Yesterday was World Perimenopause Day, but not much is known about it and most people have never heard of it before. So, what exactly is perimenopause and how does it differ from menopause? Perimenopause actually means ‘around menopause’ and is the term used to describe the period of time before the actual onset of menopause. People with uterus’s can begin to experience perimenopause from their early 30s up until their late 40s. The symptoms of perimenopause are very similar to menopause, so much so that a lot of people often confuse perimenopause with menopause. Hot flashes, night sweats, headaches and sleep problems are all symptoms of perimenopause. Another common symptom is changes to your menstrual cycle, specifically to the length of your cycle. The amount of blood that’s expelled on your period might increase or decrease too. However, if the bleeding feels abnormal in any way it’s best to see a doctor for a professional opinion. Below are five myths of perimenopause:

 1. You can’t get pregnant during perimenopause:

Irregular menstrual cycles and periods are one of the most common symptoms of perimenopause. Despite this, as long as you’re still menstruating you CAN still get pregnant during perimenopause. Although estrogen levels decrease during perimenopause which makes getting pregnant a lot more difficult, but if you don’t want to get pregnant you should use birth control or a condom. The only time pregnancy is no longer a possibility is when you haven’t had your period for 12 consecutive months, this means perimenopause is over and menopause has begun.

 2. Everyone experiences perimenopause:

Not everyone with a womb experiences perimenopause. Some people may not experience it because they’ve had surgery to get their ovaries removed or had cancer treatments.

 3. The best treatment for perimenopause symptoms is hormone therapy:

As mentioned earlier, estrogen levels decrease during perimenopause. This decrease in estrogen is what sets off the different symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness for example. So, hormonal treatment like birth control pills which contain low doses of estrogen are often prescribed to people who experience these symptoms because it increases the estrogen levels which helps alleviate the symptoms. But, synthetic hormonal treatment like birth control pills aren’t the only treatment option. Antidepressants and seizure medication have also been found useful when treating symptoms.

4. Everyone experiences the same symptoms:

Some people can experience just one or two symptoms for the duration of perimenopause, while others can experience a whole array of symptoms. The most important thing is that you know your body and that you listen to it, because perimenopause just like menopause will look and feel different to everyone. A few of the most common symptoms are weight gain, vaginal dryness, lowered sex drive, hot flashes, loss of bone mass, problems with sleep, mood swings and hot flashes.

5. You’ll definitely know if you’ve entered perimenopause:

Perimenopause is a transitional stage, so sometimes the symptoms might not be as obvious especially if they’re not severe or intense.

• For more information on the key differences between perimenopause and menopause click here.