Many women do not realize that the transition into menopause, the end of a woman's fertile time, can actually begin as early as five or ten years before their last period. Hormonal shifts cause a variety of symptoms during this time period, known as premenopause or perimenopause. Check this list of common premenopause symptoms and consult with your health care practitioner if you suspect you may be going through this transition.
Irregular Periods
Although not experienced by all women in premenopause, irregularities in the menstrual cycle are a classic symptom. Because hormone levels begin shifting in an uneven fashion, the cycle can become shorter or longer, and periods can become shorter or longer as well. Some women also experience a change in the amount of blood flow during their period compared to what they have had in the past.
Hot Flashes
Hot flashes, caused by dilation of blood vessels near the skin's surface, are typically associated with menopause itself, but can begin well in advance of that milestone. Almost 75 percent of women experience hot flashes during premenopause, according to the Mayo Clinic. Some merely have a sudden sensation of being hot, while others also rapidly become flushed and begin sweating. Consuming spicy food, caffeine or alcohol or smoking cigarettes sometimes cause hot flashes, but in other cases they occur in the absence of an obvious trigger.
Disrupted Sleep
Some women have poor sleep quality largely due to the occurrence of hot flashes. In other cases, though, a woman may have problems falling asleep or staying asleep or repeatedly wake in the morning feeling unrefreshed despite the lack of any obvious cause.
Vaginal and Urinary Discomfort
Because of changes in the tissue of the urethra and vagina, women in premenopause may experience pain or burning during urination. In addition, the decreased tissue tone renders some women more susceptible to urinary tract infections, and intercourse can cause discomfort due to dry or sensitive vaginal tissue. Practitioners often prescribe vaginal cream to relieve symptoms and improve the health of the tissue, and may also check for vaginal or urinary infection.
Mood Changes
Depression and anxiety afflict some women during the premenopause phase, but even women who don't experience such extreme problems notice other shifts in mood. Some find themselves unusually emotional and prone to crying, while others become irritable or atypically moody. Treatments can help with these changes in mood as well as physical symptoms, so consult a health care practitioner especially if you experience depression or anxiety.
Breast Tenderness
Some women experience occasional breast tenderness each month at a specific point in their monthly cycle, but during premenopause this soreness can occur unpredictably and in women who have not experienced it previously. Women who did experience it on a regular basis may find that the tenderness is even greater.
