Flow changes
Perimenopausal hormonal patterns can lead to changes in cycle length and flow — both the duration and the amount.
Disrupted sleep
Disrupted sleep includes middle-of-the-night waking, trouble falling asleep, and early morning waking.
Mood & anxiety
Many new mood changes such as anxiety, irritability, sudden anger or depressive feelings can arise in perimenopause.
Night sweats & hot flashes
Changes in hormone levels can cause a narrowing of our internal thermostat. The body reacts by dissipating heat. Hot flashes are the daytime version.
Sore breasts
Many women experience premenstrual breast tenderness in their twenties, which then resolves. The high and erratic estrogen of perimenopause brings it back for some.
Headaches
Premenstrual headaches often begin or increase during perimenopause. For those that have had migraines, these often return or worsen.
Body changes & weight gain
Body changes at midlife are a reality for most women but the reasons why things change are not fully understood.
Cramps
For many women, premenstrual cramps occur in their teens and twenties and then go away, particularly for those who give birth. In early perimenopause, they often return.
Shorter cycles
While not a symptom, slightly shorter cycles are one of the earliest signs of perimenopause. They can be hard to detect unless you are tracking.
Sexual health changes
Lower libido around 40 is common and can be tied to hormonal changes, but many other factors are involved as well.
Understand why symptoms arise due to hormonal changes
Find out why we don’t know to expect changes before 45
One more thing.
Our work is sustained by lots of people giving a little.
If you’ve learned something, please consider a small donation.
REFERENCES
- Dennerstein L, Dudley EC, Hopper JL, Guthrie JR, Burger HG. A prospective population-based study of menopausal symptoms. Obstet Gynecol. 2000 Sep;96(3):351-8.
- NIH State-of-the-Science Conference on Management of Menopause-Related Symptoms, 2005.
- JC Prior. Progesterone for Symptomatic Perimenopause Treatment – Progesterone politics, physiology and potential for perimenopause. Facts Views Vis Obgyn. 2011; 3(2): 109–120.
- Nanette Santoro. Perimenopause: From Research to Practice. J Women’s Health (Larchmt). 2016 Apr 1; 25(4): 332–339.
- Howard M Kravitz, Imke Janssen, Nanette Santoro, et al., Relationship of Day-to-day Reproductive Hormone Levels to Sleep in Midlife Women. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165(20):2370-2376.