How do you treat perimenopause symptoms?

Both hormonal and natural treatments can be used to treat disruptive perimenopause symptoms. But which ones are right for you?

- DR MICHELLE GRIFFIN

While the menopause occurs as a single day in a woman's life - when the ovaries cease producing hormones – the time leading up to this life-changing event can last for several years. This extended period in a woman's life is referred to as the perimenopause.

On average, women hit the menopause at 51 years old, so the majority of women will begin experiencing perimenopause symptoms in their mid-40s. And these symptoms can vary wildly between individuals. Hot flushes and irregular heavy periods are often noted as the tell-tale signs, but they're not necessarily experienced by everyone.

And even within an individual, the type, frequency and intensity of symptoms are prone to change.

More than 75 per cent of women report suffering from various symptoms and around 25 per cent say the symptoms have a significant impact on their quality of life. These include sleep disturbance, anxiety and weight gain.

But these symptoms have a history of being overlooked by professionals and are often written off as being a result of other medical conditions.

SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENTS

Trouble sleeping or staying asleep is often the first symptom. This can start as early as in the late 30s or early 40s, and it's relatively common. Studies show that as many as 60 per cent of women aged 40 and over are affected by insomnia.

Other symptoms can include changes in mood - women may experience unprompted anger, irritability, sadness and depression.

This can be in addition to symptoms such as brain fog, memory issues, difficulty concentrating, joint and muscle pain, vaginal dryness, low sex drive, and discomfort and pain while having sex. Despite this, women going through the perimenopause often put off seeing a doctor due to embarrassment or not wanting to 'cause a fuss'.

Seeking medical advice is, of course, important, but there are currently no tests for perimenopause or menopause in women over the age of 45.