Perimenopause and menopause are defining times in a woman’s life. In the former, her body transitions from a fertile state to a non-fertile one; in the latter, it has ended its reproductive capacity.
Much is made of the numerous uncomfortable symptoms, such as night sweats and mood swings, that accompany this period, which can begin in the mid- to late 40s and end in the early 50s.
But many women aren’t aware of symptoms other than the ones that make headlines in women’s magazines. They don’t realize what they’re experiencing is all part of the process.
At the OB/GYN practice of Dr. Hany H Ahmed in Houston, Texas, Dr. Ahmed helps many female patients through the trials and tribulations of perimenopause and menopause, including educating them about lesser-known symptoms they might experience.
The lead-up to menopause
A woman officially enters menopause when she hasn’t had a menstrual cycle or spotting for 12 consecutive months.
There’s a long lead-up period until you reach this time, during which your hormones fluctuate wildly and produce several uncomfortable symptoms. While it’s technically called perimenopause, many people lump the two events under menopause.
In your late 30s, your ovaries produce less estrogen and progesterone — the hormones that regulate menstruation — and your fertility declines. Starting in your mid-40s and for several years, your hormone levels can rise and fall unevenly, unpredictably, and dramatically.
You may find your menstrual periods become longer or shorter, heavier or lighter, and more or less frequent until eventually they stop altogether.
These hormone fluctuations affect more than whether you can get pregnant. Changes in levels can trigger physical effects throughout your body.
Common symptoms include:
Menopause also increases your risk of other health problems, including low bone density that may lead to fractures (osteoporosis) and cardiac disease.
Symptoms not as well associated in the public’s perception with menopause include:
It’s more common than you think during perimenopause to have difficulty with memory and brain processing. Research from several cognitive studies suggests verbal memory and learning are affected.
However, women still generally have a normal range of function, and only about 12% of perimenopausal women have clinically significant cognitive impairment.
Brain fog is likely due to numerous interacting factors, including changes during menopause and natural aging in the brain.
Sex hormone receptors have been found in numerous tissues of the eyes, from the lubricating glands to the lens. These hormones help maintain various states of equilibrium in your eyes.
As a result, when their levels change, you may notice blurred vision, swollen and reddened eyes, tired eyes, difficulties with contact lenses, and prescription changes.
Many women experience facial hirsutism (hair growth typical of males) during menopause — especially on the chin, upper lip, and cheeks. It may be fine hairs, peach fuzz, or lone, dark hairs.
Once again, that may be due to the change in hormones during perimenopause. Women, starting at puberty, produce both female and male sex hormones. If the levels become imbalanced, and there are more androgens, you may experience abnormal hair growth.
Some hair changes, though, may be due to the natural process of growing older or related to your family history and not related to hormones.
Menopause dries out your body’s tissues, including in your mouth. The mucous membrane that lines the mouth (oral mucosa) contains estrogen receptors, as do the glands that produce saliva.
As estrogen levels decrease, you may have difficulty making enough saliva to wash away food and help start the digestive process. Low saliva may lead to dry mouth and cavities.
Want to learn more about menopausal symptoms for October’s World Menopause Awareness Month? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Ahmed by calling 713-489-0991, or request an appointment online today.
