What is Perimenopause?
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What is Perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the transition time between a woman's reproductive years and menopause. Typically, perimenopause occurs between the ages 40 to 51(average age is 47), but hormonal changes may start as early as the late 30s. As women age, the supply of eggs in the ovaries is depleted. In the 40s, the supply is very low, and menstrual cycles without ovulation (anovulatory cycles) become more frequent. Due to the increase in anovulatory cycles, perimenopausal women often have low levels of progesterone, with high or fluctuating levels of estrogen. High estrogen, low progesterone or an imbalance of estrogen to progesterone may be associated with many of the symptoms that perimenopausal women experience including hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety, depression, irritability, insomnia, headaches, palpitations and irregular, prolonged or heavy menses. These symptoms are often worse before the menstrual period, so many women may think they are having PMS, when it may be the beginning of perimenopause. If you are experiencing symptoms of Perimenopause, you are not alone.
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