” It translates as “the end of the monthlies.”  The medical definition of menopause is the absence of menstruation for 12 months. In American women, the average age for menopause is 51. However, it can occur between a woman’s late thirties and her late 50s. Menopause also occurs when a woman’s uterus and ovaries are surgically removed.  

Perimenopause is the two to fifteen year span before menopause during which a woman experiences changes due to declining levels of estrogen and progesterone. For some women, the perimenopausal time can be more troubling than actual menopause.  

Hormone Changes During Perimenopause 

A woman’s menstrual cycle is governed by the endocrine system. The central glands, located deep in the brain are the hypothalamus and the pituitary. These structures regulate the sex hormones produced by the ovaries. Other glands and structures are also involved, but these are the main players. When a woman is having regular menstrual cycles, the hypothalamus releases Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH.) This induces the pituitary to release increased amounts of Follicular Stimulating Hormone (FSH) during the first two weeks of the menstrual cycle. The FSH stimulates growth in some of the eggs in the ovary. The ripening egg (follicle) produces estrogen, which causes the lining of the uterus to thicken. At about day 14 in the cycle, the pituitary produces an increased amount of  luteinizing hormone (LH.) This causes the release of the follicle from the ovary. The area around the released follicle becomes the corpus luteum. The corpus luteum secretes a lower amount of estrogen and an increasing amount of progesterone.  If the egg is not fertilized in the critical period after ovulation, the corpus luteum produces declining amounts of estrogen and progesterone. When the estrogen and progesterone reach a low point, the hypothalamus begins to start the next cycle, and menstruation begins.  

A woman may notice changes in her menstrual cycle several years before true menopause. The ovary has a finite number of eggs, and these begin to run out. The hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary to make more FSH in an attempt to cause the remaining eggs to mature. FSH and LH levels rise. Estrogen levels may vary. FSH levels can help determine whether a woman is entering menopause.  

During perimenopause, ovulation occurs intermittently. If there is no ovulation, the progesterone does not increase and the estrogen production may continue. This may cause the uterus to build up a thicker lining. The menstrual period may occur irregularly and may be quite heavy. Other cycles may produce a light menstrual period. As perimenopause moves into menopause, the ovaries produce much less estrogen and progesterone and the menses cease.    

Symptoms of Perimenopause 

During true menopause, estrogen and progesterone levels are low and fairly constant. However, during this period their levels may fluctuate in an irregular pattern. Some perimenopausal women have an exacerbation of their premenstrual symptoms. Fortunately, when menopause occurs, the PMS symptoms cease. 

Hot flashes are experienced by up to two-thirds of perimenopausal women. They usually occur one to five years before the end of menstruation. These symptoms are more severe in women who have had their ovaries surgically removed. It is thought that low levels of estrogen cause the brain to release a surge of Gonadotropin-releasing hormone. This may be the cause of the hot flash. A woman suddenly feels hot and may perspire profusely. She may then have a cold chill. They are more common at night but can occur at any time of day. They last from a few seconds up to an hour.  

Changes in menstrual cycles: Menses may be heavier, or lighter. There may be increased or decreased cramping. Eventually, menses lighten, become less frequent and then stop.   

Increased PMS symptoms

Mood changes and irritability: This may be more common in women who have had difficulty with PMS. There is some suggestion that estrogen levels influence the production of serotonin.  

Difficulty with memory and attention span: Some women report difficulty with concentrating or remembering specific words. A woman with attention deficit disorder may first come for treatment at this age because declining estrogen level has exacerbated her ability to concentrate. 

Insomnia is a common complaint of women in perimenopause or menopause itself. Night sweats may disrupt sleep. Irritability and depression can impair sleep. Reduced sleep can lead to tiredness and irritability during the day. 

Vaginal dryness: Before and after menopause, lowered estrogen levels cause the lining of the vagina to become drier and thinner. This may lead to painful intercourse and decreased interest in sexual relations.  

Urinary leakage: Some urinary symptoms may be related to pelvic floor changes that occurred years ago during labor and delivery.  As the estrogen level drops, further changes can occur. Low estrogen levels may weaken the urethral sphincter that helps hold in urine. If the woman has gained weight, it may put more strain on the bladder. 

Post-Menopausal Climax Years

The post-menopausal years symbolically begin on the fourteenth new moon after your final menstruation. (And continue, of course, for the rest of your life.) Hot flashes, aching joints, heart disease, incontinence, vaginal atrophy, and broken hips may diminish the quality and quantity of these years. Use of Wise Woman ways in the post-menopausal years can halt and reverse osteoporosis (the bones accept calcium once again), keep estrogen- and progesterone-sensitive tissues in the vagina and bladder from weakening and drying out, and maintain a healthy, vigorous heart and circulatory system.

BONE MINERAL DENSITY ( BMD )

After menopause bones loose significant amounts of calcium. In 25% of women this bone loss can result in osteoporosis with the resultant high risk of broken bones. Taking estrogen stops the loss of any more calcium but does not replace the calcium already lost. Taking calcium supplements and vitamin D will not replace the lost calcium either. There is now evidence that taking a estrogen-androgen combination can promote new bone formation.

Eat vegetables, fruits, and grains instead of meat. Eating meat and meat fat weakens your bones as well as your heart, promotes cancer, and may contribute to post-menopausal hot flashes.

Homeopathic Remedies for Menopause

Remedy	Symptoms
Lachesis	is helpful for the woman who wakes up from hot flashes. She feels hot all the time. She is the type of person who feels worse before her period, with a relief when the period begins. She can suffer from heavy bleeding as well as from fibroids. In addition, she is a passionate, jealous woman who is very talkative.
Sepia	is given for hot flashes as well as night sweats, though she tends to feel chilly. There can be a dragging feeling in the pelvic organs, and she often complains of constipation and fatigue. She feels better with exercise. She is irritable, overwhelmed, and has the desire to get away from it all.
Nux Vomica	known as the remedy for the Type A personality, can also be used for perimenopausal symptoms. She is impatient, competitive and hardworking. She enjoys rich food and wine and suffers from indigestion and constipation.
Natrum Muriaticum	is used for the woman who is sensitive and introverted with a serious appearance. She may have suffered from prolonged grief and suppressed feelings. There is a desire for salt with complaints of vaginal dryness and water retention. She also suffers from a variety of migraine headaches.