Most women entering their 40s know what may lie ahead – those bodily changes that serve as a precursor to menopause. You probably know all about the hot flashes, weight gain, and lowered sex drive. But did you know your gums may bleed or your body odor may change? Along with the host of expected changes, you may find yourself dealing with some rather unusual ones.
When hormones shift
According to Sarah Block, APNP-CNP, an SSM Health Women’s Health provider, “There are many symptoms of perimenopause that seem ‘weird.’ Those include changes in body odor, itchy ear canals, acid reflux, dry skin, and smells only you notice.” These (and others) are due to fluctuating, and eventually, declining levels of estrogen and progesterone in your system.
Some symptoms even come with related names. A “perimenopause zap” is when you have a buzzing or snapping sensation under your skin. This happens when shifting hormones affect your nervous system – often right before a hot flash. If you experience aching, burning, and/or swollen breasts, usually right before your period, you are said to suffer from “perimenopause mastalgia.”
Treating symptoms
Although women can’t prevent the changes that come with perimenopause, the symptoms can be treated. Hormone therapy addresses a wide variety of symptoms including hot flashes, insomnia, and bone loss. Block acknowledges that hormone therapy doesn’t help with the two most universal symptoms: low sex drive and weight gain. But, she added, “Many women find that with hormone therapy, they have more energy and motivation which helps with sex drive and ability to exercise.”
In addition, vitamin D use is highly recommended. It has proven to be beneficial for bone health, mental health, and cardiovascular health. “And now we're seeing potential for decreased risk of certain cancers,” Block stated.
She recommends a combination of vitamin D, vitamin B complex, and magnesium glycinate. “Take vitamin D and B in the morning and magnesium glycinate at bedtime,” she said. Block notes that his combination has been shown to help perimenopausal women, especially in dealing with stress.
And are you among the many women coping with thinning, dry, and slower growing hair? An iron and protein-rich diet combined with topical minoxidil can often help, especially if started early.
Find an SSM Health Women’s Health specialist to help keep you healthy during perimenopause – and throughout all of life’s stages.
