Perimenopause refers to the transitional stage leading up to menopause when a woman's body begins shifting toward permanent infertility. It's a natural biological process that typically begins for women in their late 30s or 40s as the ovaries start to run out of eggs.
During perimenopause, estrogen and progesterone levels become more erratic, which can cause various symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, irregular periods, trouble sleeping, and mood changes. The duration is different for each woman - it can last for a few months or stretch out over a decade.
On average, perimenopause lasts about 4 years until the final menstrual period marks the start of menopause. But there's no reliable way to predict exactly how long it will last. The best thing you can do is track your symptoms and talk to your doctor. Blood tests can also help confirm hormone changes.
Some ways to manage perimenopausal symptoms naturally include:
- Exercise regularly
- Follow a nutritious diet
- Reduce stress through yoga, meditation, etc.
- Avoid triggers like caffeine, alcohol, hot flashes
- Consider supplements like phytoestrogens
If symptoms become highly disruptive to your life, hormone therapy may be an option. At Hormone Wellness Institute, we specialize in personalized bioidentical hormone treatments to help women smoothly transition through perimenopause into menopause. Contact us today for a consultation!
I hope this overview on perimenopause was helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions. Wishing you happy hormones ahead!