All of your questions answered about Menopause Symptoms, Perimenopause Symptoms and Pre Menopause Symptoms
WHAT IS MENOPAUSE?
Menopause is known as the passage in a woman's life when her ovaries stop producing eggs, her body produces less estrogen and progesterone (hormones), and menstruation becomes less frequent, eventually stops altogether.
While the typical age for the onset of menopause is 51, for some women it can begin in the early 40’s and symptoms can last into one’s mid-fifties. Many women experience some form of menopause symptoms, once they begin, for the rest of their lives, to greater or lesser degrees of severity.
WHAT IS PERIMENOPAUSE?
The transition to menopause features a myriad of symptoms and gradually fluctuating hormones, and is often called perimenopause. Perimenopause -- or pre-menopause -- is the time when a woman’s body prepares for the end of child bearing years and begins to move toward menopause. It is highly common for women in perimenopause to begin experiencing some of the symptoms for menopause.
WHAT ARE PERIMENOPAUSE -or- PRE MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS?
The five most common pre menopause symptoms women notice are hot flashes/flushes, irregular periods, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and loss of libido.
See below for more detailed description of these symptoms
WHAT IS PREMATURE MENOPAUSE?
Some women experience premature menopause because of genetic disposition or illness, disease or medical procedures. For instance, women who have been treated for cancer with chemotherapy, may go through menopause before the age of 40. Menopause that occurs before this age, whether natural or induced, is known as "premature" menopause.
Unlike perimenopause, premature menopause indicates a woman’s passing into menopause before the usual or average age range (late forties to mid-fifties).
MOST COMMON MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS
If you’re hoping to avoid the symptoms below, you may be disappointed. 70% of menopausal women may experience symptoms, while almost all women start experiencing symptoms while still having their periods.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS?
For a complete list (beginning with the top five most common perimenopause/menopause symptoms, see below.
• Irregular Periods
• Vaginal Dryness
• Mood Swings
• Loss of Libido
• Hot Flashes & Night Sweats
• Difficulty Concentrating
• Fatigue
• Sleep Disorders
• Memory Lapses
• Hair Loss
• Dizziness
• Weight Gain
• Incontinence
• Bloating
• Allergies
• Brittle Nails
• Irregular Heartbeat
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Panic Disorder
• Breast Pain
• Headaches
• Joint Pain
• Burning Tongue
• Digestive Problems
• Muscle Tension
• Itchy Skin
• Tingling Extremities
• Osteoporosis
Many women experience the onset of menopause -- what Dr. Christiane Northrup (The Wisdom of Menopause, Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom - Amazon link) calls “puberty in reverse” -- over a span of several years.
This two to three year period of hormonal instability and flux begins before actual menopause is in full swing. Typically, most women officially “hit” menopause at age 51, but symptoms can start months or even years before the last period ends.
This fact creates direct link between these two ‘bookends’ in a woman’s health history: the years preceding actual menstruation (menarche) and the body’s preparation for child bearing and the years preceding the end of menstruation (menopause).
After reviewing symptoms below, keep two things in mind: most menopause symptoms can be mitigated through a variety of natural and/or medical treatments, and that menopause gets a bum rap.
“The brain catches fire at menopause,” says Dr. Northrup. Researchers agree. Menopause can be a time of renewed creativity, intellect and energy for many women.
It is also a time for taking stock in one’s own life, body and health.
Menopausal women often start new ventures, finish ‘unfinished business’ (like an abandoned degree or pursuit), launch into healthy exercise routines to ward of illness and disease brought on by age.
Cindy: “Ever since I turned forty, my periods are crazy, compared to when I was younger. I skip some cycles and when they come, they come with a vengeance, cramps and PMS!”
Donna: “On my fiftieth birthday, I swear my body changed. Even with my work out routines and healthy eating, I am getting rounder by the minute. But the plus side is, my husband likes my new curves.”
Susan: “I am 48 and a mother of a kindergartner. My menstrual cycle is still like clockwork, but the night sweats and hot flashes are starting to make me irritable. ”
Vera: “It wasn’t always like this. But now, my teenage daughter and I finally have something in common: we are both forgetful and moody. She just started her period for the first time, and I am just finishing mine for the last time.”
CAN MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS BE EASED THROUGH LIFESTYLE?
The good news is that many women can reduce the severity of menopause symptoms by simply paying attention to their lifestyle. Making changes in your diet, exercise and stress levels may significantly diminish those uncomfortable hot flashes or the loss of a good night’s sleep.
Take the opportunity that this stage of life offers and make changes where old, unhealthy or outmoded habits no longer serve you!
It’s the ‘tried but true’ method of maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise program, which will go a long way towards reducing the symptoms of menopause. Many symptoms can be more bearable by adding a trick or two up your sleeve!
> Giving the boot to old, unhealthy habits!
As you experience menopause, it is also a good idea to finally kick any old, unhealthy habits, such as smoking or drinking too much alcohol. Other interventions that may be helpful include reducing caffeine intake and spicy foods, while drinking more water. In other words, now is the time to take a good look at your lifestyle and make some positive modifications.
> You are what you eat!
A diet rich in fiber, whole foods, leafy greens and wholesome proteins will allow the menopausal body to work more efficiently. Again, increasing the amount of water consumed daily will also make a difference, helping your system to cleanse and rebalance.
Avoiding rich foods, high in fat and sugar, and low in nutritional value, supports the changing body. Refraining from eating at night and before bed also supports the bodies natural rhythms for restoring during sleep. Not only does this positively impact weight gain associated with menopause, but it also supports the bodies innate ways of balancing.
> Get moving!
By increasing exercise or adding exercise to your current routines, the body is able to process foods, increase optimal organ functions and rid itself of unwanted toxins. Getting a ‘good sweat on’ will help balance the sudden intensities of heat, perspiration and flushes associated with hot flashes.
Many doctors recommend at least two and half hours per week of physical activity that increases the heart rate and leads to a healthy sweat. This will help your mood, sleep and heart health. It also adds to one’s overall sense of well-being, boosting endorphins which lead to mood stability and confidence.
> Let’s get intimate!
Many women, especially in our culture, worry about feeling less sexy and desirable. But why is it, in some other cultures, women in their menopausal years are considered the most sexy and sensual?
Wholesome habits that replace the old unhealthy ones may also lead to a more intimate and positive relationship with one’s self as this time of life exacts changes. An increase libido or desire for sexual intimacy is often the result of some consistent and healthy self-care routines.
Busy, active women who are raising children, running to committee meetings or working full time can turn around some selfless habits. Regular sleep, pampering and caring for oneself and keeping work out of the bedroom are some of the ways women can impact their sex life. Using the bedroom for sleep and sex by getting the lap top and stacks of reading material out of the way can refocus and reinvigorate a waning libido.
Where vaginal dryness is an issue, a water-based, over-the counter vaginal lubricant or moisturizer, like K-Y Jelly or Replens can help make sex more comfortable.
> Getting comfortable in and out of bed!
Even making adjustments to increase comfort can be beneficial. Women experiencing hot flashes, for instance, learn to wear more breathable, natural fabrics and tend to layer their clothing for optimal comfort. Synthetics and polyester material does not breathe as well, and this stuffy sensation often ignites hot flashes.
By dressing lightly and in layers, your comfort level is in your hands. This goes for changing bed linens to a higher cotton thread-count, avoiding synthetic fabrics in blankets and sheets, and making your bed with lighter layers. By making these accommodations, hot flashes and night sweats can be significantly reduced.
> Chill out and keep yourself cool and collected!
Avoid overly hot or stuffy environments and take care of yourself at this time by planning ahead. If you are destined to vacation at the beach or in the tropics, carry water, a hand-held fan and hat or visor. If you live or work in a hot space, open windows, install ceiling fans or increase areas with shade to keep your body from throwing hot flashes more often than is necessary.
Many women swear by keeping a small electric fan in their work space, bedroom and even in their car (those small, battery-operated hand-held fans work well) to cool down any hot flashes. Turning down the temperature for the air conditioning alone will not do as much as keeping air moving around the upper body, neck and head.
It is often not necessary to get medical treatment for your menopause symptoms unless they are not able to be reduced by some simple measures.
WHAT ARE NON-MEDICAL / ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS FOR MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS?
Some women try herbs or other products such as Menozac and Remifemin that come from plants to help relieve menopause symptoms. While not monitored by the FDA, many women experience relief through alternative, holistic measures.
The benefits of using an herbal treatment (aka menopausal supplements) include avoiding the health risks associated with medicinal or surgical treatments. Many women like a natural method of using a non-medical approach to menopause treatment in order to avoid chemicals placed in the body.
Make sure to discuss any natural or herbal products with your doctor before taking them. Because some supplements are not governed by the FDA, it is best to check with a professional. It’s also important to tell your doctor about all medicines you are taking. Some plant products or foods can be harmful when combined with certain medications.
WHAT IS NATURAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY?
Frequently endorsed by celebrities such as Suzanne Somers, many women are opting for natural hormone replacement therapies, These treatments are considered natural because the products are created from plants or animals, those which contain a similar molecular structure to that of the human body.
Some of these estrogen-like compounds include soy, flax seed, wild yam and even animal derivatives of hormones which claim to work on a molecular level exactly like the female body during menopause. This is the difference between natural hormone replacement therapies and bio identical hormones, which are manmade and profess to synthetically imitate what happens in the body during menopause.
Care must be taken, as the benefits and risks of most of these natural hormonal agents have not been proven nor tested by the FDA.
WHAT ARE MEDICAL TREATMENTS FOR THE MOST COMMON MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS?
Medical treatment of menopause symptoms involve a variety of prescription remedies suggested by one’s physician. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), an estrogen and progesterone combination, can be prescribed for women who still have their uterus to reduce the symptoms of menopause and help prevent osteoporosis.
In the past, HRT was widely recommended for the treatment of menopausal symptoms as well as in the prevention of osteoporosis and heart disease. But, controversy continues regarding the long-term use of HRT and its increase to the risk of heart disease, breast cancer, blood clots, and stroke.
Below is a list of other common traditional medical treatments for menopause symptoms ranging from depression to hot flashes to vaginal dryness:
• Hormone therapy
• Low-dose antidepressants
• Gabapentin (Neurontin). Bisphosphonates.
• Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs)
• Vaginal estrogen
Whether you have Menopause Symptoms, Perimenopause Symptoms or Pre Menopause Symptoms just know you are in for a change.
