What do we talk about when we talk about the symptoms of perimenopause? Is it a hot flash now and then, some night sweats and a grumpy mood? At times that’s what both society as a whole and even the medical profession seems to believe. I wish they were right. Unfortunately, they are not and that is why it is so important to talk about what can actually happen once you hit 40 and your estrogen levels start to decline. Read through the picture above. It is a list of symptoms that can be related to perimenopause or menopause according to the most recent science and research. You might not experience more than a few symptoms; you might experience a lot of them.
25% of women describe their symptoms during menopause as severe. 20% have mild symptoms. Over 80-90% have symptoms. In Sweden there are currently 644 000 women between the ages of 40-55, which means that approximately 580 000 women right now are most probably experiencing menopausal symptoms. And that 160 000 experience severe menopausal symptoms that dramatically affect their daily lives. Let that number sink in. 160 000. It’s as many as inhabitants of Västerås. Or Lund and Kävlinge kommun combined.
If you are among the “lucky” ones that don’t experience the most grave of the symptoms you might likely have a few of the most common ones:
- Hot flashes
- Sleep problems
- Mood changes and depression
- Dry mucous membranes and skin
- Body composition changes/belly fat
- Urinary tract infections
- Lower bone density
- Changes in your menstrual cycle
- Vaginal dryness
- Brain fog
- Night sweats
It really feels like a shit show, this puberty in reverse. So, should we just suffer and power through the whole ordeal? Well, you can, but you don’t have to. If your experience during these years is too much for you to bear, seek medical help. There are pharmaceutical solutions, such as HRT (Hormonal Replacement Therapy). There are anti- depressants that can not only deal with mood problems but also hot flashes.
Many women want to go through the perimenopausal years without medical intervention even though they have symptoms, and many cannot take HRT due to other conditions (such as breast cancer and cardiovascular disease). Can they do something to make it less of a struggle? Yes, of course! Working out has been proven effective against many of the symptoms such as weight gain, hot flashes, bone density and mood changes. It can also help you sleep better. In a previous post you can read all about exercise and menopause (which is good for you even if you take HRT).
Another way of coping with hot flashes is wearing clothes made from breathable fibers such as wool or bamboo. Studies have also shown that caffeine and alcohol make the symptoms worse so you might want to limit the intake of that. I know, it can sound like a boring life, only working out and not drinking coffee or wine, but that is not what I mean you should do. I strongly believe that you should also fill your life with the things that makes you feel good, take time for yourself, let yourself lay on the sofa and binge watch a tv- show, lower the demands and expectations and maybe, just maybe, let yourself be at bit lazy. I, a single mum of two teenagers, always crash on the sofa for 20 minutes when I come home from work, just to get my energy back before starting up the household chores. That makes my evenings so much easier.