Perimenopause, which actually means "around menopause" usually occurs between ages 40 and 44 and can last up to 10 years, although the average is four to eight. This also happens to be the time in a womans life when after being told we could have it all are actually doing it all. Juggling work and family life can often be a distraction to prevent us from prioritising ourselves and often, our needs will be put on the back burner ultimately delaying the ultimate discussion with a health professional.
Here are five top signs that it's time to prioritise yourself and make the first step in making a plan with your GP to start managing your perimenopausal symptoms.
Wow!! Is the heating on?
Do you often get waves of heat, feel constantly "clammy" or have noticed that you are suffering from more frequent "night sweats"?
This is one of the most common symptoms with over 80 percent of women experiencing one or more of these symptoms. Many call them "hot flashes" but many of just feel like we're over heating either at certain times of the day or at irregular times.
Desperate for a full night of sleep?
So the kids are grown, you're exercising more and you've even reduced the amount of caffeine you've been drinking throughout the day but still, you can't seem to get a full night's sleep.
MMMmm..... now what was I saying?
This is definately a biggy for me. Whether it's forgetting why I entered a room, the name of the next door neighbour or forgetting how to do the mundane task at work, "brain fog" as they call it, or just plain and simple forgetfullness is an frequent occurrence.
“I think when you get into perimenopause, you notice a lot of changes. I can feel the hormonal shifts happening, the sweating, the moods—you’re all of a sudden furious for no reason,”
Gwyneth Paltrow
Oh No! My period is late..... oooh there it is!
You know exactly the date and time that your monthly period friend will show up and you've been like that for years! However, more recently, they've decided to appear early, not shown up at all or sometimes, just popped in to say hello before disappearing for the next few months.
Changes in your monthly cycle are a ket trigger that hormonal changes are happening and it's time to speak to a health professional.
Moody? How dare you!!
Remember back to the days that you had only just started your periods? As regular as clock work you'd start snapping at people, crying because you couldn't find your favourite hair bobble and the rest of the family would keep their heads down, talking to you in a soft voice and whispering to each other, "she's on her period". Well, fast forward a number of years and yet again that feeling of "out of control emotions" has popped right back to remind you of the feeling of that emotional rollercoaster.
"Often what feels like a terrible change, is really just a pathway to a far better place"
Karen Salmansohn
Do any of these Perimenopause symptoms sound familiar?
So, this wasn't an exhaustive list and you may be experience a couple of them or for some people, all of them but don't hide away. Even if you can't relate to any of these but you "just don't feel right", don't suffer in silence. Speak to someone. You have the support of friends and family around you and if you've noticed, they certainly will. Speak to a health professional, there is no such thing as a "stupid question" and long gone are the days that women have to suffer in silence. Speak up now and seek the answers you deserve.
Dr Sarah Aylward is our GP here at R&B Clinical with special interests in women's health and menopause.
With over 18 years experience as a GP, Dr Aylward provides appointments to discuss menopausal symptoms and a personalised plan to managed symptoms.
This includes non hormonal treatments as well as Hormone Replacement Therapy, which can be prescribed if appropriate.
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