A racing mind, debilitating joint pain, Waking up drenched– All of these are symptoms of perimenopause, which is the transitional stage that precedes menopause when sex hormones fluctuate and decrease, causing fluctuating biological changes. And it can happen at a younger age than you might think: Although the average age of menopause is 52 in the United States, perimenopause can start several years before that point, sometimes very early. Your late 30s.
The tricky thing is that there is no test to confirm that you are perimenopausal. “Instead, we rely mostly on patterns of symptoms.” Irregular periodsMood changes, night sweats, difficulty sleeping, or not feeling like yourself, Stephanie Faubion, MDmedical director of the Menopause Association and director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Women’s Health, tells SELF.
While perimenopause is a “universal experience,” says Dr. Faubion, no two women experience it in exactly the same way. There are also multiple ways to treat and mitigate its effects, which can make it difficult to know what to try first.
If perimenopausal symptoms are interfering with your ability to carry out daily tasks, it is important to consult your primary care physician or obstetrician-gynecologist for the quickest path to relief. This may look like medical interventions, including Hormone therapy (HT)Or it could be a variety of lifestyle modifications.
Read on to hear from seven women about the treatments that helped them with perimenopausal symptoms, plus expert insights on why they work and how to maximize their benefits.
“I do Pilates four days a week.”
“When I started noticing changes in my body, I realized I needed to focus more on taking care of myself.” Kelly Kaufman47, president of communications agency K Squared Group in Chicago, tells SELF. These changes included body aches and pains, weight gain, and “stupid injuries,” such as pulling muscles just by bending over, she says.
So Kaufman started doing Pilates, which she says was the first exercise she did consistently. “It has helped me tremendously in not only keeping myself somewhat fit, but it has also helped give me more focus and time for myself.” It has also helped her build and improve her strength Sciatica So much so that she says she no longer needs physical therapy.
What the expert says:
Estrogen fluctuations in perimenopause ‘accelerate muscle loss and joint loosening’ Heather Hirsch, MDspecialist in internal medicine and menopause, and author of the book A Perimenopausal Survival Guidesays the self. Hence the random strains and twists. Pilates can help restore muscle strength, so you’re less susceptible to injury, and also boosts insulin sensitivity to support your metabolism, she says. However, she recommends layering some Lift heavier (For example, via dumbbells or resistance bands) a few times a week, if you can, to give your muscles the challenge they need to grow.
