What are the signs of perimenopause?

Fatigue, irregular cycle, weight gain... What if it was perimenopause? Indeed, menopause does not appear overnight! Dreaded by the vast majority of women, it is accompanied by warning signs that sometimes occur in their forties and can last several months or years. But what are they?

52 years old: this is the average age of menopause. But before your period disappears for good, your hormones play yo-yo during a period called perimenopause. Perimenopause is a period of instability that is sometimes more uncomfortable than menopause itself. Here are 4 signs that do not deceive:

1) your cycles become irregular. They usually start out shorter and then get longer as menopause approaches, with periods without menstruation lasting several months.

2) Your period is accompanied by premenstrual syndrome or an accentuation of its symptoms: tense and painful breasts, bloatingswelling, irritability,...

3) You are going through a "roller coaster" period of nervousness and/or emotionality (which can also impact sleep). In rare cases, some women experience the same symptoms as postpartum depression.

4) Gynecologic disorders may also occur. Generally, menstruation becomes more abundant, sometimes to the point of causing fatigue or anemia. This is especially true since the uterine lining thickens and untimely bleeding can occur. Polyps or fibroids can cause "breast lumps". Fortunately benign in most cases...

Other signs may also signal that you are entering perimenopause, such as:

• Perimenopause is not so different from the teenage years when your body changes to become a whole new person. Even if you are not growing and your balance is not affected in this way, you may still develop some clumsiness from all these changes. This hormonal transition can also make the skin thinner and therefore more susceptible to bruising.
• Dry eyes and a change in the quality of your vision can also be symptoms of perimenopause.
• Looking for your glasses when they are on your head? Excess estrogen becomes a stress hormone and can affect memory.
• A localized weight gain around the belly can also be indicative of hormonal changes.
• Hormonal imbalance can cause acne problems...
• As your progesterone level drops, the collagen in your skin will be more fragile and your skin will tend to dry out.
• Sleep disturbance is one of the major side effects of not ovulating.

Finally, some women may experience a kind of existential crisis at perimenopause. "This could be a good opportunity to (re)take charge of your life. "Dr. Northrup reassures us. "Stop for a minute... to identify your dreams and aspirations after many years of caring for your family! Give yourself permission to stop and think about what you really want. This could be the beginning of a wonderful new chapter! ".