Perimenopause

Usually, at the age of 50, a woman experiences a change of life wherein a she no longer goes through menstruation.  This is called menopause and it is diagnosed when menstruation stops for at least twelve months.  However, there are cases when a woman experiences the symptoms of menopause at an earlier age of 35-45.  The condition of experiencing premature menopause symptoms is called perimenopause.  It is a time for the woman’s body to prepare for the change of life that will come in ten to fifteen year’s time.

Symptoms

One of the premature menopause symptoms is a change in menstruation.  A woman’s period may become irregular, and may last shorter or longer. There may also be times when periods become heavier or lighter than the usual. A woman might say that she is having PMS but that may actually be perimenopause already. For example, prior to periods, she may feel fatigued which can be felt both when having PMS and perimenopause.  In cases like this, a woman will have to observe if she is experiencing other symptoms that are peculiar to perimenopause and menopause like loss of libido, weight gain, fatigue, hot flashes and night sweats.

Treatments

There are several ways to alleviate the symptoms of perimenopause.  There are prescription and over the counter drugs like SSRI antidepressants such as Prozac and Zoloft.  There are even herbal remedies that are readily available for use like black cohosh and gingko biloba .

Doctor’s Advice

If you are suspecting that you have premature menopause symptoms, talk to your doctor.  He or she will be able to diagnose if you are really having perimenopause or not after performing some thorough examination.  After which, your doctor can then recommend the best course of action that you can take.  He or she may suggest HRT, herbal supplements, over-the-counter treatments or a combination of several therapies.

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Options

There are two common ways of addressing menopause: one being hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and the other being the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).  While it is true that some women go with HRT to relive some of the symptoms, there are still a significant number of women who cannot take the same due to its side effects and risks.  Examples of women who cannot have HRT are women who are at risk of breast cancer and those who have had breast cancer.  Especially for these women, paroxetine option comes in really handy.

Anxiety and Depression

Paroxetine is also known as Paxil.  It is an SSRI just like how Prozac and Zoloft are.  These drugs moderate the serotonin amounts in the brain because once there is an imbalance of such; it can lead to anxiety and depression.  It usually takes up to eight weeks to see the effects of the medication which means that one has to be really patient.  It is also advised that a talk has to be done between the patient and the doctor before increasing or decreasing the amounts of dosage.  It is found that negative effects like weakening of the body happen when one abruptly stops the medication.

Hot Flashes

Peroxetine can also treat other symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes.  It is a condition when the skin flushes and an uncomfortable heat is experienced. Clinical studies say that SSRI’s effects are not just placebo effects but are legitimate treatments for hot flashes. However, it should be fully understood that paroxetine has its side effects as well. These may include decreased libido, headache and weight gain.  These effects may eventually subside after a few weeks or persist until medication is discontinued.

If HRT is not an option that is advisable for you, the paroxatine – menopause link is another option to explore, of course, with the recommendation of your doctor.  Your physician will have to review your medical history and perform a thorough examination before making any conclusive suggestions.

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Zoloft for menopause is something that women consider when they are 40 years old or above.  Why?  That is because this is the age when their menstruation stops and they no longer have the ability to bear children.   This condition is diagnosed as soon as menstruation stops for at least one year.  During this time, a woman’s hormones such as the estrogen and progesterone go awry which then causes them to feel some discomfort.  This is where Zoloft comes into the picture.

Zoloft and Effects

There is a well-tolerated selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) in the market called Zoloft.  This is also one of the more cost-efficient choices there are.  Anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and society anxiety can be addressed by taking this drug. It is also found effective to ease menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes.  This condition is when the skin flushes sporadically which makes a person feel hot and later on, experience night sweats.  However, nights sweat may not be treated with SSRIs.  In fact, plenty SSRIs cause night sweats.  SSRIs’ adverse effects may mellow done in about four to six weeks according to some people.  A doctor’s word must be released before ceasing the use of an SSRI like Zoloft.  Also, you may be instructed by your doctor to take calcium supplements so as to avoid osteoporosis, and multivitamins for a healthier condition.

Talking to your Doctor

Zoloft for menopause can be prescribed by your physician or psychiatrist.  A visit to a medical professional who is an expert at both antidepressants and menopause is highly recommended.

If hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is not applicable to a menopausal woman due to breast cancer risks, then drugs like Zoloft is a good alternative.  Whatever kind of treatment is decided upon, your physician should always be there to guide you regarding your menopausal symptoms.

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ABS’s of Menopause

Women over the age of 40 will eventually go through a change of life known as menopause.  There is also a possibility for some women to experience menopausal symptoms before 40.  This condition is called perimenopuase.  These symptoms are caused by vacillating hormones which results into night sweats, hot flashes, decrease of libido and thinning hair.  Furthermore, these menopausal symptoms can last for years.  To relieve these symptoms, natural herbs may be used.  Here is some helpful information

to get you started on using natural herbs in treating menopause.

Black Cohosh

Phytoestrogens are substances that are like the estrogen produced by our body.  Black cohosh contains this which makes it suitable for usage to fight menopause.  It may help reduce the imbalance of the estrogen levels of the body, as well as the effects of hormonal imbalances.

Gingko Biloba

Both men and women use gingko biloba for several different reasons.  It is commonly used to strengthen memory or improve concentration.  Aside from that, it may also improve the following: blood flow, vitality and energy levels.

Ginseng

Another herb that can increase energy, vitality and brain strength is ginseng.  There are two forms of such that is commonly used and these are Panax and Siberian.  These can help improve blood flow, and cut down the fatigue cause by menopause.

Red Clover

As a result of the decrease of estrogen, a decrease in bone mass also occurs.  To scale down the chances of getting osteoporosis, a considerable concern among menopausal women, the herb red clover may be used.  It is also recommended that a sufferer should take calcium supplements to avoid this condition.

Sage

More than just as an herb used for cooking, sage can be used to reduce chances of experiencing night sweats.  It can be brewed, as you would with other leaves, into a tea that should be taken at many different times of the day including before bedtime.  This herb can be bought at supermarkets.

Supplements

On top of these natural herbs for menopause, there are also some supplements that can help alleviate the symptoms of menopause.  Most natural herbs for menopause are blended into supplement form which may make them more effective.  Of course, before taking any supplements, it is important to discuss these matters with your doctor to avoid complications with other medications.

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About Menopause

When menstruation stops at around 40 years old, the condition called menopause occurs.  It is commonly found out when menstruation stops for at least one year.  It tags along some uncomfortable effects.  To address menopause, Paxil is an option to take.  This can specifically target, anxiety, depression and hot flashes.   Although Paxil is not a panacea, it can provide ease for some of the symptoms that go along menopause.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can treat hormone an imbalance in estrogen and progesterone.  However, for high-risk women, HRT is not recommended as it can cause further damage.  SSRI antidepressants then can take the place of HRT.  Anxiety, depression and hot flashes can be treated with controlled doses of Paxil or paroxetine.

Paxil as Treatment

As there is no ultimate medicine, Paxil may also have its own adverse effects on some women.  These may include dizziness, headaches, dry mouth, low sexual appetite and night sweats.  It is a given that two of the symptoms of menopause are loss of libido and night sweats.  Since this is the case, a careful deliberation of this option needs to be done.  More information on Paxil usage can be provided to you by your doctor.  In case that your doctors is unable to do such, a psychiatrist may be found to be more of an expert on the same topic.

Menopause and Paxil is a truly a household term.  Thanks to it, in just about eight weeks, anxiety, depression and hot flashes can be fully and effectively treated.  Your body will take some time to decide whether Paxil is good for you or not so just be patient. Some adverse effects may be experienced and it may subside in a month or two, or it may go on during the entire medication.  Even with the side effects, you should never abruptly cease to take any SSRI because of tremendous withdrawal symptoms.

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About Menopause

Menopause is a change in a woman’s life wherein menstruation ends and she can therefore no longer get pregnant.  This usually happens as soon as a woman turns 40.  This condition comes with some discomfort.  There are also cases wherein a woman may experience the symptoms of menopausal before 40.  This circumstance is called perimenopause.  These various menopause signs and symptoms are the following:

Hot Flashes

This is defined as a sudden sensation of heat and flushing of the face.  This is a direct result of an imbalance in the hormones which includes the decline of estrogen.  This can be treated with multivitamins, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and progesterone cream which can be acquired over the counter.

Night Sweats

Together with hot flashes is the uncomfortable night sweats.  It occurs only at night and so those who experience this wake up in the morning soaked in cold sweat, wetting their sheets and clothes.  Sage Tea is a natural remedy that is commonly used to treat this.

Thinning Hair

Thinning hair is another symptom that shows up together with menopause.  Some visible hairless patches may be seen on some areas of your head.  Rogaine and thickening shampoos can remedy this condition.  There are powder and cream concealers that are the same color as your hair which can hide these patches, giving the illusion of thicker hair.

Excess Facial Hair

If the hair on your head is falling off, facial hair, on the other hand, will grow more.  Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is said to help with this symptom.  But if it is not possible to have HRT, there is always bleaching, waxing or plucking to resort to.

Anxiety and/or Depression

Another one of the menopause signs and symptoms is anxiety and/or depression.  These effects may be hormonal or due to the emotional difficulties and physical discomfort brought with menopause.  This can be addressed to by talking to a therapist, taking antidepressants, or using natural treatments like St. John’s Wort.  This and any of the aforementioned symptoms and signs, and their corresponding treatments need to be discoursed with your doctor.

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Background on Menopause

When a woman stops menstruating and her estrogen levels decline, she is considered to be going through menopause. When this happens, there may be several forms of discomfort that can be experienced.  These include anxiety, depression, hot flashes, loss of sexual desire, and night sweats.  A woman may experience a lot of these symptoms while some others only experience a few.  Regardless of whether it is many or just a few, these symptoms may be addressed in different ways.  Some women choose to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT).  Others opt for a natural approach.  As a rule, any action taken against menopause, natural or not, should be consulted first with one’s doctor.

Gingko Biloba

One natural treatment against menopause is the usage of gingko biloba.  It is well-tried by most women and they can attest to its safety.  Accounts would mention an improvement on circulation, mental sharpness and sex drive.  However, if one is taking blood thinners, it is not recommended that this herb will be taken as it could increase blood flow.

Sage

To reduce night sweats, sage is another herb that may be used.  It can be a taken as a tea or as flavouring to cook sausages and some Italian dishes.

Ginseng

For hormone regulation and other symptoms of menopause and post-menopause, Panax and Siberian ginseng like may be taken.  Ginseng is known to be an energy supplement and is usually taken in supplement form.  These supplements can easily be purchased from local health stores and vitamin shops.

St. John’s Wort

Depression is another discomfort that may be experienced in this stage of life change.  St. John’s Wort may be used to naturally remedy this as it regulates the depression that may be experienced.  However this should not be taken if one is already on antidepressants.

Multivitamins

To complete the relation between menopause and natural remedies, there is another important supplement that should be taken during menopause and it is multivitamins.  Calcium is also highly encouraged to be used to fight against osteoporosis.  One’s doctor will always be able to guide you with your choices when it comes to natural remedies of menopause.

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Doctors agree that once oopherectomy (surgical removal of ovaries) take place in young women, early menopause can occur. However, there have been very few studies to prove that if the uterus is removed but the ovaries are left intact, this can also trigger untimely menopause in women. In medical science, it is a generally known fact that because the ovaries are responsible in producing ova and balancing female hormones, its removal can trigger early menopause. But with removing the uterus and leaving the ovaries untouched, still, there must be further studies to prove that there could also be the occurrence of untimely menopause in young women. To prove that the assumptions are right, Dr. Patricia Moorman, an associate professor of Duke University explored this big issue and the results of her study were published in the journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

What would be the rate of ovarian failure with hysterectomy?

Doctor Moorman and her colleagues conducted a study among 406 women who have undergone oophorectomy and hysterectomy and 465 women (who represent the control group) who have hysterectomy but still have intact ovaries. The study lasted for five years. On the first year, the result of the study showed that among the 406 women, almost 2 % of them have failures in the normal functioning of their ovaries while the control group has no issues. After four years, data was gathered and the result showed that 14.8 % among the 406 women and 8.0% of the control group experienced premature menopause or early menopause.

With this result, Dr. Moorman and her colleagues have determined that women who have undergone hysterectomy but their ovaries intact would still show manifestations of ovarian failure at approximately 1.88 years after the surgery. Thus it was concluded that surgical menopause symptoms would likely to occur once the supply of blood to the ovaries is cut off due to hysterectomy.

What should a woman ask her doctor about hysterectomy?

Dr. Moorman suggests that when doctors advise their women patients to undergo hysterectomy, they must also discuss the possible events of ovarian failure. Other than that, they must also encourage women to monitor their bone density because once menopause sets in, the structural integrity of the bones can become thinner and then become fragile.

On the other hand, there are also some benefits brought about by hysterectomy. According to the Maine Women Health Study which was conducted in 1994, 800 women who have gynecological problems that include pelvic pain, growth of fibroids, excessive menstrual bleeding and painful intercourse have excellent improvement in their symptoms after having hysterectomy. Even after a year from their surgery, most of them have regained their physical and mental health. Also, it was found out that there is a lesser chance that women can have ovarian cancer after hysterectomy.

Is there any chance of avoiding early menopause with hysterectomy?

On the other hand, although hysterectomy can bring along some advantages, there is still the possibility that it can also bring along early menopause. Moreover, as long as the ovaries are intact and even there is hysterectomy, studies show that there is still a 50-50 chance that women may still menstruate for certain period of time though this would not exceed 4 years.

Hysterectomy is the leading cause on the disruption of blood supply to the ovaries which can lead to malfunctioning of the ovaries by 40 percent and the imbalance of hormones in the woman’s body. In this case women can still be able to balance their female hormones by relying on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) treatment. Women cannot avoid having surgical removal symptoms after their bouts with hysterectomy but at least they can still do something to prolong their chances of having normal menstrual cycle for few years.

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There are also symptoms that can affect the psychological state of a woman suffering from perimenopause and she may experience major depression, anxieties, post-partum depression or premenstrual syndrome (PMS). When these two types of perimenopause symptoms occur, most likely there would also surface behavioral disorder symptoms like wanting to be secluded from the rest of the people, staying away from fun activities and even avoiding sexual contact. These symptoms are brought about by the declining level of estrogen and progesterone level in a woman’s body and the result is a hormonal imbalance that can affect the woman’s physical, physiological and mental health. This is why an accurate perimenopause treatment is essential so that the transition from being productive to unproductive stages could be handled well.

Would it be normal that women should worry about experiencing perimenopause?

Women should not worry too much about the occurrence of perimenopause stage because it can last only for about a year to a maximum of eight years while having irregular menstruation during this period or show symptoms that can be irregular. On the other hand, perimenopause can also serve as a conditioning state so that the woman can be ready for her incoming menopausal age. When a woman reaches the age of 51 or above and her menstrual period stopped for a year that means the onset of menopause symptoms has occurred.

What are the doctors’ advices about the perimenopause treatments?

• Women should not refrain from having healthy lifestyle to reduce the symptoms of menopause. They should always stick to eating healthy balanced diet, having regular exercises, turning away from bad habits like smoking, heavy drinking, and even avoiding heavy caffeine that can fuel stress.

• Hormone therapy can be advised but since some women are complaining of side effects, low dose hormone therapy can help and this would not induce side effects.

• Taking low dose birth control pills is also another option. Birth control pills contain high levels of female hormones that can balance the hormone level of menopausal women.

• Some women also suggest that meditation and taking natural supplements can be used as perimenopause treatments although there are still no studies to prove that this is really effective.

• For vaginal irritation and dryness, vaginal lubricants can alleviate the dryness and also low-dose vaginal estrogen which can be recommended by the gynecologist.

• Sometimes when some women have negative reactions to estrogen-progestin treatment, there is also the estrogen-testosterone therapy that can be the alternative but this form of therapy is not yet approved by the FDA and studies are still underway.

• Bioidentical Hormone Replace Therapy (BHRT) can be used as an alternative to HRT. The hormone components of it is made from natural food particularly soy or yams. However, there is still no concrete evidence to prove this therapy as an effective perimenopause treatment.

• When the perimenopause symptoms subside and there are still some symptoms left, hormone therapy can also be used as a short-term treatment.

For many years, HRT (hormone replacement therapy) is used in the treatment of menopause symptoms and believed to protect coronary heart diseases in women. However, there are findings that taking it for a long period of time can increase the risk of blood clots, stroke and heart diseases in women. Other than that some women attest that they have developed breast cancer, cardiovascular problems, ovarian cancer, blood clotting and reported cases of neurological problems.

So, since there seems to be existing contradictory indications to every treatment, a woman seeking treatment for her menopause symptoms must always rely on her doctor’s advises. Perimenopause does not generally affect all women and some women can have it only for a few months while other can have it in less than ten years. Within this period, symptoms may also vary. There could be perimenopause bleeding or just perimenopause spotting and some women think this is already a part of their early menopause stage and don’t mind it all.

In any way, there are no exact perimenopause treatment that can eliminate the symptoms of menopause but only alleviating methods to ease the pain, discomfort and effects of the menopause itself.

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1. Perimenopause And Pregnancy -Two Things Women Should Be Concerned About

Generally, the perimenopause age of women can range from their late 30s to their late 40s and there could be signs of early menopause indicating that the reproductive capability of the woman is now starting to go down. Symptoms could vary from having perimenopause weight gain to having perimenopause spotting. Fortunately, the symptoms under perimenopause are usually not as bad as with the real symptoms of actual menopause where a woman can experience chronic hot flushes, sweating, irritability, drowsiness, mood swings and even PMS and post-partum depression. However, though perimenopause is just a low level form of menopause, this can last from a year to eight years.

What are the high risks that are involved with perimenopause and pregnancy?

Perimenopause and pregnancy do not actually happen every day because once a woman gets past the age of 35, her supply of eggs is already short and her ovulation and menstruation are usually irregular. Especially if the woman reaches her 40s, her menstrual cycle will become more erratic and her fertility is most often compromised. Nevertheless, if ever a woman becomes pregnant during her late 40s, then there could already be a high risk situation in this aspect. Even at the age of 35, doctors say there is already a risk with the pregnancy.

According to most doctors, what makes perimenopause and pregnancy to be a bad combination is because of the risk that regards to women’s physical conditions. Women at the age of late 30s to late 40s are the ages where chronic conditions occur like high blood pressure and diabetes. Other than these conditions, the bones structure of a perimenopausal women are not as strong as when they are young. Being overweight is also a problem because most women especially those who have been married for many years have weight problems. And if we listen to the doctor’s judgment, pregnancies that take place at the age of 35 or over can produce babies that have chromosomal problems or saying it simply, giving birth to babies with Down’s syndrome.

Is there a connection between perimenopause pregnancy and miscarriage?

Getting pregnant while within the perimenopausal stage does also have the risk of miscarriages and sometimes there is what they call the Placenta Previa which means the placenta develops near the cervix and this can cause internal bleeding. Medically speaking, when a woman reaches the age of 35 to over 40, the best quality ova which young women usually produced during their teens to age 20s are almost out of stock. That is why women who get pregnant at later age usually have miscarriages because the ova are not fully qualified to become developed. Other than that if conception is successful, there is a great risk for the zygote to be affected with chromosomal abnormalities thus bearing babies with defects.

The bad news is, if the mother is in her late productive years, we cannot really tell if the baby she will be giving birth would be normal or not as standard test on pregnancies can become risky especially if the woman is more than 35 years old. Test usually involves taking off small tissue from the placenta to test for hormone abnormality. Because the placenta of an aging woman can be sensitive, miscarriage can happen if tissues are taken out of it.

How to lessen the risk of bearing babies with defects?

We must face the fact that once the baby is conceived, we don’t have the right to judge if the baby would be born normal or not so we have to devise other ways to come up with solutions to lessen the risk. Doctors usually recommend women undergoing perimenopause and pregnancy to sustain themselves with proper nutrients that are necessary in the development of the brain of the unborn baby. The pregnant woman must also visit her doctor for some series of test if necessary. Proper exercise, enough sleep and positive thinking is also suggested.

Pregnant women that are nearing their menopausal stage should not brood and think about complications that may happen, instead, they must see the pregnancy as a normal pregnancy. The risk is there but this does not mean all babies born of perimenopausal mothers would be born not normal. In fact, there are more babies that are borne normal by perimenopaused mothers than those who are not. The point here is, women must still be aware that when it comes to having perimenopause and pregnancy they must adopt more care and cautions especially with the unborn baby.

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