Premenopause is the stage before menopause, typically starting at age 45, but can occur in women in their 20s and 70s. Symptoms include menstrual changes, hot flashes, and emotional changes. Doctors recommend hormone therapy or natural remedies such as exercise and a calcium-rich diet. A positive attitude towards aging can also help.
Premenopause, often referred to as perimenopause, is the stage of a woman’s life just before the onset of menopause, which is when a woman’s menstrual cycle ceases for good. The average age for a woman to start experiencing premenopausal symptoms is 45, but women in their 25s and 70s can also show signs of premenopause. The length of premenopause varies from woman to woman, but it typically lasts from one to six years.
During premenopause, a woman’s hormone production begins to fluctuate and decline, which can cause a wide variety of symptoms. Most premenopausal women experience changes in their menstrual cycle. When a woman’s estrogen levels begin to decline, the menstrual cycle can shorten, causing more frequent periods. However, some women start having longer cycles and less frequent periods. Some women even skip periods. Despite these menstrual changes, a woman is not considered truly menopausal until she has had her period for twelve consecutive months.
In addition to menstrual cycle changes, the drop in estrogen levels during premenopause can cause a number of other physical symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, headaches, vaginal dryness, breast tenderness, and sleep problems. . Premenopause can also trigger a variety of emotional changes, including anxiety, irritability, depression and a sudden inability to handle stress.
Many doctors believe that premenopause is a good time for women to start artificial hormone therapy because the supplements will replace the declining internal supply instead of creating an excess. Some doctors prescribe drugs like Zoloft and Prozac to control emotional changes.
Other doctors recommend more natural ways to deal with premenopause. A common suggestion is to increase the consumption of calcium-rich foods such as milk, cheese and green leafy vegetables. Calcium is believed to protect a woman’s body from osteoporosis, emotional swings and heart disease. Eating a proper diet can also help with aches and pains associated with premenopause.
A woman who feels she is premenopausal should ask her doctor about starting an exercise program. Regular physical activity is thought to help maintain bone mass, strengthen the cardiovascular system, and help a woman sleep.
Western cultures tend to view premenopause and menopause itself as inevitable and sad hallmarks of aging. This is very unfortunate, because this belief only contributes to the emotional stress of a woman going through this stage of life. Strong, confident women who are able to maintain their positive attitude about aging and life in general tend to have far fewer complications during premenopause.
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