Menopause is an important time in the lives of all women. And just before it hits you, you may go through perimenopause – when your body begins to transition into menopause. During this change, your ovaries begin to produce less hormones, causing your menstrual cycles to become irregular or irregular.

Perimenopause – a natural or normal progression as your body approaches the end of your reproductive years. However, it comes with both physical and emotional symptoms, some of which can disrupt your life or make you uncomfortable.

Some strange symptoms of perimenopause that women should be aware of include:

irregular periods

As your ovulation slows, your menstrual cycle will become irregular – which may mean shorter or longer cycle lengths, missed periods and fluctuations in menstrual bleeding. Experts say that your periods may also be heavier or lighter than usual.

weight gain

Doctors say that menopause can also bring about a lot of changes in your metabolism – resulting in changes in your body composition. You may gain weight easily or feel that your physical functioning is different.

night sweats

Changes in estrogen levels cause many temperature variations in your body, causing you to feel suddenly hot in your upper body. You may experience irritating and debilitating hot flashes, causing heavy sweating, flushing and cold shivers, which last from 30 seconds to 10 minutes.

urinary urgency

Doctors say that during perimenopause, the muscles of your vagina and urinary tract begin to weaken — causing strain. These physical and mental health changes cause urinary incontinence or involuntary urination even during sneezing or coughing.

insomnia

For women going through perimenopause, hormonal imbalance makes it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. Night sweats or night hot flashes are more likely to disrupt sleep during perimenopause, leading to insomnia.

ghost smell

Perimenopause can cause phantom odors – also known as phantosmia – a condition where one smells things that aren’t there, such as smoke or tobacco, when one is not smoking. Phantasmia is common in women during perimenopause.

Other changes in your sense of smell during perimenopause include being able to smell things more or less intensely than before or even disliking certain smells, such as perfume or cleaning products.

noise sensitivity

Perimenopausal syndrome often involves noise sensitivity in a number of ways, including tinnitus, a ringing in the ears that may come and go and may be more noticeable in quiet environments. Menstruators going through perimenopause may experience mild to moderate hearing loss and may have difficulty hearing loud sounds or understanding speech in noisy environments.

Fluctuations in hearing levels or difficulty processing sounds may be caused by increased cortisol levels, which can affect the inner ear and auditory pathways.

At what age does perimenopause begin?

Experts say perimenopause begins about eight to 10 years before menopause. It usually starts in your mid-40s, but it can start earlier. Some medical conditions or procedures cause early menopause. If there is no medical or surgical cause for premature menopause, it is called primary ovarian insufficiency.

Ways to Improve Perimenopause Symptoms

You may be able to manage perimenopause symptoms at home without needing medication from your doctor. Some tips to treat your symptoms without medication include:

• Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats
• Do weight-bearing exercises like walking, hiking or strength training
• Dress in layers so you can take off your clothes if you start sweating or feel hot
• Use a fan or keep your home at a cooler temperature
• Improve sleep hygiene by staying away from TV and computer screens and doing relaxing activities before bed
• Limit Alcohol and Caffeine
• practice meditation
• Stop using tobacco products

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