Key Points
- Missed and irregular periods are more common as perimenopause progresses.
- Regular exercise and a maintaining a balanced diet can help manage symptoms and promote smoother progress through perimenopause.
- Periods may come later, be lighter, or have a shorter duration during perimenopause.
- Tracking your menstrual cycle is one way that can help your doctor determine what stage of perimenopause you are at.
Perimenopause symptoms beginning with P are:
Period Changes
Perimenopause brings about hormone imbalance, or a decrease in estrogen. Your hormones affect your period in a variety of ways. They may come later than usual, they may be lighter than normal, or they may last a shorter amount of time. At other times your period may be very heavy and last much longer. You may have a missed period one month, then go back to normal for several months, then miss two periods. Missed periods increase as perimenopause develops into menopause. If you experience a larger gap of about 60 days or more between periods, it's likely you're in late perimenopause.
How to Manage Period Change Symptoms
While there's not many ways to combat period changes during menopause, you can take proactive steps to manage them. One crucial step is to consistently track your cycle. This can allow your doctor to determine where you are in the stage of perimenopause and provide recommendations for lifestyle adjustments. Embracing a healthy lifestyle including regular exercise and a balanced diet can contribute to smoother progress through perimenopause and potentially alleviate symptoms.
Perimenopause Symptoms A to Z
Perimenopause Information
The content of this article should not be considered professional medical advice. Exercise due diligence when seeking relevant health information. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any medical decisions.