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4. Perimenopause Symptoms Are the Result of a Decline in Estrogen
Although a drop in estrogen is the hallmark of menopause, the opposite is true during perimenopause. Progesterone is actually the first hormone in your body to decline, and since your estrogen level remains fairly constant, this leads to an imbalance between these two important hormones. It’s this imbalance that brings on many symptoms, and can even result in estrogen dominance.
Many women turn to hormone therapy to ease the transition to menopause, but that can be a big mistake during perimenopause. Adding more estrogen to your body in the form of birth control pills or another estrogen supplement can increase the imbalance – and leave you with a lot more discomfort.
Resources
Daily Rx (Menopause Myths and Misconceptions)Healthful Elements (Easing into Menopause)Women to Women (The Top Ten Menopause Myths)Medscape (Meta-analysis Suggests That Smoking is Associated with an Increased Risk of Early Natural Menopause)More (Menopause: Puberty All Over Again?)
Menopause occurs when your ovaries stop producing estrogen. This typically happens between ages 45 and 55, with the average age of 51.
