Things sure are warming up around these parts and not just outside. These days, I’m heating up like a candle from the inside, too. Welcome to The Perimenopause Club, friends. It’s that lovely time of life no one sees coming. One day, I was feeling glorious, and the next, I started raging like a born-again teenager.
Well, no more googling “weird changes in perimenopause”. It’s time to find out exactly what’s going on and what we can do about it, straight from our expert, Dr. Marla Shapiro.
The 10 Weirdest Signs of Perimenopause You Didn’t See Coming
1. Lady acne: What happened to my face?
What’s the first sign?
A big, fat pimple, and if you’re dumb enough to squeeze it, you’ll be rewarded with a few more.
Why is it happening?
Your mom may have targeted those greasy chips and chocolate as the culprits but she was wrong. What causes this second run of teen hell on your face? Hormones, of course. Just like the dreaded hair on your chin.
What’s my quick fix?
You may be able to treat it topically with typical acne cream or wipes, but if you’ve got other menopausal symptoms, consult with your doctor. You may want to consider hormonal therapy, such as birth control pills, that can work wonders on skin.
2. Mood swings: Lock away the knives!
What’s the first sign?
One moment you’re calmly getting dressed, and the next, you’re throwing shoes. Or crying. Or both.
Why is this happening?
The good news is you’re not crazy. When our emotions are out of whack at this stage of life, it is likely related to hormone fluctuations. Whether that’s post-partum, during your period, or through the menopausal transition, this up-and-down behavior is typical.
What’s my quick fix?
You can either just ride it out, if that’s possible for you and the lucky people around you, or you can ask your doctor about low dose menopausal therapy.
3. Irregular periods: Hey! Where’d you go?
What’s the first sign?
You realize with shock that you may need a pregnancy test then you realize that no, that’s not actually possible.
Why is this happening?
There’s a staging classification in perimenopause—early, middle, late, then the transition stage to menopause. It is in this final stage that menstrual irregularities play tricks on the system—and your period plays peek-a-boo.
What’s my quick fix?
Consider yourself lucky if you get a break this month but don’t get too used to it. You’ll beat the unpredictability of it all by staying prepared. Keep tampons and pads handy to give yourself peace of mind.
4. Irregular bleeding: Um, what’s this?
What’s the first sign?
Your period feels schizophrenic. It can show up like a waterfall or a desert, or there’s brown discharge you don’t recognize or scary clotting you can’t control.
Why is it happening?
The appearance of blood can change during perimenopause, but a lot of things can cause heavy bleeding besides just hormones. For instance, you may be suffering from iron deficiency anemia, a fibroid, or an endometrial polyp.
What’s my quick fix?
While heavy bleeding is common, it’s time to intervene when it is impacting your quality of life. You may need to have your uterine lining checked, for instance, or consider a low dose therapy.
5. Sweating for no reason: Turn down the heat!
What’s the first sign?
You feel like you’ve just stepped out of a shower but really, you need one. Desperately.
Why is it happening?
Lots of people are just “sweaters”, and we know who we are. But if you’re not usually one, the increase in your body temperature may be due to the hormone imbalance in your body causing not just hot flashes but also sweating under the arms.
What’s my quick fix?
Assuming your wetness is hormonal as opposed to another glandular cause, you may want to consider a different deodorant. Did you know that there is a difference between deodorant and antiperspirant? Basically, antiperspirant prevents sweating while deodorant addresses the stink.
6. Heartburn: Am I dying?
What’s the first sign?
You’re scared you’re having a heart attack.
Why is it happening?
Despite its name, heartburn has nothing to do with the heart, and it isn’t related to menopause. Caused by stomach acid, it’s actually an irritation of the esophagus, the tube that connects your throat and stomach.
What’s my quick fix?
Learn your triggers so you can make the lifestyle changes that help to ease it. Some common heartburn triggers you may want to limit include caffeine (can you live without your coffee?), alcohol, anti-inflammatories, and big meals.
7. Strange dreams: Now THAT was interesting.
What’s the first sign?
Vivid dreams are sticking with you the next day, juicy details and all.
Why is it happening?
Women in perimenopause tend to dream about being powerful and in control. Also, changes in hormonal levels, depression and insomnia in mid-life may cause more intense rapid eye movements, which is linked to higher levels of emotionality in dreams.
What’s my quick fix?
Go with it! Try keeping a journal next to your bed to write down your dreams when you wake, so you can understand yourself better.
8. Loss of libido: Now this is sad.
What’s the first sign?
You’re just not that into it and you don’t know why.
Why is it happening?
It’s very common to feel less sexual as you age but here’s the question: Is it really loss of libido or are you experiencing boredom or is vaginal dryness is making sex painful?
What’s my quick fix?
You need to figure out the cause of the problem before you can make changes. If there’s no pain, then the quickest fix may be getting a little more confident and creative in bed by venturing outside your box.
9. Vaginal dryness: Ouch!
What’s the first sign?
Pain during intercourse.
Why is it happening?
It’s a function of estrogen loss but unlike hot flashes which resolve over time, vaginal dryness gets worse as we age. That means 100% of women will experience this symptom even though only 60% complain about it and only 7% get treatment.
What’s my quick fix?
There is no reason to suffer in silence. Most of us know about lube—that slippery stuff that gets sex going—but don’t forget to use vaginal moisturizer, which, depending on the product, you can apply to the outside or insert into the vagina to replenish the moisture.
You don’t want to put just anything up there, or on the delicate skin, though. Use only a safe, effective and fragrance-free treatment, like new Replens Moisture Restore External Comfort Gel, that you can apply once a day or anytime you feel dry to the outside of your vagina. Or use Replens Long Lasting Vaginal Moisturizer for the inside of your vagina to restore moisture and provide comfort for 3 days.
10. Vaginal odour: OMG is that me?
What’s the first sign?
You just don’t smell like yourself.
Why is it happening?
Without estrogen, the pH in your body becomes more alkaline, which causes an overgrowth of bacteria.
What’s my quick fix?
Applied with an internal applicator every 3 days, RepHresh™ Odour-Eliminating Gel helps balance the pH level inside the vagina and reduce that bacteria. Or you can ward off odour with the RepHresh™ Pro-B™ probiotic orally, which will help keep your pH in balance. As a bonus, if you’re taking antibiotics, you can take the probiotic instead of eating yogurt to help prevent the onset of Bacterial Vaginosis.
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