Menopause, just like the start of menstruation, is a period that all women go through. If they haven’t experienced it yet, they will eventually. It’s natural. However, many people believe that this is, by itself, a complete phase of transformation, which isn’t true. Menopause is part of the climacteric, a stage in a woman’s life when she ceases to be fertile. And the climacteric has other phases, such as pre-menopause. But what exactly is it? What are its symptoms? How can they be relieved? We’ll answer these and other questions in today’s text. Take a look!
What is Pre-Menopause?
Pre-menopause can be considered a transitional period between the fertile and non-fertile stages of a woman’s life. It is a phase of the climacteric and usually lasts about 10 years. When it ends, the menopause stage begins, which is when ovarian failure occurs. Pre-menopause usually starts at around 35 years of age, showing some signs throughout the period it lasts. However, some women may experience the onset of pre-menopause earlier, around 32 or 33 years old. Each body responds differently to these changes. So, even if you show signs of pre-menopause before 35, there is no need to worry.
Symptoms of Pre-Menopause
And since we mentioned the signs that pre-menopause can show, let’s talk about the main symptoms so you know how to identify them. They are:
- Constant changes in menstruation. Some months it comes as usual, in others it doesn’t. Also, periods tend to become shorter, and there are longer intervals between cycles. This is commonly called “skipped periods.”
- Decreased libido;
- Mood swings;
- Sleep difficulties.
Of course, all these symptoms don’t appear at once. However, it’s important to pay attention to them to realize that your body is going through changes.
Is Treatment Necessary?
There is a big question about whether treatment for pre-menopause or even menopause is really needed. The answer is: it depends. The truth is that every woman experiences different levels of these symptoms. Many go through them easily, while others suffer more from mood swings and menstrual problems, for example.For this reason, it is best that treatment be done when these symptoms interfere with your life in some way. As long as they are not a major annoyance, there’s no need to worry, but from the moment you feel unable to perform a daily task or have difficulty with it, it’s time to seek help.
How to Relieve the Symptoms?
There are many ways to relieve the symptoms of pre-menopause without drastically changing your life or using medication. Some of the main ways are:
- Diet
- Physical Activities
- Beauty Care
Let’s talk about each one separately and show how they can help you.
Diet
Maintaining a healthy diet is a great way to lessen the effects that pre-menopause can have. Avoiding drinks with a lot of caffeine and alcohol, for example, is a good strategy. Drinking plenty of water each day can also help a lot during this phase, as well as choosing foods rich in calcium, such as fish and vegetables. Improving your diet will not only help alleviate pre-menopausal symptoms but will also positively impact many other areas of your life.
Physical Activities
Just like keeping a healthy diet, exercising regularly is also good for your health and helps ease the effects of pre-menopause at the same time. Of course, you shouldn’t overdo it or do activities that are too demanding on your body. But maintaining regularity will certainly help you get better sleep and lessen the impact of pre-menopause.
Beauty Care
Pre-menopause causes certain changes in a woman’s mood. In addition, pre-menopause, in many cases, can lead to weight gain. As a result, you might struggle with low self-esteem, for example. That’s why taking care of your hair, nails, and skin helps women feel beautiful and good about themselves, which reduces the effects these mood changes can have.
Difference Between Pre-Menopause and Early Menopause
Many people get confused when talking about pre-menopause and early menopause, but one has nothing to do with the other. Understanding the difference between the two is crucial, as they are different conditions and require different treatments.While pre-menopause is the body’s transitioning period until menopause arrives, early menopause is the final phase itself, happening at a younger age than expected. The confusion happens because these phenomena tend to occur in women around the same age. Still, they are different issues and must be treated as such.Pre-menopause is not a cause for concern, much less for alarm. It is a natural phase in which certain symptoms will appear and may get worse with time. Still, it is important to know what it is, what symptoms it has, and what you can do to maintain a normal and healthy life despite these changes. How you approach these phases in your life says a lot about how your life can also be handled. Take a positive attitude about it and embrace pre-menopause as part of who you are. This will surely make you lighter and ready to face the next phases to come.
