I'm too young for menopause but I have the symptoms

Remember puberty? Your body was in a constant state of flux and you never knew from one minute to the next what transformations were around the corner. When a woman reaches her mid-30s, another "change" is in the offing. Not menopause (not yet) - perimenopause.

Perimenopause is defined as the "pre" menopausal state a woman's body goes through, one that produces a variety of hormonal imbalances and fluctuations. It is only recently that perimenopause has been recognized as quite a different condition from menopause. Women were usually given antidepressants and sent home without any real answers about what was plaguing them.

What has been so confusing about perimenopause is that its symptoms mimic menopause so closely. Irregular periods, hair loss, heavy bleeding, sleep disruption, dry eyes, vaginal changes, hot flashes, weight gain, headaches, low sex drive or extreme emotional distress are all hallmarks of perimenopause - so it's not much different from menopause! These symptoms are a direct result of your hormones being in a state of flux and it is actually your body's way of telling you something is wrong. Perimenopause can start up to 10-15 years before you stop having your period. In fact, women in their late 30s, 40s and early 50s may go in and out of perimenopause numerous times before actual menopause sets in.

No two women will handle perimenopause the same way; some will spend years in perimenopause while others may only have to deal with it for a few months. Just how much your symptoms impact you depends on your lifestyle. Poor diet, stress, an absence of regular daily exercise, along with smoking and drinking, will place limits on how well you do with your symptoms.

Perimenopause & Your Hormones

Hormones control everything from our sex drive to our state of mind. When a woman's three main hormones (estrogen, progesterone and testosterone) go out of balance, it throws off your entire equilibrium. For example, most women have an overload of estrogen due to diets high in carbs and low in protein and fats. Other factors that contribute to this state include ongoing exposure to toxins, a lack of essentials vitamins and nutrients and the constant hobgoblin: mental and physical stress.

The best way to combat perimenopause - make sure that you check to see if your hormones are in balance. The best test to see is a saliva test.