Perimenopause vs Menopause: Here Are Some of the Best Tips for Both Stages of Life!

Until recently, menopause has been culturally perceived as a shameful event in a woman’s reproductive life. Even in medicine, it has been a neglected area of study with most medical schools and residency programs lacking menopause education.

Thankfully, menopause stigma has lessened, and education and awareness are growing. It’s not surprising though that there’s still a lot of confusion about this important phase of a woman’s reproductive life.

In particular, confusion remains about how perimenopause and menopause differ. Part of the same overall reproductive life transition, perimenopause and menopause have unique features and symptoms.

Here’s an overview of the differences between perimenopause and menopause for women so that you can understand your reproductive life phases better and take better care of your health. (Men, this is for you too! It’s helpful for us all to understand what happens in a woman’s body.)

What Is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause is a natural phase in a woman’s reproductive life. It literally means “around” or “near” menopause. Hence, perimenopause is the transitional phase before menopause occurs. Menopause marks the end of a woman’s reproduction.

Perimenopause begins with the onset of irregular periods and ends after a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a period. Statistical research shows that perimenopause usually begins between ages 45 to 50, it can start earlier (as early as mid-30s) or later (as late as mid-50s) for some women.

In terms of duration, perimenopause usually lasts 4 to 5 years. But again, it can vary. While some women can go through perimenopause within a few months, others may be symptomatic for as long as 8 years before menses stop completely.

What Happens to You During Perimenopause?

Perimenopause has two phases: an early phase and a late phase.

During the early phase of perimenopause, your estrogen levels start to fluctuate, which causes fluctuations in progesterone. It’s marked by changes in your menstrual flow and in the length of your period.

In the late stages of perimenopause, estrogen levels start to decline significantly. You’ll begin missing periods as ovulation becomes irregular and eventually stops. Without adequate estrogen, you’ll likely experience vaginal dryness. You may have pain during intercourse as the lining of your vagina thins. You may begin to have hot flashes. These occurrences usually start about 6 months before your last period. The symptoms can last from 6 months to 5 years after the onset of menopause.

You might experience any of the following symptoms during perimenopause:

• Night sweats
• Sleep problems
• Mood changes
• Irregular periods
• Vaginal dryness
• Pain during intercourse
• Hot flashes
• Mental fog
• Fatigue
• Breast soreness
• Dry skin/acne
• Hair loss
• Headaches and dizziness
• Joint pain and muscle tension

What Is Menopause?

Menopause marks the end of your reproductive life. The name menopause is derived from the Greek words pausis (pause) and men (month). You’re considered to have reached menopause when you’ve gone a full 12 months without a menstrual period. It occurs naturally after your ovaries stop producing eggs. As you enter menopause, your ovarian production of estrogen and progesterone declines until it eventually stops altogether. Once menopause is reached, you become postmenopausal for the remainder of your life.

The average age of menopause in the U.S. is 51, but the range is between 45 and 58. In some cases, a woman may enter menopause prematurely. The causes of early and premature menopause aren’t always known. More often, early menopause is a result of medical treatments such as surgical removal of the ovaries or uterus or chemotherapy or pelvic radiation.

Menopause is no doubt a critical phase in a woman’s life because multiple areas of health are impacted, and symptoms can be very challenging.

What Are the Symptoms of Menopause?

Many of the symptoms of perimenopause continue or increase in menopause. Research shows that vasomotor (affecting the narrowing and widening of the blood vessels) symptoms are the most commonly experienced symptoms during menopause. Approximately 75% and up to 80% of women experience:

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Palpitations
• Migraines

Approximately 50% to 75% of women experience vaginal and urinary problems. As mentioned, with the estrogen loss, your vaginal lining thins and becomes less elastic, which may cause dryness, burning, and irritation. This may become even more pronounced in menopause as ovarian estrogen production ceases. You may also experience greater frequency and urgency of urination. Low estrogen increases the risk of vaginal and urinary tract infections as pH changes occur in the vagina and urinary tract reducing the good bacteria that help keep infectious bacteria in check.

Your brain has estrogen receptors in a variety of regions. These areas regulate cognition and mood. Decreased estrogen may cause any of the following:

• Anger or irritability
• Feelings of anxiousness; tension
• Low mood
• Loss of concentration
• Low self-esteem; loss of confidence
• Low libido

Most concerningly, the loss of estrogen and progesterone in menopause may increase your risk of:

• Sleeplessness
• Bone loss
• Abdominal weight gain
• Heart health issues
• Brain health problems

What Can You Do?

It’s not all doom and gloom! There are many measures you can take to reduce the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause including any of the following:

Estradiol Cream

If you’re experiencing vaginal pain or dryness, or an increase in vaginal or urinary infections, talk to your doctor about trying a topical estradiol cream. It replenishes estrogen to these areas, which can reverse the conditions and is considered to be safe.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

One of the most effective ways to counter symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause is to start hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Its risks were overstated in past years due to a flawed conclusions drawn from longitudinal research. There are still risks, particularly for women who’ve had breast health issues, but not as great as once thought.

HRT can help protect against bone loss and reduce vasomotor symptoms, research shows. Some women choose to take bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, which are compounded from plant hormones. However, they aren’t regulated by the FDA. Talk to your OB/Gyn or medical doctor to learn more.

Natural Health Solutions

Herbal remedies and nutritional supplements may help to minimize hot flashes, boost mood, support bone health, or help with other issues. Alternative medicine such as acupuncture may help with symptoms. Discuss options with your medical doctor.

Make Changes to and Improve Lifestyle

Making some lifestyle adjustments and adding activities can go a long way for minimizing symptoms for both perimenopause and menopause. They also tend to make you healthier! Try any of the following:

Postmenopausal Life

It’s important to remember that while the end of your reproductive cycle is challenging and indeed a milestone in aging, it’s also a beginning to a new and wonderful chapter of life. Many women experience increased happiness and productivity during this phase of life as they can focus on their own needs, desires, and interests.

At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality supplements to improve your physical health and overall well-being. For more information about our full list of brain healthy supplements, please visit us at BrainMD.

Meet the Author

Kim Henderson, Writer

Kim Henderson has been writing about health, beauty, wellness and the environment for more than 15 years. She’s the author of the award-winning book 50 Simple Steps to Save the World’s Rainforests and the former editor of Healthy Living magazine. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from UCLA.