Are You In Peri or Post-Menopause?

For some women, perimenopause may start in their late 30's or early 40's.

The average woman enters perimenopause at around 45 years. For some women, this may happen in their late 30's or early 40's.

Menopause itself is reached when a woman has her final period, which we only know 12 months later. It normally happens between the ages of 45-55 with the average age being 52.

By the definition of menopause, if you are in sound health and have not had a period in the last 12 months you are now post-menopause. Many women continue to experience menopausal signs well into post-menopause.

If you get another period, why not record it?

Irregular periods are one of the first signs a (healthy) woman is in perimenopause. Most women will experience irregularity for three to 10 years in the lead-up to menopause.

Chances are you haven’t reached perimenopause yet.

Perhaps it’s time to start taking note. Try downloading the Flo Period & Ovulation Tracker app to monitor your periods. It’s free. Link: https://flo.health/

Tender breasts can be a sign of PMS and pregnancy, however, they can also be a sign of estrogen dominance due to perimenopause.

Lucky you!

As they do with PMS and pregnancy, fluctuating levels of reproductive hormones during the meno years can have a significant effect on our moods and/or emotions.

Hooray!

Women can encounter sleeping difficulties in all three stages of menopause. The hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause can contribute to an ability to fall asleep.

Enjoy sleeping beauty!

During menopause estrogen levels fluctuate, causing a part of the brain that regulates body temperature to become confused and respond like a faulty thermostat.

Sweet dreams 🙂

The hormonal transitions of the meno years can prompt moderate to severe mood swings and irritability.

Bravo, you’re nice to be around.

Hot flushes are the most common sign of menopause and occur as estrogen levels fluctuate affecting the body’s temperature gauge.

You’re one cool customer 🙂

Not everyone experiences hot flushes all the time, and they can be triggered by stress, anxiety, spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol.

Anxiety is one of the most common and debilitating signs of menopause. It’s a feeling of doom and dread and is usually rooted in the pit of the stomach.

Keep calm and carry on.

Only you will know if this is part of your ‘normal’ reaction to everyday stress or significant events.

During perimenopause women may have trouble remembering things, experience mental blocks or have difficulty concentrating.

Great stuff.

The meno years aside, this can be common when we have too much on our plates.

For women in menopause fatigue can come crashing in at any time. Our bodies are going through a lot of change which can impact our energy levels.

Make the most of that energy.

A sensation of dizziness, feeling that everything is spinning, a loss of balance or feeling faint may all be signs of perimenopause.

Enjoy that grounded feeling.

Aching joints often come out of the blue during perimenopause/menopause. Though they’re usually associated with exercise or injury, women don’t always make the link to peri/menopause.

Keep up your flexibility with stretching or yoga.

An aversion to being around lots of people or at social gatherings – even if you’ve always been a social butterfly - can be a common effect of falling estrogen levels.

Go out and enjoy that coffee girl.

Hair loss/thinning during the meno years is due to fluctuating hormone levels. The decrease of estrogen inhibits hair growth on the head and also leads to the release of androgens which shrink hair follicles on the head (and promote chin whiskers – sorry!).

Make the most of your tresses.

The drop in estrogen that is a hallmark of the perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause can lead to a dryer, thinner skin as well as lines and wrinkles.

Keep up the good care and sunscreen.

Weight gain is one of the most distressing signs of midlife for women. Typically weight redistributes itself to sit around the abdomen.

Keep wearing great belts!

Loss of libido commonly affects 20-40 percent of peri/menopausal women.

Making love regularly benefits your skin and your health.

One of the more distressing effects of the meno years is a feeling of going crazy. Turning into Godzilla and flying off the handle can be par for the course for some women.

Well, that’s a good thing, isn’t it?