Perimenopause: Challenging Women Over 40

Women over 40 have one thing in common: They are experiencing puzzling symptoms that all lead, in one way or another, to a condition prior to the big M. The condition: Perimenopause. And the conditions vary from one person to another; that is why it is hard for their doctors to just say that what they are experiencing is a prelude to the big M. But what is perimenopause really, its symptoms, and what can women over 40 do in order to live their lives to the fullest in spite of the often not-so pleasant experience of this condition.

Understanding Change

The symptoms of perimenopause can be quite challenging to read and pin down. For some women, it the sudden drop of libido and too sudden, heavy bleeding, for others it includes temporary memory loss, loss of concentration, and anxiety, just to name some. Another factor that adds to all the confusion is the fact that a woman can’t tell if what she is experiencing is perimenopause, notes Sherry S. Sherman, Ph.D. of the National Institute on Aging of Bethesda, Maryland. All we know is that women who are on their premenopause period are experiencing hot flashes and other menopause-like symptoms, according to Sherman.

So how can you tell if the not-so pleasant experience you’re enduring for some time is caused by this condition? If you are 47 and are having those menopause-like conditions, chances are you are in your premenopause period. However, some women may start to experience some hormonal signs as early as the age of 35, which is when their fertility starts to travel downwards. The result: A woman may still ovulate but her eggs have lower chance of developing.

What really happens during this period is like a hodgepodge of hormonal activity. Bottom line is with both progesterone and estrogen present and interacting with each other inside a woman’s system, the result is a set of rather unexplainable and often puzzling symptoms.

What To Do With The Unexpected

Irregular bleeding. One of the telltale signs that you’ve hit perimenopause is unexpected, irregular bleeding. In fact, at least 70% of women over 40 experience heavy yet irregular bleeding.

But it is during these times that women over 40 are greatly exposed to a number of cancers, and in this case, like uterine cancer, it is important that they consult with their doctor about the changes that are happening in their body. Two vital examinations women need to be familiar with are dilation and curettage and endometrial biopsy. One helpful alternative that doctors are presenting to women is SIS, or saline infusion sonohysterography, an ultrasound procedure that is used to confirm whether or not the uterine lining is normal.

Hot flashes. In reality, women over 40 are just experiencing hot flash equivalents, not really the real thing women will experience with the big M.

Aside from hot flashes, women tend to experience bouts with headache, insomnia, dizziness, and heart palpitations, among others. In fact, insomnia is one of the telltale sign that a woman is near her premenopause period, notes Mary Jane, M.D., co-author of the What Every Woman Needs To Know about Menopause. But what makes insomnia prevalent to women over 40? Blame it to the ebb and flow of progesterone and estrogen that essentially disrupts a woman’s sleep cycle. Accompanying women during sleepless nights is hot flashes, which basically heightens up before or during sleep. That’s why women wake up in the middle of the night perspiring and really don’t know why.

Other symptoms. Aggravating hot flashes and irregular bleeding is a gamut of conditions, which include fatigue, mood swing, irritability, memory loss, poor concentration, and anxiety. Similar to PMS? Exactly. This is why women in their forties seek help in managing PMS.

One way to manage PMS is birth control pills. In some cases, doctors essentially prescribe antidepressants to women experiencing anxiety- or depression-related symptoms. In fact, research shows that it is during these times that women face greater risk of depression, especially if they have had experienced depressive symptoms before or while taking birth control pills.

Understanding Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Is taking birth control pills the same with HRT? Women who feel that they need to manage their condition through HRT simply pop birth control pills that their pharmacist sells them. More often than not, women who take up pills end up being disappointed with the result. That’s because pills are not really HRT. Yes, they do contain estrogen and they do take women of the hormonal roller coaster, but experts do not consider taking pill as an HRT.

So when should you ask your doctor for estrogen? Since HRT has lower dose of estrogen, which is considerably safe for women on their peri menopause period, experts can already prescribe HRT to women if they are considerably close to the big M. Ask your doctor about the suitability of HRT for your lifestyle and health.

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In understanding perimenopause, Miss Vanderbilt recommends

Could It Be Perimenopause? How Women 35-50 Can Overcome Forgetfulness, Mood Swings, Insomnia, Weight Gain, Sexual Dysfunction, and Other Telltale Signs of Hormonal Imbalance

Perimenopause is one of the least understood conditions that women over 40 have to go through before the big M. In spite of the researches and studies about women and their conditions, even experts get puzzled with this relatively newly revealed condition.

In this book, Dr. Stephen Goldstein provides no-baloney advice on how women can cope with the myriad of symptoms that perimenopause brings. If you're one of the million of women over 40 who face often confusing conditions, this book dares to de-mystify it all.

Before the Change: Taking Charge of Your Perimenopause

Another must-have, Before the Change helps million of women understand what perimenopause is all about. Compared to other perimenopause books, Before the Change offers a simple, incremental, DIY-program for women, filling them with wonderful and natural ways so they can tackle the myriad of changes that they are currently facing a decade before the big M.

For Yourself: The Fulfillment of Female Sexuality

Women over 40 become least excited and interested when one of their girlfriends start to talk about one thing: Sex. With over 250 pages, Dr. Lonnie Barbach details how women can re-discover their sexuality and the wonder that their body holds with simple, down-to-earth exercises and advices that any woman can confidently accomplish. If you feel overwhelmed by the effect of perimenopause to your sex life, this book helps you understand the role played by your emotions and mental attitude in finding fulfillment not only in bed but most importantly in life.