Real talk: What’s the deal with perimenopause?
You’ve heard of menopause and maybe even premenopause, but what about perimenopause? Perimenopause is when you start to see signs of menopause earlier than normal. It usually begins in your 40s; however, some women start to see symptoms in their 30s.
Sometimes perimenopause and premenopause are clumped together, but they have two different meanings.
Let’s break this down:
Premenopause: The time from when a woman has her first period until she hits menopause (Seriously, pretty much you’re entire menstruating life. It’s actually not a term doctors prefer to use for this reason).
Perimenopause: Early signs of menopause start to kick in.
Menopause: When a woman hasn’t had a period for 12 months. This usually occurs between the ages of 45 to 55.
If you’re under the age of 45 and are experiencing any of the following symptoms, it might be time to call your doctor:
Irregular periods
Hormone levels decrease
Decline in fertility
Mood changes
Hot flashes
Trouble sleeping
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Not all women experience perimenopause and it doesn’t always need to be treated; however, if your symptoms are severe your doctor may recommend an antidepressant or hormone therapy to help lessen symptoms. And don’t worry, if you’re trying to become pregnant it is still possible while going through perimenopause!
