What to Expect in Perimenopause and Menopause- 75 Symptoms!
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If you’re in your midlife years, you may be noticing some changes in your body.
Your periods may be getting lighter or heavier, more frequent or less frequent.
You may be having hot flashes or night sweats.
Or you may be feeling irritable or moody.
You might not have any changes, or you might have a whole bunch of other weird symptoms and not understand why. And you may be wondering what the heck is going on. Welcome to perimenopause!
There is a lot that you can expect in Perimenopause and Menopause.
My experience with perimenopause was tumultuous at best. I had so many crazy symptoms that I didn’t attribute to perimenopause. But looking back at them now and with all of the research I’ve been doing in the last few years, I now understand that they were all symptoms of perimenopause.
Part of the issue that many women face is not being aware of all the symptoms that can be associated with it.
Being a nurse, you would expect that I would have more knowledge about the signs & symptoms of perimenopause. Truthfully, I would estimate the time we spent learning about it amounted to about 2 hours. It wasn’t highlighted as important to learn about in my curriculum, compared to diseases such as Diabetes and Cancer. And I’m sure doctors don’t spend that much more time in their education of it either.
Perimenopause and Menopause is something that was never really been spoken about in the past.
There was (and still is) the fear of stigma or embarrassment. Menopause has typically had negative connotations about it. It was often viewed in the past as women becoming less desirable or less valuable to society.
Many thought of Menopause as a time when a woman had major mood swings or “went a little crazy”.
Although these societal attitudes and biases have changed recently, there is more work to be done to destigmatize and normalize Menopause.
It’s important to know the symptoms of Perimenopause and Menopause so you know whether it’s something that is “normal” or not. Although I truly don’t think waking up soaking wet in the middle of the night is “normal”.
Many women sail through perimenopause and menopause with very little symptoms or changes. But too many women are severely and negatively impacted by “the change”.
Often these women struggle with managing activities of daily living, keeping friendships and relationships, taking care of themselves and their families, and even working at their career.
And these women often don’t get the help they desperately need and suffer for too long.
We often don’t know what to expect in Perimenopause and Menopause. The severity of many women’s perimenopause symptoms makes me shake my head in disgust at how medicine is failing women.
I experienced numerous symptoms such as anxiety and a heavy feeling in my chest like someone was sitting on me. I was sent for so many cardiac and lung tests, before being diagnosed with anxiety and put on medications.
Looking back at it now, I know it was because of my hormone changes in perimenopause.
My hopes are this blog post will help you understand what to expect in Perimenopause and Menopause a little more, along with all of the many signs & symptoms that you might possibly experience.
Knowledge of this will help you have proper identification and treatment of the symptoms that you might be having.
What are Perimenopause and Menopause?
Perimenopause is the transition period leading up to menopause, when your ovaries begin to produce less estrogen and your menstrual cycles become irregular.
For most women, this transition begins in their 40s, although it can start earlier or later. It typically lasts several years, but it can last up to a decade.
During perimenopause, your body goes through a lot of changes as your hormone levels fluctuate. These changes can cause a variety of symptoms, some of which can be pretty disruptive to your daily life.
Menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation due to the loss of ovarian function. It usually occurs around age 51 (although it can occur earlier or later), when you have not had a period for 12 consecutive months.
Once you’ve reached menopause, your hormone levels will stay relatively stable for the rest of your life.
But don’t worry—there are things you can do to help ease the transition and manage your symptoms. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what you can expect in perimenopause and menopause, including the changes in your hormones and how they affect your body.
What Happens to Your Hormones During Perimenopause?
Estrogen is a group of hormones that are created in the ovaries, adrenal glands and fat cells. They are responsible for regulating the menstrual cycle and supporting reproductive health, as well as helping with bone and brain development throughout a woman’s life.
This hormone also plays a role in our skin and hair health, as well as having affects on the reproductive tract, urinary tract, the heart and blood vessels, breasts, mucous membranes, and pelvic muscles.
One thing to keep in mind though is that imbalances of estrogen can also have some negative effects on our bodies, including increasing the risk of certain types of cancers.
It’s important to know how estrogen works and how it impacts our overall health – just another piece of the complex puzzle that is being a woman.
Progesterone is a hormone that is produced by the ovaries in women. It plays an important role in the menstrual cycle, preparing the lining of the uterus for pregnancy. If a woman does not become pregnant, progesterone levels will drop and she will shed the lining of the uterus, resulting in her period. Progesterone levels also increase during pregnancy, helping to maintain the lining of the uterus and supporting the development of the fetus.
While progesterone is often associated with pregnancy, it is also important for non-pregnant women. Progesterone levels can affect a woman’s mood, sleep patterns, and energy levels.
In addition, progesterone plays a role in bone, nervous system, brain and breast health.
Testosterone is an androgen- a hormone that is typically thought of as a “male” hormone but contribute to growth and reproduction in both men and women’s bodies. It is made in the ovaries of women, as well as the adrenal glands.
Some of the functions that testosterone has in a woman’s body include helping the production of new blood cells, enhancing libido and influencing FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) that can affect reproduction.
As you enter perimenopause, your ovaries begin to produce less estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.
The changes can be erratic with estrogen- up and down, like a rollercoaster and progesterone steadily declining.
When progesterone slowly declines, and estrogen flips back and forth, women can experience estrogen dominance.
This estrogen dominance and the ongoing changes in hormone levels cause the physical and emotional symptoms that many women experience during perimenopause.
Testosterone steadily declines as well, and by midlife, women’s testosterone levels have decreased by over half.
What Happens to Your Hormones During Menopause?
During menopause, estrogen levels drop sharply as ovarian function ceases completely. As a result, progesterone levels also drop significantly since it’s produced by the ovaries in response to estrogen stimulation.
Testosterone levels may also decline somewhat, but not as dramatically as estrogen levels.
This sudden drop in hormone levels can mean some women experience symptoms at this time of their lives as well.
After menopause, hormone levels remain relatively stable for the rest of a woman’s life (although there may be some slight fluctuations).
What are the Symptoms to Expect In Perimenopause and Menopause?
When you talk to your doctor about your menopause symptoms, they usually ask about hot flashes, insomnia, changes in your periods, vaginal dryness and bladder issues. There are so many more symptoms that can occur as we transition through Perimenopause and Menopause that you should expect. Having an awareness of the potential for these symptoms will help you to manage them easier and earlier.
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Irregular periods, changes in periods
- Mood changes
- Breast soreness
- Decreased libido/increased libido
- Vaginal dryness, vaginal atrophy, painful intercourse
- Headaches
- Tingling extremities
- Burning mouth, dry mouth
- Changes in taste
- Fatigue
- Bloating, fluid retention
- Digestive changes
- Joint pain
- Muscle tension, aches, cramps
- Electric shock sensations
- Itchy skin
- Sleep disturbances
- Difficulty concentrating/brain fog
- Memory lapses
- Thinning hair, brittle hair
- Brittle nails
- Weight gain
- Stress incontinence, urinary frequency
- Dizziness
- New allergies
- Osteoporosis
- Irregular heartbeat
- Palpitations, chest pain
- Body odour
- Irritability, mood swings
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Panic disorder
- Restless legs
- Tinnitus (ringing in ear)
- Loss of confidence/self-esteem
- Frequent UTI’s (Urinary tract infections)
- Chronic bad breath
- Body odour
- Increased facial hair
- Cold flushes
- Dry eyes, eye issues, changes in vision
- Acne
- Breathlessness
- Weight loss, loss of appetite
- Increased appetite
- Decreased fertility
- Changing cholesterol levels
- Bruising
- Back pain
- Uterine fibroids
- Dry skin
- Phantom periods, pelvic pain
- Tendonitis
- Adrenaline surges
- Nausea
- Frozen shoulder
- Acid reflux
- Trouble swallowing
- Ovarian pain, ovarian cysts
- Random stabbing pain
- Irritable bowel
- Aching teeth
- Bleeding gums
- Food cravings
- High/low blood sugar
- Decreased muscle mass
- Increased intestinal gas
- Dehydration
- Ear pain, itchy ear
- Voice changes
- High blood pressure
- Tactile defensiveness (Allodynia)
Whew, that was a long post. I’ve given you an overview of what to expect in Perimenopause and Menopause, including the changes in your hormones and how they affect your body. Remember, everyone experiences these transitions differently. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help if you’re struggling with any physical or emotional symptoms. There are plenty of resources available to help you through this time in your life!
While I am a Registered Nurse, I am not your nurse and the information above is there for education and is not to be used as medical advice. I recommend that you speak to your medical or naturopathic professional for recommendations for your individual situation and needs.
Be sure to check out my next blog post: Embrace Your Inner Goddess: Top Resources for Perimenopause and Menopause Symptoms
Take care,
Resources:
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Gambacciani M, Levancini M. Management of postmenopausal osteoporosis and the prevention of fractures. Panminerva Med. 2014;56(2):115–131.
Jaeger, M. D. B., Miná, C. S., Alves, S., Schuh, G. J., Wender, M. C., & Manfro, G. G. (2020). Negative affect symptoms, anxiety sensitivity, and vasomotor symptoms during perimenopause. Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry, 43, 277-284.
Gopal, S., Ajgaonkar, A., Kanchi, P., Kaundinya, A., Thakare, V., Chauhan, S., & Langade, D. (2021). Effect of an ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera) root extract on climacteric symptoms in women during perimenopause: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, 47(12), 4414-4425.
Harper, J. C., Phillips, S., Biswakarma, R., Yasmin, E., Saridogan, E., Radhakrishnan, S., … & Talaulikar, V. (2022). An online survey of perimenopausal women to determine their attitudes and knowledge of the menopause. Women’s Health, 18, 17455057221106890.
Garcia-Alfaro, P., Garcia, S., Rodriguez, I., & Vergés, C. (2021). Dry eye disease symptoms and quality of life in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Climacteric, 24(3), 261-266.
Dongol, A., Deoju, S., Shikharakar, S., Rayamajhi, S. J., Pradhan, N., & Tripathi, P. (2021). Menopausal Symptoms in Premenopausal Women Among the Cohort of Gynecological Patients Attending Outpatient Department of Dhulikhel Hospital. Journal of Lumbini Medical College, 9(2), 6-pages.