Think you Know the Signs of Perimenopause?
- Posted on: Jun 15 2017
By now, most women realize that menopause is not the onset of unsettling symptomology. Technically, menopause marks the end of the era of menstruation. No more periods! Yay! Perimenopause is the duration of many years leading up to the cessation of the monthly cycle. This time in a woman’s life may begin as early as her thirties.
We’ll just be honest here; perimenopause can be difficult. The fluctuation of hormones is known to cause hot flashes at all times of the day and night. Women are known to become “moody,” an unflattering term in and of itself, but that’s another issue. What women may not realize is that there are numerous other changes that occur as hormone levels vary, sometimes wildly, from morning to night (yes, they change that quickly).
Surprising Symptoms of Perimenopause
- Poor sleep patterns are associated with the decline in estrogen that leads to night sweats. Often, when woken by this nocturnal hot flash, a woman has difficulty getting back to sleep. Some of the life-hacks that can support good sleep include setting the thermostat cooler at night and going to bed at the same time every night.
- Breast deflation. As if the deflation of our libido were not bad enough, we women also face changes to the shape and fullness of our breasts as we approach menopause. Also a result of diminished estrogen, deflated breasts are thought to be only a minor concern for most women. However, cosmetic surgery to address this issue has become increasingly popular.
- Dry skin. When less estrogen is produced by the ovaries, the parts of the body that should be elastic become dry and brittle; hence, the issue of vaginal dryness. This loss of elasticity and moisture also affects the skin, hair, and nails. The moisturizers and sunscreen products a woman uses should be thicker as her need for moisture increases.
- Estrogen is partially responsible for our cognitive and language skills. Therefore, the progressive decline in this hormone may lead to a decreased ability to retain new information and to retrieve data from the brain’s memory bank. Insomnia further exacerbates this problem.
The very fact that a woman’s body is a constant fluctuation of hormones means that every woman needs personal medical care from a trusted professional. We can be that for you. To schedule a well-woman visit at Grace Obstetrics & Gynecology, call 817-776-4722.
Posted in: Well-Woman Visit