How to Prepare for Perimenopause

As women we hear so much about menopause – the symptoms, when it will start, how it feels. But perimenopause? Not so much.

What is Perimenopause?

As the name indicates perimenopause is a precursor to menopause. Menopause occurs when the ovaries no longer release any eggs and is defined as the absence of periods for one year.

Perimenopause is a little more difficult to distinguish since it can begin with various symptoms. Basically, when a woman’s body starts preparing for menopause they have entered perimenopause – which essentially means their ovaries begin releasing fewer eggs.

Just how a traffic jam doesn’t just suddenly occur but rather builds up, the body doesn’t just one day enter menopause. During this transition period, women will often experience symptoms that are less severe than menopause but still uncomfortable and unpleasant.

A Gradual Process

Women are born with about 2 million eggs but about 10,000 die off before puberty and then thousands during every monthly cycle. The body does not produce additional eggs, which means the eggs a woman is born with is all she’ll ever have.

As a woman ages and her body ramps up for menopause, estrogen levels begin to drop and fewer eggs are released every month which can result in irregular periods accompanied by these other symptoms:

• Sleeping issues: Hormonal swings and night sweats can make getting those much needed Zzzzs difficult.
• Heating up: Although hot flashes tend to be more prevalent during menopause, some women do experience them during perimenopause. These sudden hot moments occur when blood vessels close to the skin’s surface expand to help cool off the body. The result? A red, flushed face followed by sweating – the trademark signs of a hot flash. Some women also experience an increased heart rate and/or chills.
• Fluctuating emotions: Many women deal with mood swings and depression during perimenopause as estrogen levels decline along with the feel-good hormone called serotonin.
• Losing that sexual feeling: Another side effect of decreased estrogen is a decline in sexual desire.
• Drying up: It’s not just in your imagination, those pesky estrogen levels also impact the vagina lubrication mechanisms. And when the vagina is dry, even when stimulated, it’s difficult to be excited about sex.

Treating Perimenopause Naturally

Now that we’re done with all the doomsday scenarios, the good news is this time in your life doesn’t have to be rife with unpleasant symptoms. There are a host of natural treatment options for perimenopause that don’t compromise your health for effectiveness. In addition, just a few lifestyle tweaks can get you feeling better quickly.

• Avoid surgery but still alleviate vaginal dryness with the minimally invasive O Shot. This vaginal rejuvenating treatment is a great option for women during perimenopause who are dealing with a decline in estrogen and often a loss of sexual interest due partly to a dry vagina. The O Shot takes the patient’s own plasma, which contains growth factors and uses those to address a host of issues including dryness and sexual dysfunction.
• Hormone replacement therapy can help with the fluctuations associated with perimenopause but some women are reluctant to take them out of concerns about potential side effects. Thankfully bio replacement hormone therapy exists, a natural alternative. The hormones, which are derived from botanical products, are placed under the skin. The customized combination of estrogen, progestin, testosterone and other hormones help address perimenopausal related symptoms.
• Exercising and eating right is something we know helps but sometimes forget when issues arise. Numerous studies show that exercise helps raise serotonin levels, essentially making you a happier person. Jumping on the treadmill or heading out for a walk also helps with sleep and energizes you. Making sure your diet includes a variety of fresh vegetables and fruit and avoiding caffeine and alcohol also helps.

There are many ways to combat perimenopause and feel happier and healthier. To learn more about the natural treatments offered by Dr. Ghozland, contact his office and schedule a free consultation.