TREATMENTS &
RESEARCH

Search the
latest
treatment
information
here.

Dr. Huntley's
Diagnosis
Checklist

Have a symptom?
See what questions
a doctor would ask.
 

Symptoms of Perimenopause



Symptoms of Perimenopause

The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Perimenopause includes the 18 symptoms listed below:

Research symptoms & diagnosis of Perimenopause:

Research More About Perimenopause

Do I have Perimenopause?

Perimenopause: Medical Mistakes

Perimenopause: Undiagnosed Conditions

Diseases that may be commonly undiagnosed in related medical areas:

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical tests related to Perimenopause:

Wrongly Diagnosed with Perimenopause?

The list of other diseases or medical conditions that may be on the differential diagnosis list of alternative diagnoses for Perimenopause includes:

See the full list of 1 alternative diagnoses for Perimenopause

Perimenopause: Research Doctors & Specialists

Research all specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.

More about symptoms of Perimenopause:

More information about symptoms of Perimenopause and related conditions:

Other Possible Causes of these Symptoms

Click on any of the symptoms below to see a full list of other causes including diseases, medical conditions, toxins, drug interactions, or drug side effect causes of that symptom.

Medical Books Online about Perimenopause

Medical Books Excerpts Excerpts of published medical book chapters related to Perimenopause are available from published medical books for more detailed information about Perimenopause.

Medical Books Excerpts
  • "Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition)" (2005)

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Related videos for Perimenopause

Sleep Problems

Sleep ProblemsAs people age, there are lots of changes. Some are welcome, like retirement and a chance to pursue new activities. But then there are some changes...

Effects of Menopause on Sleep

Effects of Menopause on SleepWhile menopause is a natural change for all women, it can cause a variety of symptoms that feel anything but natural. One of the most common...

 

What is Menopause

What is MenopauseIt can be challenging to adjust to the changes brought on by menopause. But there are advantages to this time of life.

Menopause Treatment

Menopause TreatmentOnce of the biggest myths about menopause is that it is a condition that requires treatment.

 
See full list of 5 related videos

Patient Surveys for Perimenopause

Symptoms of Perimenopause: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the symptoms of Perimenopause.


Menopause: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Many menopausal women are asymptomatic but some have severe symptoms. The decline in ovarian function and consequent decreased estrogen level produce menstrual irregularities: a decrease in the amount and duration of menstrual flow, spotting, and episodes of amenorrhea and polymenorrhea (possibly with hypermenorrhea). Irregularities may last a few months or persist for several years before menstruation ceases permanently.

The following body system changes may occur (usually after the permanent cessation of menstruation):

❑ Reproductive system: Menopause may cause shrinkage of vulval structures and loss of subcutaneous fat, possibly leading to atrophic vulvitis; atrophy of vaginal mucosa and flattening of vaginal rugae, possibly causing bleeding after coitus or douching; vaginal itching and discharge from bacterial invasion; and loss of capillaries in the atrophying vaginal wall, causing the pink, rugal lining to become smooth and white. Menopause may also produce excessive vaginal dryness and dyspareunia due to decreased lubrication from the vaginal walls and decreased secretion from Bartholin’s glands; smaller ovaries and oviducts; and progressive pelvic relaxation as the supporting structures lose their tone due to the absence of estrogen.

ELDER TIP As a woman ages, atrophy causes the vagina to shorten and the mucous lining to become thin, dry, less elastic, and pale as a result of decreased vascularity. In addition, the pH of vaginal secretions increases, making the vaginal environment more alkaline. The type of flora also changes, increasing the older woman’s chance of vaginal infections.

❑ Urinary system: Atrophic cystitis due to the effects of decreased estrogen levels on bladder mucosa and related structures may cause pyuria, dysuria, and urinary frequency, urgency, and incontinence. Urethral carbuncles from loss of urethral tone and mucosal thinning may cause dysuria, meatal tenderness, and hematuria.

❑ Mammary system: Breast size decreases.

❑ Integumentary system: The patient may experience loss of skin elasticity and turgor due to estrogen deprivation, loss of pubic and axillary hair and, occasionally, slight alopecia.

❑ Autonomic nervous system: The patient may exhibit hot flashes and night sweats (in 60% of women), vertigo, syncope, tachycardia, dyspnea, tinnitus, emotional disturbances (irritability, nervousness, crying spells, fits of anger), and exacerbation of pre-existing depression, anxiety, and compulsive, manic, or schizoid behavior.

Menopause may also induce atherosclerosis, and a decrease in estrogen level contributes to osteoporosis.

Ovarian activity in younger women is believed to provide a protective effect on the cardiovascular system, and the loss of this function at menopause may partly explain the increased death rate from myocardial infarction in older women. Also, estrogen has been found to increase levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Medical articles and books on symptoms:

These general reference articles may be of interest in relation to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:

Full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis

About signs and symptoms of Perimenopause:

The symptom information on this page attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Perimenopause. This signs and symptoms information for Perimenopause has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of Perimenopause signs or Perimenopause symptoms. Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Perimenopause may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they are indeed Perimenopause symptoms.


 » Next page: Diagnostic Tests for Perimenopause

Rate This Website

What do you think about the features of this website? Take our user survey and have your say:

Website User Survey

Medical Tools & Articles:


Next articles:

Tools & Services:

Medical Articles:

Forums & Message Boards

Common Health Mistakes

Research
mistakes, errors,
and misdiagnosis
of major diseases.
 
 

Symptom
Checker

Check one
or many
symptoms
 

Search Specialists by State and City

 
By using this site you agree to our Terms of Use. Information provided on this site is for informational purposes only; it is not intended as a substitute for advice from your own medical team. The information on this site is not to be used for diagnosing or treating any health concerns you may have - please contact your physician or health care professional for all your medical needs. Please see our Terms of Use.