Perimenopause is the period when a woman begins experiencing the signs and symptoms that her menstrual cycle is coming to an end. This phase can last anywhere from three to 10 years. It usually begins sometime in your 40s but can occur as early as the mid-30s for some women. Typical perimenopause symptoms include irregular periods and bleeding, hot flashes, night sweats and mood changes. But additional, rarer symptoms are also linked to perimenopause.
Insomia
Perimenopausal women occasionally report sleep disturbances. Sometimes these are related to night sweats, but sometimes they occur even without such symptoms. Estrogen seems to have a role in regulating sleep patterns, and as its production in a woman's body wanes, it can result in these seemingly mysterious bouts of wakefulness.
Acne
The changing balance of hormones in your perimenopausal body can result in acne problems. Specifically, the drop in estrogen may lead to increased levels of testosterone and other androgens, or male hormones, with one side effect being bouts of acne. The good news is that perimenopausal acne almost always clears up with the onset of menopause proper.
Breast Tenderness
Breast tenderness is another uncommon symptom of perimenopause linked to changing levels of estrogen in the body. Although sore breasts are a relatively common symptom of PMS, this sort of breast tenderness is less acute and more lingering.
Cholesterol Changes
Perimenopause can coincide with a change in your serum cholesterol levels. You may find that your cholesterol is running higher than it has in the past and that the balance of HDL, or "good," cholesterol and LDL, or "bad," cholesterol is shifting as well.
Bladder Issues
Some women begin to experience urinary issues during perimenopause. You may have an increased susceptibility to urinary tract infections. Or you may have problems with incontinence because of loss of muscle tone and elasticity.
Thinning Hair
A small number of women experience hair thinning during and after perimenopause. This is another symptom related to high levels of androgens in the body that are no longer compensated for by estrogen.
Heart Palpitations
Why some women experience a rapid, racing heartbeat during perimenopause is unknown. It is one of the more unusual symptoms of this period of life, and sometimes it is frightening. It may be reassuring to know that it's not a sign of increased heart disease risk, but just a side effect of the changes your body is experiencing at this time.
