How do you know if you are in perimenopause?

If you're approaching your 40s or 50s and notice irregularities in your period, you may be experiencing perimenopause. 

Irregularities may include periods that:

• Have more or less bleeding than usual.

• Last longer or are shorter than usual.

• Occur very close together or at unexpected times.

• Resume after no bleeding for more than a month but less than a year.

Other common perimenopause experiences include:

• Aches and pains in muscles and joints.

• Loss of bladder control (incontinence) — You may suddenly need to urinate or leak during exercise, sneezing, or laughing. 

• Bladder infections.

• Cognitive changes – You may experience forgetfulness, slower thinking, confusion, and difficulty concentrating.

• Decreased sex drive – You may have shifting feelings about or loss of interest in sex.

• Difficulty sleeping – You may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.

• Dry skin – Aging skin retains less moisture, resulting in dryness. It also loses structural proteins called collagen and elasticity, creating sags or wrinkles.

• Headaches.

• Heart palpitations.

• Hot flashes – A sudden feeling of heat in your body may cause flushing of the face and neck, red blotches, heavy sweating, and cold shivering. Hot flashes can last between 30 seconds and 10 minutes.

• Mood disturbances – You may feel moodier, more anxious, or more irritable.

• Night sweats – Hot flashes that wake you from your sleep.

• Vaginal itching or dryness.

• Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia) – Vaginal dryness may make sex uncomfortable or painful.

• Weight gain – You may notice more abdominal fat due to muscle and body composition changes.

• Increase in use of OTC drugs, recreational drugs, and alcohol