Some perimenopause symptoms resemble the symptoms of PMS. during the first phase of perimenopause, progesterone levels are declining and the estrogen levels are unopposed. This corresponds to the luteal phase of your menstrual cycle – the time during which some women suffer from PMS as well as perimenopause symptoms.
Perimenopause symptoms such as mood swings, bloating, cramps and tender breasts, as well as feeling irritable, depressed, nervous, anxious and tearful – or the rare condition of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in which symptoms are so severe that they badly disrupt a woman’s working and social life – may come and go during perimenopause.
Unlike with PMS, however perimenopause symptoms do not resolve when your period arrives. unfortunately women who suffer from PMS tend to have more severe symptoms around menopause than those who don’t.
Taking calcium has been shown to help premenstrual symptoms – so grandma’s remedy of a warm milky drink at night (preferably dairy free like soy based) to relieve period pains and cramps seems to have a scientific explanation after all.
Many women recognize that they crave chocolate in the week before their period is due. it was once thought this was for the iron that dark chocolate contains, but chocolate also contains magnesium. This mineral helps to relieve anxiety and works with calcium to help reduce symptoms of PMS and possibly milder perimenopause symptoms.
Evening primrose oil, which is rich in omega-6 fatty acids, and Vitamin B6, which helps with the formation of the body’s ‘happy’ chemical, serotonin, are also recommended for PMS.
If the mood symptoms are severe enough to disrupt normal functioning, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) like fluoxetine (Prozac) should definitely be considered.
Mood Swings In Detail
Although there is no proven link between perimenopause, full menopause and clinical depression, many middle-aged women do experience periods of sadness, discouragement, anxiety and irritability, which may be the result of hormonal changes and situational developments.
Mood swings appear most often during perimenopause, when changes in hormonal balance are at their greatest, and become less frequent in the menopausal and postmenopausal periods. The good news is that many women who have gone through menopause feel much more positive and have a great zest for life.
Your brain produces a neurotransmitter, serotonin, which is very important in regulating mood. Estrogen seems to increase the concentration of serotonin, so its lower levels during perimenopause may be responsible for mood shifts. Serotonin nerve cells (neurons) in the brain have progesterone receptors, and progesterone levels dramatically decrease in menopause due to the lack of ovulation. This progesterone/serotonin connection may explain why depression is so common with PMS sufferers and why SSRIs like fluoxetine (Prozac) can help PMS. Sleeping problems resulting from hormonal changes and the unpredictability of hot flashes can also result in perimenopause symptoms of chronic fatigue and low mood.
Midlife is also a time when there can be stressful life events – not just problems with perimenopause symptoms. Problems with relationships, such as divorce or widowhood; issues with children, whether they’re leaving home or returning as adults, or are still young and needing to be looked after; concerns about elderly relatives, whether they need care and will accept it; feelings about your own future – is now the time to retire or try something new? … and all this coming at a time when your self-esteem and body image may also be in question.
If your healthcare professional believes your mood swings are a one of the perimenopause symptoms and a result of hormonal imbalances, he or she may recommend short-term hormone therapy, which can provide a constant level of hormones and help to stabilize mood. Self-help measures include making sure your diet contains sufficient helpful nutrients, herbal menopause remedies and various techniques to dispel negative feelings.