Perimenopause Panic: How to Deal with its Signs, Stages & Symptoms?

• Written by Nidhi Goyal

  Reviewed by Akhil Pillai

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A woman’s life includes beautiful moments and tough challenges, especially during perimenopause, the transitional phase before menopause. This period is marked by hormonal changes, leading to symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep disturbances.

Health insurance tailored for perimenopause can help ease the transition. It offers coverage for hospitalisation, ambulance services, and day-care treatments. With the right plan, you can manage these changes and avoid unexpected medical expenses.

In this article, we’ll explore perimenopause symptoms and how to navigate this phase with ease.

What is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause can be understood as the transition towards the stage of menopause. It is also called the ‘evening phase’ and occurs when a woman’s ovaries generate less estrogen than in her prime years.

This leads to abnormal changes in the menstrual cycle, causing periods to become irregular and inconsistent. This is when your body signals that you are entering the menopause age while your reproductive age is about to wind up. Although the transition towards menopause can begin in some women in their late 30s, the average perimenopause age is 40-44. Perimenopause only leads to irregular ovulation cycles, and this is not cause for concern. A woman with perimenopause may get pregnant. You should be able to conceive if you have menstrual periods, even if they are irregular.

What are the Perimenopause Symptoms?

Women may not experience noticeable symptoms of perimenopause. Here are some common signs of perimenopause:

• Hot flashes: This is a common symptom of perimenopause. Hot flashes refer to the sudden warm feeling and a 'heat wave' sensation traveling through your body, often followed by night sweats. However, hot flashes' intensity, frequency, and duration may differ in all women.
• Sleeping Disorders: Since hot flashes and night sweats often occur at night, you may struggle with disrupted sleep.
• Mood Swings: Concerns about 'what happens during menopause' may cause you to experience increased stress, leading to depression and anxiety. To manage mood swings and anxiety, you should practice regular meditation and yoga routines.
• Reduced Fertility: Another common perimenopause symptom is an irregular ovulation cycle. This can be mistaken as early menopause since it is a transitional phase in your life.

What Are The 34 Symptoms of Perimenopause?

Perimenopause can cause a range of symptoms varying from woman to woman. Here is a list of 34 symptoms of perimenopause.

1. Irregular periods or skipping periods
2. Periods heavier or lighter than usual
3. Changes in mood like irritability, mood swings and depression
4. Hot flashes
5. Breast soreness
6. Recurring UTIs
7. Burning mouth
8. Low libido
9. Night sweats
10. Sleep problems (insomnia)
11. Vaginal dryness causing discomfort during intercourse
12. Urinary urgency
13. Anxiety or panic attacks
14. Depression
15. Bladder problems
16. Reduced fertility
17. Changes in sexual function
18. Loss of bone
19. Changing cholesterol levels
20. Headaches
21. Bloating
22. Change in taste
23. Thinning hair
24. Myalgia
25. Difficulty concentrating
26. Digestive problems
27. Weight gain
28. Irritability
29. Fatigue
30. Acne
31. Joint pain
32. Brittle nails
33. Electric shock sensations
34. Itchiness

How is Perimenopause Different from Menopause?

Does Perimenopause Relate to Early Menopause?

Contrary to the misconception, perimenopause is not equivalent to premature menopause. Premature menopause is a medical condition in which the ovaries completely discontinue producing estrogen at a young age. As a result, both menstruation and ovulation stop at an early age.

Here’s your guide to lesser-known facts about perimenopause:

• Perimenopause symptoms become evident in every woman at a different age. So, it’s okay if you are in your mid-30s and notice early signs of transition towards menopause, such as missed periods or night sweats.
• Although the average perimenopause age is the early 40s, noticing perimenopause symptoms at an early age does not imply premature menopause.
• While perimenopause occurs naturally, premature menopause is triggered due to unnatural causes, such as unhealthy habits like smoking or excessive drinking, or due to specific medical treatments like hysterectomy.

How to Reduce My Risk of Perimenopause Complications?

Reducing the risk of complications during perimenopause involves maintaining a healthy lifestyle and staying proactive about your health. Here are some key strategies:

• Maintain a healthy diet
• Exercise regularly
• Manage stress
• Avoid smoking
• Get regular checkups
• Prioritise sleep
• Consider hormone therapy

If you have abnormal bleeding, it might indicate infections, fibroids, blood clots, polyps, or cancer. If you experience large blood clots, heavy bleeding, bleeding after sex, more extended periods than usual, or periods less than 21 days apart, it is crucial to see a healthcare professional.

Tips to Maintain Your Cool When Struggling with Perimenopause?

Whenever you consult your gynaecologist regarding perimenopause's physiological and mental impacts, they may prescribe a customised treatment to mitigate the symptoms. However, your doctor guides you on the judicious use of medication while advising treatment only if it is indispensable. You must carefully listen and follow the advice to ensure a smooth transition through the stages of perimenopause.

Here are some essential tips to cope with the perimenopause effects:

• Limit the use of Antidepressants & Birth Control Pills: Antidepressants are necessary to relieve extreme mood swings or uncontrollable depression. Similarly, contraceptive pills help stabilise your hormonal imbalance during perimenopause age. However, you should only consume these medications if the symptoms worsen and require immediate treatment.
• Hormonal Therapy: The most evident sign of perimenopause is the lower production of estrogen hormone in the ovaries—disrupting the ovulation and menstruation processes. However, effective hormonal treatment can stabilise your estrogen levels. Your doctor may administer the estrogen dose as an ointment, gel, patch, or tablet. It is crucial to follow your doctor’s advice while undergoing such therapy honestly.
• Never take seizure medication without a doctor’s advice: Some women consume anticonvulsant medicines such as Neurontin without a prescription in case of hot flashes. This drug relieves seizure attacks related to hot flashes. However, the wrong dosage can lead to severe side effects such as panic attacks or suicidal thoughts. It is advised to take such drugs only on medical observation.
• Intimate Hygiene Solutions: You can use sanitary products for intimate hygiene. You may apply an appropriate vaginal cream or gel as your gynaecologist directs. Such products can mitigate your pain or irritation due to vaginal dryness.

What Are The Signs Perimenopause is Ending?

It is important to note that perimenopause is a transitional phase. Menopause is confirmed after 12 consecutive months without a period. Here are the signs that perimenopause is transitioning to the menopause stage:

• More delayed periods: If the time between your periods has increased, it is a sign that the perimenopause stage is transitioning. After 12 months, if your periods have stopped, it is confirmed that you have attained menopause.
• No Headache: One of the evident signs that perimenopause is ending is that you will not suffer from depression or headaches any more.
• No Mood Swings: Due to the menopausal transition, you will experience frequent mood swings until perimenopause ends.
• Frequent hot flashes: As you enter the menopause stage, you may face more frequent hot flashes.
• Lack of sleep: Due to the menopausal transition, you will start struggling with a lack of sleep.

Perimenopause: Pause, Embrace, and Flourish

In a nutshell, taking care of your body is important—especially as a woman. The perimenopausal years bring an emotional and physical shift in a woman’s life. Understanding these changes and their impact can empower women to navigate the transition easily. Yes, the journey is sometimes challenging, so women should embrace self-care practices and seek medical guidance rather than overlooking the symptoms. You could ease the situation with a financial safety net working for you. With the right health insurance plan to ensure healthcare and financial security. At Care Insurance, we offer customised Mediclaim policies with coverage options up to 6 crores, ensuring protection from minor and chronic ailments with a lifetime renewability facility.

Know in detail how to deal with the mental effects of menopause.

Disclaimer: The above information is for reference purposes only. Kindly consult your general physician for verified medical advice. The health insurance benefits are subject to policy terms and conditions. Refer to your policy documents for more information.