“if you’re perimenopausal, meaning if you’re having some irregularity of periods or having nights with hot flashes, new sleep problems, new migraines, increased cramps, shorter cycles, this is part of a process that’s perfectly normal,” says dr. jerilynn prior. getty
just as in adolescence, perimenopause can be filled with high levels of anxiety or stress, which can make you sweat, too.
anxiety sweat is produced by the apocrine glands
, found in areas where you have hair, like your armpit and groin, and it’s a fatty milky fluid that is odourless until it combines with bacteria on your skin.
the stink is completely normal
getting informed is the first step to coping and self-care, prior says.
she recommends breathable cotton underwear, frequent bathing and doing things to relax and de-stress. she cautions against using deodorizing wipes and sprays that can cause irritation, or douching that can lead to infection.
“if you’re perimenopausal, meaning if you’re having some irregularity of periods or having nights with hot flashes, new sleep problems, new migraines, increased cramps, shorter cycles, this is part of a process that’s perfectly normal,” says prior.
if there’s something more suspect, like a sweetish smell and white discharge from your vagina, you could have a yeast infection, and it’s time to check things out with your doctor.
the good news is that the chaos doesn’t go on forever. prior says that when you reach menopause — which begins after a year of not having a period — hormones, anxiety and stress settle down, and so does the body odour.
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