Symptoms can vary, and you may be prone to some of the effects more than others.
Medical illnesses such asthyroid disease,punch in 2 diabetes, andendometrial cancercan have similar effects.
Common symptoms of perimenopause include the following.
Verywell / Madelyn Goodnight
Period Changes
Changes in your usual menstrual pattern are among the most noticeable signs of perimenopause.
You may have irregular bleeding, intermittent spotting, or changes in yourpremenstrual symptoms.
Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
Hot flashescan occur at any time, regardless of the environmental temperature.
Some women also frequently feel warm and are prone to sweating during perimenopause.
Night sweatsusually occur at night and can leave you and your blankets soaked.
Less vaginal lubrication also impedes fertilization of an egg by a sperm.
Sleeping difficulties, in turn, can worsen mood changes.
You may “leak” when laughing, exercising, or holding urine for long.
Hair Problems
You may lose hair, resulting in thinning on your head.
You may also get more hair on your face due to the shift in hormones.
These physical effects are typically without symptoms.
Causes
Throughout the reproductive years, you produce several different estrogen hormones.
These hormones help regulate the menstrual cycle and facilitate pregnancy through the action of complex feedback mechanisms.
Ovulation (ovaries releasing an egg) declines.
The processes that accompany this, such as monthly production of the uterine lining, also decline during perimenopause.
Menstruation, the release of the uterine lining when there is no pregnancy, gradually ceases as well.
There are also other causes for induced menopause, including pelvic radiation or chemotherapy.
In these cases, women may bypass the menstrual changes that typically occur during the perimenopausal stage.
However, they may still experience other symptoms such as hot flashes or sleep disturbances.
Often, women seek medical attention for the more distressing effects of perimenopause.
For example, irregular periods are usually a cause of concern.
Similarly, mood changes, hot flashes, and UTIs often prompt a visit to the healthcare provider.
To complicate matters, decreased estrogen in perimenopause can exacerbate many of the symptoms related to such conditions.
Examination and Testing
There is no diagnostic test or imaging study to confirm perimenopause.
Treatment
Most women do not need to take medication to relieve perimenopausal effects.
Often, lifestyle strategies can have a big impact on symptoms.
For some women, symptoms are especially bothersome andhormonal birth controlcan be helpful.
Lifestyle
Taking practical steps to ease your comfort may be all you need.
This is especially true if your symptoms are mild and intermittent.
Treatments can range from simple over-the-counter (OTC) medication to prescription therapies.
For example, OTCvaginal lubricantscan help relieve vaginal dryness.
Many of the symptoms of perimenopause are temporary and do not continue after menopause.
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National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.Uterine fibroids.
Cho MK.Use of combined oral contraceptives in perimenopausal women.Chonnam Med J.
2018;54(3):153. doi:10.4068/cmj.2018.54.3.153
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Hormone therapy for menopause.
The North American Menopause Society.The experts do agree about hormone therapy.
Kaunitz AM, Manson JE.Management of menopausal symptoms.Obstet Gynecol.
