What is perimenopause?

We know the average age of menopause is 51, but menopause starting at the age of 40 is considered normal. So what if you’re having irritability, mood swings and irregular periods now and you’re not 51?

Can it be PMS? Is it premature menopause? Or is it the perimenopause ? Can you still get pregnant? What are your treatment options? Do you need hormones or Prozac or just vitamin E? These are difficult questions and although there is a blood test for menopause (FSH), the test can only tell you if you are firmly IN menopause. However, by the time the test is positive it’s quite obvious that you are into menopause.

Perimenopause is defined as the transitional period from normal menstrual periods to no periods at all. The transition can, and usually does, take up to 10 years. During the perimenopausal transition you may experience a combination of PMS and menopausal symptoms or no symptoms at all.

PMS on the other hand can occur at any age but is more common in your 30s and 40s. The diagnosis and treatment of PMS has been hampered by the fact that there has not been a reliable definition for the condition.

Hot flash!

Menopause can truly change your life. It can be hard to adjust, and you need all the help you can get. So join in, share your flashes and feelings, and explore tips on how to cope with your body’s changes.

Suffering from hot flashes and/or night sweats but do not want to take estrogen?

Here are some non-estrogen options:

1. Behavioral interventions

Wear layered cotton clothing. Avoid coffee, alcohol, spicy foods, and stress! Sip cool drinks or use ice packs. Relaxation and deep, abdominal breathing (six to eight breaths per minute) have been shown to reduce hot flashes by about 40% when practised as minimally as twice per day. Eliminate hot baths or showers before bedtime.

2. Vitamin E

Some women experience a reduction in hot flashes when taking Vitamin E. However, a placebo-controlled, randomised study evaluated vitamin E supplements (800 IU/day for four weeks) for 120 breast cancer survivors with hot flashes and found that Vitamin E only marginally decreased hot flashes.

3. Soy

The results of the research on soy are inconclusive and contradictory. Some studies have found that soy has a positive effect on hot flashes, whereas others suggest that there isn’t any beneficial effect.

4. Natural progesterone cream

A study published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 1999 found that natural progesterone cream significantly reduced hot flashes.

5. Herbs

An isoflavone or plant estrogen derived from red clover, Promensil, was found to significantly reduce the number and intensity of hot flashes in a study conducted in 1998-99. Probably the most common herbal remedy for hot flashes is black cohosh.

6. Other prescription drugs

Low doses of antidepressants such as Effexor or Paxil have been effective in reducing hot flashes. Clonidine (Catapres), a drug normally used to treat hypertension, can sometimes help relieve hot flashes. However, it may lower normal blood pressure.

7. Acupuncture and yoga

Acupuncture can be helpful in alleviating hot flashes. Some women have found yoga to be beneficial.

8. Exercise, exercise, exercise!