Perimenopause A Stage in a Woman's Life

In the past, perimenopause was unknown. Everyone, including doctors, thought that women gradually ceased menstruation sometime in their 40's or 50's. People did not believe that there was a problem with the transition. There were a few who objected to that thesis, but the entire medical world, at that time, held to the earlier belief. Few had an inkling that they were ignoring a period in a woman's life that can pose serious risks to their health and body.

We can only guess why that belief was left largely unchallenged. There may be two possible reasons. The first reason was that the medical and scientific professions at that time were dominated by males. It's very hard to diagnose a disease that a person can't relate to with their own bodies. Subtle changes are harder to grasp, especially for something that is not really a sickness. Secondly, something else was confusing the doctors of that time. There was a syndrome that was extremely similar to the symptoms of perimenopause. It was called PMS.

PMS or pre-menstrual syndrome was originally described in 1931. PMS is characterized by changes in the hormones that trigger disruptive symptoms that start two weeks before menstruation occurs. Many women suffer from PMS. Some estimate that 40 million women are affected by it. The symptoms of PMS gradually leave after menstruation. PMS sufferers do not feel the symptoms until the cycle begins anew.

There are many symptoms of PMS. These include:

- Mood changes, like depression and irritability
- Headaches and migraine
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Heart palpitations
- Decrease in libido

If you compare the symptoms of PMS with the symptoms of perimenopause, they look remarkably similar. The symptoms for PMS listed above can also be the symptoms of perimenopause. Even the basic causes of both perimenopause and PMS are similar: hormonal changes and fluctuations. While the effects are similar, the reasons for the fluctuations between the two are different. For PMS, the changes or fluctuations in the hormones occur in preparation for childbirth. To be specific, it prepares a woman's body to house a child. It also prepares the body for the secretion of blood later on. The hormonal fluctuations due to perimenopause does not prepare for a coming life. It prepares for the eventual end of a woman's fertility.

While the symptoms are the same, there is one large difference. There are times when a woman who suffers from PMS no longer exhibits the symptoms of PMS. Remember, it was mentioned earlier that the symptoms of PMS come and go in a cycle. Women who are perimenopausal usually suffer one or two symptoms all the time.

Diagnosing whether you are suffering from PMS or perimenopause is the first step in finding a way to alleviate the symptoms. Age is not a reliable differentiator because perimenopause can arrive as early as a woman's 30's. There's a good book that can help you learn about perimenopause. It can also help in figuring out whether you're suffering from PMS or perimenopause. Download a copy at Surviving Perimenopause. It can really help in alleviating pain.

Exercise makes us healthier. It doesn't matter what age we're in. It is particularly good when we are perimenopausal. Exercising during perimenopause helps us cope with rigors of that troublesome time. A healthy, physically fit body can stand up better to the pain and the different changes that we will experience. Just a little exercise everyday will help us to cope and live with perimenopause