Menstruation During Perimenopause

July 12, 2024

What is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause is the time before menopause. It usually starts in your 40s, but for some women can start as early as their 30s. During this time, your body begins to change. Hormones like estrogen and progesterone go up and down. These changes can affect your menstrual cycle.

Changes in Your Menstrual Cycle

During perimenopause, you may notice changes in your periods. These changes can be different for each woman. Here are some common changes:

Irregular Periods: Your periods may not come every month.
Heavy Bleeding: Some months, your periods might be heavier than usual.
Light Bleeding: Other months, you might have very light periods.
Shorter or Longer Cycles: The time between periods can be shorter or longer.
Skipped Periods: You might skip one or more periods.

Symptoms to Watch For

Perimenopause comes with other symptoms too. These can affect your daily life. Here are some common symptoms:

Hot Flashes: Sudden feelings of heat.
Night Sweats: Sweating at night while you sleep.
Mood Swings: Feeling happy one minute and sad the next.
Sleep Problems: Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
Vaginal Dryness: Feeling dry down there.
Weight Gain: Even when you are eating and exercising no differently than before.
Muscle and Joint Pains: Even when there has been no injury or reason for the pain.
Memory or Concentration Problems: You feel like you’re going crazy (but you aren’t!).
Anxiety or Depression: You just don’t feel like yourself.

Tips for Managing Symptoms

Managing perimenopause can be easier with some simple tips:

Stay Active: Choose exercise that builds muscle, and layer in some moderate cardio.
Eat Healthy: Focus on protein and produce.
Sleep Well: Don’t just settle for closed eyes at night – make sure you’re getting deep, restorative sleep.
Talk to a Medical Provider (one who knows about menopause, and isn’t just going to dismiss your symptoms as normal): They can help you find the best treatments, which should include a variety of lifestyle recommendations, nutrition or supplementation, and often individualized hormone therapy.

When to See a Knowledgeable, Caring Medical Provider

It’s important to know when to see a provider. If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your provider about treatment:

Very Heavy Bleeding: If you need to change your pad or tampon every hour.
Fatigue: If you’re still tired throughout the day, even after good sleep.
Bleeding Between Periods: Bleeding when you are not on your period.
Periods Lasting Longer Than 7 Days: If your period lasts more than a week.
Severe Pain: If you have a lot of pain during your period.
Your Provider Gives Band-Aid Prescriptions: If you get only an antidepressant or sleeping pills from your provider for your menopause symptoms, run for the hills! This provider doesn’t know how to treat perimenopause.

Conclusion

Perimenopause is a natural part of aging. It can be a confusing time, but knowing what to expect can help. Keep track of your symptoms and talk to your medical provider about any concerns. With comprehensive care, you can both manage your symptoms now, and prevent health problems in the future.

Nourish House Calls provides Functional Medicine services to patients in Illinois, Florida, Arizona, Oregon, New Hampshire, and Vermont. In-person house calls are available in Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills, Westmont, Downers Grove, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace, La Grange, Western Springs, Burr Ridge, and surrounding areas. Telemedicine is available both inside and outside of Illinois, including Chicago, Miami, Sarasota, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Portland.
If you would like to learn more about how Nourish House Calls can help resolve the root causes of your perimenopause symptoms, click here to schedule a free, 15-minute discovery call.