Common Questions for Women in Perimenopause
What can I expect during perimenopause?
What are the physical and mental symptoms of perimenopause, and what can I do to minimize them?
What lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, can I make that might help support me?
Why does everything seem so overwhelming?
How can I deal with stress?
What will improve sleep and weight issues?
What should I avoid to prevent the worsening of my symptoms?
How can I talk to my loved ones about what I am going through?
What is Perimenopause?
Perimenopause means “around menopause”. Perimenopause refers to the months or years when estrogen levels shift dramatically, but are ultimately declining, as a woman moves toward menopause. For many women, who are highly symptomatic, perimenopause is often the most problematic phase. It can be a time when emotional and physical symptoms feel overwhelming and unbearable.
What is Menopause?
Menopause comprises just one day in a woman’s life. Once a woman has gone 365 days, or one year, without a period, she has officially reached menopause.
What is Postmenopause?
After menopause, women will spend the rest of their lives in postmenopause. At this point, a woman is no longer ovulating, and she can not get pregnant. Estrogen and progesterone are low. Low estrogen levels can cause symptoms for some women.
”The Menopausal Transition” or “The Menopause” are phrases that are often used to describe a woman’s journey from early perimenopause to the point in postmenopause where symptoms abate.