Menopause symptom...

Symptoms of Perimenopause:Defined as a phase before actual menopause commences, the production of ovarian hormones starts declining and fluctuating in this phase. It is the years prior to a woman's last menstrual period. The function of the ovaries declines and level of estrogen drops. For most women, this happens between ages 35 and 50. It can therefore last for 5-15 years.

Signs and symptoms of perimenopause may vary from one to another. As this happens between 35 and 45 years of age, the symptoms are normally overlooked or ignored. Women experience more symptoms during perimenopause than after menopause.

Most women experience changes in their menstrual cycle. Either it becomes more frequent or takes longer time. As the level of estrogen begin to drop, the follicular phase of the cycle is shortened, which in turn can shorten the total cycle from 28–30 days to 24–26 days. So the woman experiences more frequent periods. On the other hand, some may have longer cycles because they are stop ovulating frequently. So the changes vary from one to other.

The declining or fluctuating estrogen level produces a series of other symptoms like hot flashes, increasing vaginal dryness, sleep problems, mood swings, breast tenderness and many other complications. Very few women hardly notice these changes during perimenopause. For them the periods stop overnight with few or no symptoms at all. The most common signs are as follows:

Hot Flashes: It starts with a hot, prickly feeling in the middle of the back. A heat wave then rises to cover the back, chest, neck, face and scalp. The skin temperature can rise up to 8 degrees and can be felt by touching. The pulse rate shoots up. Sweating of body increases in an attempt to bring down the temperature. Sometimes, it gets so hot that it changes the color of the face, neck and chest to a pink or even deep red. This accompanies a sudden chill and shivering. This can happen during nighttime with the same kind of hot flashes and night sweats.

Vaginal Dryness : When the level of estrogen drops, the vaginal tissues start drying and become less elastic. Vaginal tissues are otherwise very flexible and can stretch easily for sex and childbirth. Therefore the drop in elasticity of the tissues causes problem in sexual intercourse. The vagina becomes dryer and it takes long to become lubricated. Finally, it may become smaller in width and length to cause atrophy. This also results in itchy feeling in vagina frequent attack of infection. Emotionally one may feel irritated and start feeling old.

Other symptoms may include:

· Breast tenderness

· Worsening of premenstrual syndrome

· Decreased libido (sex drive)

· Fatigue

· Irregular periods

· Urine leakage when coughing or sneezing

· Urinary urgency (a pressing need to urinate more frequently)

· Mood swings

· Difficulty sleeping

Perimenopause Treatment: Healthy lifestyle, proper nutritional supplementation, and hormone replacement, proves to be important roles to reduces chances of Perimenopause. Regular exercise, healthy eating with proper food and nutritional supplements help to prevent the onset of Perimenopause too early. HRT replaces the failing internal supply to create a balance in the body hormone level which reverses the effects of Perimenopause.