Irregular Menstrual Cycles
Hot Flashes
Insomnia
Vaginal Dryness or Itching
Urinary problems, such as loss of Bladder Control
Whatever a womans age she should report changes in her menstrual cycle to her OBGYN.
While changes are typical during perimenopause, abnormal bleeding can sometimes signal other problems.
Depression has been linked to perimenopause, but it is most common in women who have had past episodes of the disorder.
Some women also report irritablity and anxiety. However nighttime hot flashes, which cause women to lose sleep may play a role in this.

SELF CARE STRATEGIES:
Please always check with your OBGYN before trying any herbal or over the counter treatments!
Hot Flashes:
Try Soy products, such as tofu and soy milk. Soy contains isoflavones, plant based estrogens that may help diminish the effects of dwindling hormones.
Dress in layers you can remove if you become overheated. {I highly reccomned this, as your friends can get very upset when it is 30 degrees out and you open a door or window}
Insomnia:
Exercise on a regular basis.
Try the herb valerian root.
Vaginal Dryness:
Apply vitamin E oil. Or try over-the-counter water based gels.
Urinary Incontinence:
Aske your OBGYN about pelvic exercises.
You may also speak with your OBGYN about hormone replacement therapy.

achy joints
difficulty in concentrating
headaches
early wakening
mood changes
conditions commonly associated with PMS
changes in sexual desire
A woman may have one, some, or none of these signs. But the ones she does have can be so unpredictable and disturbing that she can feel like she's "going crazy."
A woman's experiences during menopause may also be influenced by other life changes:
children leaving home
changes in domestic, social, and personal relationships
changes in identity and body image
divorce or widowhood
retirement
increased anxiety about aging and death
loss of friends, loved ones, and financial security
increased responsibility for aging parents
anxiety about loss of independence, disability, or loneliness
Increasing numbers of perimenopausal women also have young children to care for.

Whatever the cause or circumstance, the conditions women experience before and after menopause are very real and sometimes very serious. While 10-15 percent of American women experience no signs of menopause, another 10-15 percent become physically or emotionally disabled for various periods of time by these conditions.
Perimenopause may begin as early as 35. It starts about two years earlier for women who smoke than for women who don't.
Women reach menopause at different times. The timing is not related to race, class, pregnancy, breastfeeding, fertility patterns, the birth control pill, height, age of menarche (first period), or age at last pregnancy.
The average age for menopause is 51. If menopause is reached naturally or surgically before the age of 40, it is called early menopause.
Estrogen levels drop very abruptly during surgical menopause—especially when both ovaries are removed at the same time. This often intensifies the conditions associated with menopause and may lead to major physical and emotional changes, including depression.
It is somewhat reassuring to remember that perimenopause is just a phase—that all these symptoms are temporary. For most women it will last two or three years, though for some it lasts as long as 10 or 12 years.
Up to 20 percent of menopausal American women use HRT because they believe the benefits outweigh the risks. It is believed that prolonged use of estrogen replacement reduces the risk of heart attack by nearly 50 percent.
Women base their decisions on their individual and family medical histories.

BENEFITS:

prevents osteoporosis
eliminates hot flashes
improves energy, mood, and sense of well-being
decreases insomnia
may decrease risk of heart disease
may restore sexual desire
may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease
may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer
may improve concentration and memory.

RISKS:

may cause symptoms like PMS
may increase risk for breast cancer
may have other undesirable side effects, including: Vaginal bleeding, fluid retention, nausea, loss of hair, headaches, itching, increased cervical mucus, and corneal changes that prevent the use of contact lenses

Some Conditions That May Affect the HRT Decision

Breast Cancer—Only one out of 2,500 women under 20 develops breast cancer.
The rate rises every year after that. By 50, the rate soars to one out of every 41. At 60, one out of every 28 women develops breast cancer. It is widely believed that using HRT for 10-15 years increases a woman’s risk of getting breast cancer by 30 percent.
Heart Disease—Before they turn 50, women have three times less risk of heart attacks than men. Ten years after menopause, when women are about 60, their risks increase to equal men's risks. Women can protect themselves against heart disease by not smoking, eating a healthy diet, and getting exercise.