Most times the terms perimenopause and menopause are used interchangeably or the whole process is just referred to as menopause. Perimenopause is the time period leading up to menopause. Menopause is the date of a woman’s last period. After one year without a period, a woman is no longer fertile and is then considered post menopausal.

Perimenopause symptoms are the same as those experienced during menopause. Common symptoms, include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings, memory loss, and insomnia. Other less common symptoms include ear ringing, anxiety, depression, heart palpitations, urine leakage when laughing or coughing, and a loss of sex drive. Hot flashes are the most commonly symptom. This is not a complete list of symptoms, each woman will have a different menopause experience, but only about half of menopausal women even get symptoms. Symptoms last for several years and will fade away several years after menopause.

First signs of perimenopause will be missed periods or irregular bleeding, this usually begins to happen when women reach their late 40’s. Bleeding may actually be heavier or lighter. Until one year without a period it is still possible to get pregnant so if you’re hoping to avoid this it may be a good idea to start tracking menstruation. Some women may actually stop all bleeding immediately but for most women, it tapers off slowly.

During this time hormone levels start to fluctuate and estrogen production slows down. It’s these fluctuating hormone levels that are thought to cause all the different menopause symptoms. There are hormone level tests that your doctor can do if you’re curious if you may be entering into perimenopause. Menopause is a natural process, it’s not a disease or a disorder, so medical treatment isn’t necessarily required, however if you are experiencing extreme symptoms, some medications can help. There are also some additional health risks associated with menopause like an increased risk of heart disease and osteoporosis, so be sure to have a frank discussion with your doctor about what you can do to stay healthy and strong as you age.