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Perimenopause: When Does It Start, and How Long Does It Last?
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Most women can expect their first menstrual period by 15, and they generally continue until reaching 45-55. However, aging causes periods to become irregular and eventually cease. After a year without a menstrual cycle, you have officially entered menopause — the end of your reproductive era.
Perimenopause signals the decline of your fertility and oncoming changes to your body and life. Our perimenopause specialist at The Well for Health in Mooresville, North Carolina, helps women prepare for the varying stages of this natural process.
Every woman has a different experience. We help you learn what to expect from your changing body from perimenopause to menopause and onward.
Unpacking perimenopause
Perimenopause is a transitional period that can last from a few months to 10 years. That said, about four years is the average. This period begins when your body reduces estrogen production. Some women encounter the first symptoms of perimenopause in their 30s, but they normally start sometime in their 40s.
Symptoms of perimenopause can include:
- Fatigue
- Mood swings
- Irregular periods
- Vaginal dryness
- Hot flashes
- Reduced libido
- Urinary incontinence
- Tender breasts
If these all sound like typical menopause symptoms — they are. However, you will still experience periods. They often become irregular but are still present. For example, if you usually had 28-day menstrual cycles, they will now seem shorter or spaced differently.
Women typically become less fertile in their late 30s and early 40s. That is especially true during perimenopause. However, you can still get pregnant.
Perimenopause to menopause
As this transitional period continues, your estrogen levels decrease. Menopausal symptoms often intensify or multiply.
Menopause officially begins when your ovaries stop releasing eggs. That happens when you’ve gone without a menstrual period for one year. Most women complete menopause in about 4-5 years.
Symptoms of menopause are similar to those of perimenopause listed above. This natural process produces unpleasant side effects and impacts on your life. Our Well for Health perimenopause and menopause specialists help you find therapies and lifestyle changes to reduce health risks and irritating symptoms. These can include:
- Better diet
- Enjoyable exercise
- Quitting smoking
- Reducing alcohol intake
- Weight management
- Mitigating health risks
- Regular checkups and tests
- Bioidentical hormone therapy
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
- MonaLisa Touch® laser therapy for vaginal dryness
The Well for Health uses a functional medicine approach to finding the best long-term solutions for perimenopause and menopause discomfort and health-related risks.
If you are facing these natural aging challenges, schedule a complimentary phone consultation with us in Mooresville, North Carolina. We can help you discover ways to face what happens next and maintain a better quality of life.
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