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Women's Health
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Though menopause is associated with middle age, its precursor – perimenopause – can begin in a woman’s late 30s or early 40s. Menopause has a firm definition – the absence of menstruation for 12 consecutive months. Perimenopause is not so clear-cut. Since the average age for an American woman to enter menopause is 51 and since a woman may be in perimenopause for five to 10 years before she reaches menopause, women as young as 35 may experience perimenopausal symptoms. What you can expect Perimenopausal women may experience one or more of the symptoms usually associated with menopause, although to a lesser degree. This may especially occur during the later stages of perimenopause. These include: hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, depression, irritability, insomnia, vaginal dryness and menstrual irregularities. During this transitional time, women may see their periods at first shorten, from a 28-day cycle to 23 or 21 days. Then perhaps they may skip a month. These types of irregularities are normal, as is a scantier or a heavier flow. However, spotting between periods or very heavy or prolonged bleeding could signal serious problems and should be discussed with your physician as soon as possible. If you need some help Many women are merely inconvenienced by perimenopause. Their symptoms are mild or controllable. Other women, however, may be unable to carry on their daily activities without difficulty, discomfort and embarrrassment. One of the more common symptoms is menstrual irregularities. Women experiencing this issue may be helped with very low doses of birth control pills, which regulate the menstrual cycle and mask symptoms. If a woman is already taking birth control pills, she probably will not even realize she is in perimenopause because she won’t be symptomatic. As always, birth control pills are not recommended for women who smoke or have high blood pressure, liver disease or a history of blood clots. If you experience any of the more troublesome symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats or excessive mood swings, you should talk to your doctor about the onset of menopause. Due to the results of hormone-replacement studies conducted in recent years, there is debate regarding the risks-versus-benefits. Educate yourself about the various treatment options that are available to help ease the symptoms and discuss them with your doctor. You can still get pregnant Perimenopausal women can and do get pregnant, so if you don’t want to have a child, continue to use birth control, even when your periods become irregular. Remember, until you have not menstruated for 12 consecutive months, you are still fertile. Sensible tips As is true at any time of life, healthful eating and regular exercise can go a long way to keep you feeling healthy and happy. If you are experiencing hot flashes, wear light clothing or layer clothing and have a small fan on your desk to help you cool down. And most importantly, remember that perimenopause is not something to be dreaded or feared. Rather, it’s just the next step in your beautiful journey through life as a woman. m Dr. Naghmeh Saberi is a board-certified OB/GYN at UC Irvine Medical Center, Orange County's only university hospital, which has been named one of the nation's best hospitals for gynecology by U.S. News & World Report. Report. For more information, visit ucihealth.com or call 714.456.2911. |
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