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I T ’ S A B I T OF A SHOCK :
You’ve just had your first
hot flash.
“What’s going on?” you ask yourself as you yank off your
sweater. “I can’t be menopausal. I’m still having periods.”
Welcome to perimenopause—and a quick biology lesson.
A time of transition
Menopause is actually a point in time. On average it occurs
around age 52. It’s when a woman has gone through
12 consecutive months without any periods. Once you
have gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual
period, you have officially reached menopause and
perimenopause is over.
Perimenopause is the phase leading up to menopause.
It means
around menopause
. For some women it can be
challenging. It’s a transitional time of hormonal flux. Estrogen
and progesterone levels tend to fall and rise unevenly, causing
more fluctuations. You may begin having menstrual cycles
in which your ovaries do not release an egg (ovulate).
Progesterone levels are typically low when this occurs.
More to the point, at least for your comfort level, it’s also
when most of the changes we usually attribute to menopause
occur—such as hot flashes (those infamous surges of
heat) and night sweats (sweating bouts intense enough to
disturb sleep).
Among the other tipoffs that you’re in perimenopause:
■ ■
Irregular periods. As ovulation becomes less predictable,
menses can be longer, shorter, heavier, or lighter; come more
often; or be skipped—as in, here one month, gone the next
two, and then back again. (An important note: Even though
your periods may be erratic, you can still get pregnant.)
Though changes in bleeding are normal as you near
menopause, you should still tell your health care provider
Maria Magnuson, ARNP,
Nationally Certified
Menopause Practitioner
(NCMP), Member of
the North American
Menopause Society
Women’s Health
PeaceHealth Medical Group–
Women’s Health Pavilion
1660 Delaware St.
Longview, WA
360-414-2800
Perimenopause: Almost there
Learn what those early signs and symptoms typically mean
about them. Abnormal vaginal bleeding—such as bleeding
that is extremely heavy or lasts longer than seven days or
occurs closer than 21 days apart—should be reported to your
health care provider. It is important to keep a menstrual
calendar that tracks:
■ ■
Mood changes, memory lapses, or poor concentration. It
can be a vulnerable window of time for the onset of mood
disorders, such as anxiety or depression.
■ ■
Difficulty sleeping, including trouble falling or
staying asleep.
■ ■
Vaginal dryness, which can make sex painful.
■ ■
Bladder problems, such as infections and urinary
incontinence.
■ ■
Weight changes, including gaining weight around the waist.
It’s personal and unique
There’s a lot of variability with perimenopause. Typically, it
begins in your 40s and lasts for several years, but there’s no
guarantee of this timetable. And the changes you experience
may vary from mild to severe.
What’s certain is that perimenopause is a natural rite of
passage, and there’s help if the changes are disruptive. Talk
to your health care provider for advice.
Lots of life ahead
Maybe the best take on perimenopause is to think of it as a
reminder to take care of yourself. You still have a lot of living
to do. A third of life occurs beyond menopause. And you
want the rest of your life to be a healthy one.
So be good to your body now—eat wisely, exercise regularly,
maintain a healthy weight, don’t smoke (or quit if you do),
and see your doctor for recommended checkups and health
screenings.
To keep your weight
from creeping up
during perimenopause,
try regular exercise. It
may help calm those
hot flashes too.
Cancer
Support
Group
When:
First and third
Thursdays of each
month, 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Where:
Cancer
Center Resource Room
Info:
Providing
education and
support through the
cancer journey for
patients, friends,
and family. Call Beth
Rivers at
360-414-7968
.
peacehealth.org3