Why Perimenopause Is Not About Your Age

Perimenopause is the two to ten years before your last period. It is different from menopause, which is the life stage that starts one year after the last period.

The usual age for the last period is from 45 to 55, so the usual age for perimenopause is up to ten years before that—as early as 35.

That is why perimenopause is not about getting older but is instead about an important (and unavoidable) resetting of your hormone system.

The timing of menopause is from your genes.

Menopause has existed as long as we have been human and is not just a result of living too long. According to some historians, menopause may even have been the main reason for the development of a longer human life.

According to Naturopathic Doctor Lara Briden, you are set by your genes to reach menopause at about the age your mother or female relatives reached it.

If that is on the earlier side of usual (mid-40s), please know that you are well and healthy and not getting older faster than your friends.

If, however, you are set by your genes to reach menopause on the later side of usual (mid-50s), then your perimenopause is happening with getting older but is not caused by getting older.

Lastly, if you enter menopause before age 40, it is the medical condition of early menopause or primary ovarian lack and is also not about getting older.

Perimenopause is the two to ten years before your final period. It’s different from menopause, which is the life phase that begins one year after the final period.

The normal age for the final period is anywhere from 45 to 55 so the normal age for perimenopause is up to ten years before that—as young as 35.

That’s why perimenopause is not about ageing but is instead about an important (and unavoidable) reset of your hormonal system.

The timing of menopause is genetic 

Menopause has been around for as long as we’ve been human and is not just an accident of living too long. According to some historians,menopause may even have been the driving force behind the evolution of a longer human lifespan.

According to Australian Naturopathic doctor Lara Briden, you are genetically programmed to achieve menopause at approximately the age your mother or female relatives achieved it.

If that’s on the younger end of normal (mid-40s), please know that you’re fine and healthy and not ageing more rapidly than your friends.

If, on the other hand, you’re genetically programmed to achieve menopause on the older end of normal (mid-50s), then you’re perimenopause is happening alongside aging but is not caused by ageing.

Finally, if you enter menopause before age 40, it’s the medical condition of premature menopause or primary ovarian insufficiency and is also not about ageing.

How to diagnose perimenopause

Perimenopause cannot be found by FSH or any other lab test. It is found by age and signs where Menopause (early menopause too) can be found by two high FSH readings (over 40 IU/L) a month apart.

Jerilynn C Prior, a Canadian professor of hormones, says a woman in midlife with normal cycles is likely in perimenopause if she sees three of these nine changes:

1. new heavy and/or longer flow
2. shorter periods (25 days or less)
3. new sore, swollen or lumpy breasts
4. new waking in the middle of sleep
5. more period pain
6. start of night sweats, especially before periods
7. new or much worse headaches
8. new or more mood swings before periods
9. weight gain with no change in exercise or eating.

So, if you are older than 35, and have at least three signs on this list, you are likely in perimenopause.

What are the hormone changes of perimenopause?

In the first stages of perimenopause, the main change is less progesterone from shorter luteal phases and more cycles without eggs—even with normal periods.

Less progesterone adds to worry, breast pain, racing heart, night sweats, bad headaches and heavy periods.

As progesterone drops, oestrogen rises up to three times normal level, which adds to bad mood, breast pain and heavy periods.

Changes of progesterone and oestrogen in perimenopause.

High oestrogen signs come from the hormone’s direct effects and from oestrogen’s indirect effects on mast cells and histamine.

Perimenopause signs mainly come from losing progesterone, not oestrogen, which is why progesterone, not oestrogen, can help more.

Helpful information 

Perimenopause is when you begin to see the shifts that lead you into the Menopause phase of your life.

KThat is the time to check your hormone balance to see if your symptoms can be helped by progesterone, oestrogen or a combination of both.

One of the clearest indicators is the shift in your monthly cycle when bleeds can become less often, more often, heavier, lighter, or some mix of all of those.

If this is one symptom you are experiencing, then this article will help.

https://blog.wellsprings-health.com/perimenopause-and-periods-what-can-you-expect/