The Solution to Perimenopause

Perimenopause is the period of time leading up to menopause. It occurs when a woman's ovaries start to shut down in preparation for menopause. This change in body function can cause women to experience a host of uncomfortable symptoms. Fortunately, there are steps a woman can take to make her transition to menopause more comfortable.

The Facts

• Perimenopause typically lasts two to six years. It is a normal, natural process of aging in women. Still, it can be unpleasant and interfere with a woman's quality of life. As the ovaries begin to produce smaller amounts of estrogen and progesterone, a woman may notice she'll begin to suffer from:
  • irregular periods (including skipped periods, lighter or heavier periods and periods that are either closer together or further apart than what she's used to)
  • mood swings
  • hot flashes
  • vaginal dryness
  • a waning sex drive
  • a decrease in memory and concentration

  Every woman's body reacts differently to perimenopause. One woman may experience all of these difficulties while another may step into menopause with almost no physical discomfort. Wherever a woman falls on the symptom spectrum, medications, medical procedures and lifestyle changes are all available to make the change easier.

Medications

• Taking birth control pills is one option to relieve perimenopause problems, even for women who don't need contraception. Birth control pills contain estrogen and progesterone and can help regulate periods and relieve both hot flashes and vaginal dryness. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) reports that hot flashes are relieved in 98 percent of women who take estrogen.

  Women who can't take birth control pills because they smoke or are at high risk for blood clots might opt for progestin therapy. Progestin is a synthetic form of progesterone. The Mayo Clinic reports that cyclic progestin therapy "may regulate your periods."

Endometrial Ablation

• Endometrial ablation can reduce or eliminate menstrual flow in women suffering from very heavy periods. The procedure uses a laser, electrical energy or heat to destroy the lining of the uterus (endometrium).

Lifestyle

• Regular exercise helps keep middle-aged spread at bay, relieves stress, lowers blood pressure, strengthens muscle and bone and improves sleep quality. According to ACOG, exercise has been shown to lessen the intensity and frequency of hot flashes.

  Women should begin increasing their intake of calcium and vitamin D during perimenopause to ward off the dangers of osteoporosis (loss of bone density) so common in post-menopausal women. In addition, alcohol and caffeine can set off hot flashes and so should be avoided.

Considerations

• Even though a woman's fertility declines during perimenopause, pregnancy is still possible. Sexually active women who do not want to become pregnant should stay on contraception until they have gone without a period for 12 consecutive months.

  Also, although changes in a woman's period are a normal part of perimenopause, the ACOG stresses that women should report any menstrual changes to her doctor to make sure the changes aren't caused by illness or disease.