Most of us know the usual suspects like hot flashes, but many of us don’t know the uncommon symptoms of perimenopause. There are many lesser-known symptoms that many women quietly endure, often unaware of their potential connection to their changing hormones. A lot of these aren’t widely recognized as signs of perimenopause—partly due to the limited research in this area. Nevertheless, these lesser-known symptoms are gaining our attention, and we wanted you to know about them as well.
What is Perimenopause?
Perimenopause marks a significant transitional phase in your reproductive life, where your ovaries gradually produce less estrogen and progesterone, the key hormones regulating your reproductive system. This decline isn’t steady or predictable. Rather, you’ll likely experience varying levels of these hormones from month to month. These hormonal fluctuations can lead to a variety of symptoms and changes in your menstrual cycle until eventually you reach menopause (one full year without a bleed).
Understanding these changes is crucial to managing this phase of your life effectively. And knowing what the symptoms are (even the unusual ones) can save you a lot of frustration and confusion. So let’s dive in…
Allergies worsening
A fascinating change in perimenopause is that your allergies may intensify. Hormonal fluctuations could amplify sensitivity to allergens, leading to more pronounced reactions.
Bleeding gums
The hormonal ebb and flow of perimenopause can render your gums more prone to bleeding and inflammation.
Brittle hair and nails
Many women observe their hair and nails becoming more brittle during this time. Estrogen, vital for maintaining the strength and texture of hair and nails, when declining, can lead to noticeable changes in all areas of our body.
Burning mouth or tongue
An intriguing yet distressing symptom is the sensation of burning in the mouth or on the tongue. This discomfort is often linked to hormonal shifts affecting oral sensory nerves.
Changes in body odor
Pee-yew! Your not imagining it. You may have new or different body odor now that you’re in perimenopause. Shifts in hormone balances can influence sweat glands and alter your natural scent. Often, not for the better.
Changes in taste
This one totally sucks! During perimenopause, you might find that your favourite food tastes different. In fact, it might not taste good at all anymore. Because perimenopause sometimes brings a metallic flavor to your palette and this change in taste affects your enjoyment of food and beverages.
Dry mouth and bad breath
Again with the change in odor! A dry mouth caused by decreased saliva production can lead to bad breath. Keep those breath mints handy.
Itchiness
Can’t stop scratching? As we age and lose estrogen, our skin loses moisture. And this dry skin can be incredibly annoying and uncomfortable. So slather on the moisturizer, keep the humidifier primed and eat more healthy fats.
Runny nose / post nasal drip
An unexpected symptom is the development of a runny nose or post-nasal drip, unrelated to colds or allergies. It’s believed that fluctuating estrogen levels can affect nasal membranes, leading to this unusual symptom.
Dizzy spells / vertigo
Experiencing dizzy spells or vertigo can be disconcerting. But there’s a chance that for women in perimenopause that it could be linked to hormonal shifts impacting the inner ear.
Electric shock sensations
Some women report surprising electric shock sensations, often occurring before a hot flash. This phenomenon is thought to result from nerve fibers reacting to the hormonal changes of perimenopause.
Tingling extremities
Tingling sensations in the hands and feet can emerge, possibly connected to the effect of hormones on the nervous system.
Tinnitus
Tinnitius is a ringing or buzzing in the ears that many women experience during their perimenopausal years.
Skin crawling
A less commonly discussed symptom is skin crawling, medically known as formication. This can be particularly unsettling. Duh! It feels like insects are moving across your skin. But it’s another unusual but real symptom that has been reported during perimenopause.
Hot feet
Experiencing hot feet, especially at night, is yet another symptom you don’t hear much about that can disrupt your sleep.
Finding Relief
The first step is to track your symptoms and provide this information to your medical provider. It’s important to rule out other potential causes for your symptoms and to get an understanding of what evidence-based solutions might help alleviate your symptoms.
Don’t Shoot The Messenger
We need more research in order to better understand the impacts of perimenopause and to find more solutions. Until then, we do know that one of the best things you can do for your overall health is lean into the two things that every medical provider prescribes: healthy eating and exercise.
Diet Choices: Focus on integrating a balance of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins into your meals. Consult a dietitian to understand if you are getting enough protein and fibre. Hint: most of us are not.
Exercise: Strive for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise each week. And be sure to include strength building exercise at least a couple of times a week.
Medical Pathways for Relief
Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is indicated for certain perimenopausal symptoms and the prevention of bone loss, and some women report other benefits beyond the indicated symptoms. That said, it’s not a magic bullet and it’s not right for everyone. Any medication needs to be considered in the context of your unique risk/benefit profile.
Birth control pills may also be a good option depending on your symptoms, particularly as pregnancy can still happen in perimenopause.
In some cases non-hormonal medications may be a good choice to manage symptoms, again depending on your health profile.
It’s essential to have a detailed discussion with your healthcare provider to determine the most effective and personalized treatment plan for your situation.
The Most Important Thing
Don’t suffer in silence and assume you just need to endure your symptoms. Get educated about what can happen in perimenopause. Speak to your medical provider. If they dismiss your well-known symptoms, and/or your uncommon symptoms, find another provider.
Can’t find another provider? Check out our friend, Shirley Weir, founder of Menopause Chicks. She’s helped thousands of women have more productive conversations with their doctors.
