Is this a Pregnancy? Perimenopause Answer to an Age-Old Question
Female hormone imbalance is to blame for the natural phenomenon that is perimenopause. Perimenopause is that stage in a woman’s life before menopause. Because of the female hormone imbalance that take place during this time, some women experience pre-menopause symptoms like irregular menstrual periods (ranging from heavy to light bleeding; sometimes, no bleeding at all for months at a time), mood swings and irritation, hot flashes, insomnia (which is usually caused by night sweats), a lessened sex drive and the disruption of cognitive functions (like short-term memory loss).
Perimenopause is inevitable for a woman. However, it isn't a nightmare for all women. Some women are already in perimenopause and may not even realize it because they have very mild symptoms. (Asian women in particular are not prone to having hot flashes, which is attributed to their lifestyle and diet – which will be discussed in a different article.)
If you are not planning on having kids anymore, you need to remember that being in perimenopause does not automatically mean that you lose the ability to conceive. If you are still ovulating – meaning, you still get your periods, even though you have them irregularly – then there is still a good chance of you getting pregnant.
Plenty of women think that irregular menses means they'r already in a “pregnancy-safe zone”. So some of these do the deed with abandon – only to find out that they are with child.
So if you are one of those women who are not counting on becoming pregnant, continue with the birth control method of your choice.
One method that's popular with a lot of women is the pill. The pill benefits perimenopausal women in two ways: first, it helps regulate your periods and second, it protects you from a pregnancy.
When will you cease to be fertile? That will happen once you reach menopause, which takes place once you've gone 12 consecutive months without having a period.
However, if you are one of those who actually want to get pregnant, then take heart. You can still conceive even when you are having your periods every once in a while. It helps to keep track of your menstrual periods for you to have an idea of when the best time for conception is.
If you’re getting kind of desperate due to age (like some friends I know), then you should visit your doctor and talk about the option of having fertility enhancing treatments and techniques to better your chances of becoming pregnant.
Perimenopause may start as late as the early 50s, but may also begin at the early age of 35. For those who still want to become pregnant, this may become a concern as menopause is not only imminent, but getting pregnant during perimenopause also puts you at at risk for a high-risk pregnancy.
Possible complications of a pregnancy during perimenopause includes a higher probability of a cesarean delivery when the baby reaches full term, a possible miscarriage (due to an aging uterus), an early delivery (usually premature, could be from as early as 7 to 8 months) and low birth weight.
So if you are seriously considering pregnancy when perimenopause comes knocking at your door, it is always best to prepare yourself. Eat healthy, relax, exercise and live a healthy lifestyle. This will not only make pregnancy more likely, but you will also discover that living well results in a happier, healthier predisposition. Doing so will also lessen the effects of the other symptoms of perimenopause.
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