Perimenopause – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Perimenopause, or menopause transition, is the stage of a woman's reproductive life that begins several years before menopause, when the ovaries gradually begin to produce less estrogen. It usually starts in a woman's 40s, but can start in the 30s as well.

Symptoms of Perimenopause

Some of the symptoms of depression are found in both PMS and perimenopause. Depression is not caused by menopause, but it can run in families. If feelings of depression, loss of appetite, insomnia, and general loss of interest or pleasure in life are at the top of your list you may be suffering from clinical depression. These feelings should be brought to the attention of your health care provider.

Mood changes including depression, anxiety, irritability, and mood swings are experienced by a significant number of perimenopausal women.

Here's the good news, though. There are effective "do-it-yourself" alternatives to conventional-hormone formulations for easing the physical and emotional symptoms of perimenopause, the 10-15 years before menopause when a woman's monthly period comes to an end. Below is a "master plan" from which to create your own program for perimenopause relief.

Hot flashes and sleep problems. About 75 percent to 85 percent of women experience hot flashes during perimenopause. Their intensity, duration and frequency vary. Sleep problems are often due to hot flashes or night sweats, but sometimes sleep becomes erratic even without them.

Perimenopause — causes

As many women enter perimenopause or approach menopause, they find themselves experiencing unexplained weight gain — especially around the waists and hips — despite their best attempts to diet. Often the methods of weight management that worked for them for years are suddenly ineffective. In fact, weight gain in the abdomen is one of the most common complaints of perimenopausal women.

Menopause actually occurs when a woman permanently stops having menstrual periods. The transitional period of time before menstruation completely stops is referred to as perimenopause. During this period of time there are great fluctuations in hormones, which can produce many of the same symptoms you are experiencing.

Childhood cancer treatment. Treatment for childhood cancer with chemotherapy or pelvic radiation therapy has been linked to early menopause.
Hysterectomy. A hysterectomy that removes your uterus, but not your ovaries, usually doesn't cause menopause. Although you no longer have periods, your ovaries still release eggs. But such an operation may cause menopause to occur earlier than average.

How is perimenopause diagnosed?

Often your doctor can make the diagnosis based on your symptoms. Blood tests to check hormone levels may also be beneficial but may be difficult to evaluate due to erratic fluctuations of hormones during this period. It may be more helpful to have several tests done at different times for comparison.

Treatment of Perimenopause

Phytestrogen

Plants manufacture thousands of chemical compounds vital to the health and function of the plant. Those chemical compounds, generally known as micronutrients, are consumed by humans whenever the plants are eaten. One class of chemical compounds manufactured by plants is known as phytestrogens. Over 300 plants contain phytestrogen compounds. They comprise a large part of our diet, and are found in medicinal plants as well.

Before you begin any type of treatment for the symptoms of perimenopause, you will need to have a full physical exam that includes a detailed discussion about your medical history. Most women should have had a mammogram within the last twelve months before beginning medical therapy for perimenopausal symptoms. Your doctor might order a bone densitometry if your medical history and physical examination suggest bone density testing is a good idea. Your doctor may also want to perform additional tests, if needed.