Perimenopause, or transition to menopause, is the stage of a woman’s reproductive life that begins several years before menopause, when the ovaries slowly begin to produce less estrogen and progesterone. It usually starts in a woman’s forties. The average length of perimenopause is four years, but for some women this stage may last only a few months or continue for 10 years. Perimenopause ends the first year after menopause (when a woman has gone 12 months without a period).
During the perimenopausal phase it is common to have hormonal fluctuations that can cause irregular menstruation, hot flashes, sleep disturbances, vaginal dryness, breast tenderness, decreased sex drive, mood swings and worsening PMS symptoms. While these symptoms commonly occur during perimenopause, other conditions can cause abnormalities in menstrual bleeding and mimic perimenopause symptoms. It is important for prevention and early detection of chronic diseases that particularly affect women — heart disease, thyroid disorders, high blood pressure, osteoporosis and cancer.
It is crucial to recognize the effects of lifestyle on health and illness. Lifestyle changes can help ease symptoms and maintain health. A healthy diet is more important now than before because a woman’s risk of osteoporosis and heart disease go up at this stage of life. Eat lots of whole-grain foods, vegetables and fruits. Add calcium-rich foods or take a calcium supplement to obtain recommended daily intake. Get adequate vitamin D from sunshine or a supplement. Avoid alcohol or caffeine, which also can trigger hot flashes in some women. Regular exercise helps to keep weight down, improves sleep, makes bones stronger and boosts mood. Both meditation and yoga can help one to relax, as well as handle symptoms more easily.
For women with mild symptoms a conservative approach of using Primrose oil, flax seed, vitamin B6, vitamin E and foods high in soy proteins can be helpful. Women with more moderate to severe symptoms can be offered (if appropriate for the woman) oral contraceptives to ease perimenopausal symptoms — especially if birth control is needed. Another option for women is bio-identical hormone therapy, which is a safe alternative to synthetic hormone replacement, but it requires the prescribing provider to be well informed about bio-identical hormones specially and hormones in general.
The goals for managing the perimenopausal phase are to provide relieve of symptoms, prevention of chronic diseases, optimizing good health and improving well-being and quality of life.
For more information, call Caring for You Health Center, Inc. at 661 284-2400.