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While menopause is a familiar term to most women but perimenopause isn’t. It is the process of change which leads up to menopause and it can start as early as your late thirties or as late as your early fifties. How long this phase lasts varies however it usually lasts from 2 to 8 years and you may have irregular periods or other symptoms during this time. In this article, we’ll explain menopause perimenopause and the impact it has on your health.

Women often started to notice their symptoms between the ages of 35 and 45 however perimenopause and menopause and hormonal changes seem to go hand in hand. Most perimenopausal women experience changes in their menstrual cycle but some women begin having longer cycles because they are not ovulating as frequently. When estrogen levels start to drop, the follicular phase of the cycle may be reduced and this can shorten the total cycle from 28 – 30 days to 24 – 26 days resulting in more frequent periods. This declining or fluctuating estrogen level can produce a host of symptoms like increasing vaginal dryness, breast tenderness, hot flashes and many other complications.

Sudden mood changes are an extremely common sign of menopause perimenopause and you may notice yourself feeling anxious, sad or depressed. Doctors believe that this is associated to a drop in the body’s estrogen levels and other factors like sleep habits, physical inactivity, diet and smoking can also influence your mood. As it is perfectly normal to get a case of the blues, depression which continues for more than two weeks can indicate a problem. Whenever you do experience these symptoms on a continuous basis, then see your doctor and he can suggest a course of medication and lifestyle changes that can help you to feel better. It is important to explain all of your symptoms to your physician so that an accurate diagnosis can be made.

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Tags: Hot Flashes, Menopause, Perimenopausal Women, Perimenopause