Feminine Jungle © lynette sheppard
This guest post by Pam Andrews helps differentiate between these two phases of the Menopause journey with a focus on the less documented perimenopause phase. Enjoy.
Identify Perimenopause vs. Menopause Symptoms
By: Pam Andrews of PerimenopauseAnswers.com
There is a large quantity of literature, online and in print, devoted to the treatment for hot flashes, natural menopause treatment, medical treatment to counteract severe perimenopause symptoms, and supplements for perimenopause and menopause. But those things – remedies, supplements, exercise plans, diet plans, treatment plans, and symptoms – all depend on which stage of menstrual cycle you’re currently in. Perimenopause and menopause have differences in their symptoms and correspondingly on how to provide relief for those sets of symptoms.
As the baby boomer generation continues to grow older, more and more women need to know the importance of taking the right vitamin supplements and eating a balanced diet tailored for perimenopausal and menopausal women. Perimenopause or the stage of early menopause can start in as early as the age of 30. Thus, it is crucial for all women to get a head start on being educated and informed, so that they will know their bodies well enough. That way, when they feel the signs or the symptoms, then they will recognize exactly what those mean and they can take care of themselves better.
All in all, there are 34 perimenopause and early menopause symptoms. Most of these symptoms affect around 70% of women. Perimenopause, in particular, often begins when a woman hits her 40s. The symptoms of menopause normally last during the entire menopause transition or until the age of mid 50s, but there are some women who may experience a range of menopausal symptoms for the rest of their lives even after they have undergone menopause. We have heard about the most popular symptoms which consist of hot flashes, irregular periods, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and loss of libido. And there is also a host of other rare menopause symptoms which do not affect most women.
The common perimenopause symptoms are as follows: tenderness of the breasts, worsening of premenstrual syndrome, irregular periods, decrease in sex drive, discomfort during sexual intercourse due to the onset of vaginal dryness, fatigue, difficulty in sleeping, persistent mood swings, hot flashes, urinary incontinence and sometimes urine leakage when coughing or sneezing, gradual weight gain, dryness of hair and skin, and loss of bone density. On top of the perimenopause symptoms, the following are menopause-specific symptoms: depression, irritability, migraine headaches, joint and muscle aches, and palpitations or racing heart.
For more detailed and updated information about symptoms and natural remedies for dealing with perimenopause and menopause symptoms, visit PerimenopauseAnswers.com