The years before menopause are referred to as perimenopause, and this may be anywhere between 4 and 10 years before a woman finally stops having her monthly periods. Early menopause may be occasioned by other factors like hysterectomy or genetic factors, but generally women in their mid-30s may start experiencing menopausal symptoms, all the way to the age of 55. At the very basic, ovaries gradually produce less amounts of estrogen, shortening the menstrual cycles and eventually missing the periods altogether.
One of the early indicators of perimenopause is going for 3 or more months without having your periods – this is what is called irregular periods. During this time the flow may be unusually heavy and clumpy, resulting in severe cramping. Other Premenopausal symptoms include hot flashes, mood swings, cognitive problems and challenges with concentrations, vaginal dryness, low libido and aching joints.
The symptoms of perimenopause do not have to kick off at the same time or age in every woman – each one has a unique journey in life. In fact, there is also no guarantee that the symptoms will manifest themselves in the same intensity and frequency in all women, because over time everybody becomes physically, biologically, emotionally and psychologically configured differently.
But no matter which symptoms come first or last in your own case, the good news is that perimenopause can be conquered, and so it should not scare you to death. There are many lifestyle changes you can embrace, go for treatment or medication, or adopt numerous natural menopause supplements which are readily available over the county as alternative treatment, and which are highly effective in treating perimenopause. Think of the following options.
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
There are a number of choices you can make to improve on the effect of perimenopause symptoms, and help you manage the frustrations that come with aging.
Check on your diet: It is important at this level to ensure that you partake of diets with low-fat content but rich in fiber. Go for a lot of fruits and vegetables, and be sure to consider whole grains to reduce the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.. Foods and products rich in Vitamins C and D will be very ideal in minimizing the risk of osteoporosis, besides improving your general immunity.
Engage in regular physical activities: Taking part in physical activities have been proven to help in mood elevation, boosting sleep, and prevention of undue weight gain during perimenopause. For the better part of the week (3 to 5 days), you are advised to consider exercising for at least 30 minutes on a daily basis. It is upon you to choose on the convenient time for this schedule.
Sleep well and sufficiently: If you can afford to be on time for your rest and sleep on a regular basis, this would go a long way in making life bearable during perimenopause. It would help in fighting fatigue and eliminating dizziness, and ensuring that you are strong enough to go on with life when you wake up. This is the time you avoid caffeinated drinks, and anything else that can cause interruption in your sleeping pattern.
Avoid triggers of stress: Irritation, anxiety, mood swings and depression are symptoms you can easily overcome by avoiding stress. Deliberate efforts should be pursued at home and at the place of work, to minimize stress levels. In the event of unavoidable stressful situations like the loss of a loved one, divorce or separation, relocating or loss of a job, stress reduction techniques like meditation, yoga and deep breathing have proven handy.
Treatments and use of Drugs
Talking with your doctor on the pros and cons of various treatments and drugs is indeed a requirement, before making a decision on which way to go. Your healthcare provider may advise on either of the following:
Hormone Therapy: over the years, hormone therapy has been proven highly effective in the treatment of hot flashes and other symptoms of perimenopause like night sweats. If you have not undergone hysterectomy, it’s expected that you will need both estrogen and progestin. This can always be administered in form of pills, cream or skin patch.
Antidepressants: the sudden change of moods during perimenopause can be best dealt with using antidepressants, which are equally effective in dealing with hot flashes.
Vaginal estrogen: This option includes the direct use of creams or vaginal tablets to address vaginal dryness, hence improving your sexual experience.
Alternative treatments
In the same way, it’s said that there are many ways of killing a rat, so are the options for dealing with perimenopause. Some of the alternative treatments would include black cohosh, phytoestrogens, bio-identical hormones, and acupuncture, among others.
Conclusion
The three broad options for dealing with perimenopause (alternative treatments, treatments and use of drugs, as well as lifestyle and home remedies, are all viable options you can always resort to, but once again be sure to check on the benefits and risks associated with each one of them. Your medical services provider will be very instrumental in assessing the situation and helping you make the right choices for a healthier life.
References
https://www.glozine.com/lifestyle/health/supplements-to-ease-menopause.html
https://www.thebeautyinsiders.com/menopause-supplements
