What is perimenopause?

Perimenopause, also known as menopausal transition, describes the stage when a woman is approaching closer to menopause. This is the last phase before menopause actually occurs when the ovaries begin to produce fewer hormones. This stage tends to begin about 1-5 years before the final menstruation and can continue for about 1 year after. During this stage, some women may experience irregular periods and may begin to experience several other menopausal symptoms like vaginal dryness, bladder problems and hot flashes. In fact, it is not uncommon for women to have more symptoms during this stage than after menopause begins.

Many doctors claim that in some women, the perimenopause stage can persist for up to 15 years. Unfortunately, because this stage often occurs when women are between the ages of 35 and 45, a large portion of doctors ignore their symptoms. Although most women will experience some

symptoms of menopause, some women will react differently to this life stage. A small amount of women will barely notice any differences in their body or feel any symptoms. On the other hand, another small portion will experience severe symptoms. Most of these women, if left untreated, will inevitably need surgical intervention. However, for this specific group of women, it is important that doctors provide alternatives to surgery, as well as explain the consequences of the potential surgery. A surgery, such as a hysterectomy, should be used as the last option.

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