You may be in perimenopause when you miss your periods for at least 12 months. During perimenopause, the lack of periods is not because of an issue like pregnancy. Upper East Side perimenopause is a transition period before menopause develops. For instance, if your menopause comes in your early 50s, then perimenopause can occur in your late 40s.
During the years you can bear children, hormones essential in production processes, such as estrogen, are usually at healthy levels. However, the more your age increases, there is also a parallel reduction in the level of reproductive hormones.
Lower levels or abnormal rise and fall of estrogen and progesterone can lead to various signs and symptoms you witness during perimenopause. These signs and symptoms can include lack of sleep at night, unhealthy weight gain, cramps, uncomfortable sexual activity, and mood fluctuations.
For example, poor sleep can be due to mood changes, hot flashes, and night sweats, especially at nighttime. Here are the changes in your life you can implement to reverse perimenopause signs and symptoms.
- Avoid inactive living
An inactive or sedentary lifestyle usually aggravates perimenopause symptoms. A lifestyle without physical activity can also lead to health problems, like cardiovascular problems, obesity, and high blood pressure.
An active lifestyle is about incorporating physical work or activity into your daily routines. For instance, spare 30 minutes for gym workouts, walk to the grocery store, or cycle to work.
Other physical activities or tasks are cleaning your house, walking with your dog, playing football, or running.
Exercise can improve the strength and working of your body’s organs and processes. As a result, your mood can improve, and your sleep can be deeper and longer. Furthermore, exercising can alleviate hot flashes and protect you from additional weight.
- Sleep adequately
Although getting enough sleep during perimenopause is challenging, you can still sleep for the recommended duration of about eight hours.
Some strategies can come in handy to help you sleep better. For instance, avoid screen time about an hour before you begin sleeping. Avoid watching movies or using your phone since they can disrupt the increase in melatonin levels. Melatonin secretion increases whenever your sleeping time approaches.
Instead of using electronic devices, engage in other tasks that can help relax your body and mind and make it easier to fall asleep. Some relaxing activities include light exercises such as yoga and taking warm baths.
- Use of herbal medicines or supplements
Scientific studies show that some herbs can assist in managing menopausal symptoms. These natural herbal medicines or supplements can be made using flaxseed, black cohosh, ginger, and aloe.
- Apply vaginal moisturizers
During perimenopause, your vagina cannot moisturize naturally to promote comfortable vaginal sex. Improving vaginal lubrication is possible using a cream or a medication. A lubricated vagina will make sex painless, giving you and your partner more satisfaction.
If positive lifestyle changes do not help improve perimenopause symptoms, hormonal therapy is a possible solution. A hormonal treatment can boost the amount of reproductive hormones, thus relieving severe perimenopause signs.
Contact TārāMD today to book an appointment for perimenopause management.