Perimenopause - The Definition
The Definition of Perimenopause:
The period immediately preceding the onset of menopause. Perimenopause begins about 6 years before the onset of natural menopause. If you have suffered with PMS over your lifetime - the symptoms will sound very familiar: irregular menstrual patterns (irregularity in the length of the period, the time between periods, and the level of flow) caused by the fluctuating levels of hormones produced by the aging ovaries, mood swings and weight gain.
Other changes associated with the perimenopause and menopause include night sweats, vaginal dryness, fluctuations in sexual desire (libido), forgetfulness, trouble sleeping and fatigue, (most likely from loss of sleep!) and hot flashes (a sudden warm feeling with blushing).
