Perimenopause - Premenopausal Symptoms and Treatments

Perimenopause is used to describe the years leading up to menopause. Perimenopause usually begins between the ages of 40 - 45 but can also occur in women as young at 30. Many women in their thirties who begin to experience hot flashes, depression, moodiness or a change in their regular monthly period patterns,may not realize that they have entered the perimenopause stage.

When Does Perimenopause Start and How Long Does It Last?

Perimenoupause begins when a woman's body begins to make less estrogen and progensterone. During this stage a woman starts to lose the ability to become pregnant, but is still able to conceive a child. Most doctors believe that perimenopause lasts somewhere between 4-5 years, but some physicians believe that it can last as long as 15 years for certain women. Once perimenopause begins, it continues until a woman reaches menopause. Menopause is reached when a woman has not has not menstruated for 12 consecutive months.

Symptoms and the severity of symptoms differ from woman to woman. Common symptoms of perimenopause include hot flashes, insomnia, heart palpitations, night sweats, facial hair growth, thinning hair, vaginal dryness, dry skin, breast tenderness, moodiness, anxiety, irritability, changes in periods, increase in PMS symptoms, bladder problems and a decrease in sexual desire.

How Does a Woman Know If She Is Experiencing Perimenopause?

If a woman has some of the perimenopause symptoms than she should make an appointment with her doctor. A doctor should test the woman's hormone levels to see if she is low on estrogen and progesterone and then make recommendations which can help alleviate symptoms. There is a "Do It Yourself" ZRT Home Saliva Kit (featured below) that women can use to test their hormone levels. If a woman thinks she is going through perimenopause she may want to consider using an at-home test kit before going to the doctor, but the test results should not stop her from getting professional testing and recommendations from a physician.

Treatments For Uncomfortable Perimenopause Symptoms

Oral contraceptives (birth control pills) can help to alleviate hot flashes, vaginal dryness and regulate periods. Woman that experience heavy bleeding or irregular periods may want to try projestin therapy.

Flax seed oil, evening primrose oil and black cohosh are all popular all natural remedies. For relief of peri-menopause symptoms taking one to two tablespoons of flax seed oil will lessen hot flashes and sweating. Evening primrose oil helps balance mood swings and may relieve breast tenderness but should be taken two weeks before your period starts. To help with insomnia take multi-vitamins and magnesium. Herbs containing phytoestrogens such as red clover and black cohosh help to relieve symptoms. Maca a vegetable root taken in a supplement helps to restore hormone levels and help with fatigue and depression.

Are Bioidentical Hormones Used For Perimenopause?

Bioidentical hormones are made from botanical plants producing estrogens and progesterone made into a cream or supplement are not always the safe way to go and could be riskier than standard hormone therapy. They are custom made for each individual by using your saliva to indicate your hormonal needs. The problem is that the saliva does not have the same levels of hormones that correspond to peri-menopause symptoms. Many woman in the stage of menopause have had great success with bioidentical hormone treatments.

Before taking any natural remedies or feel you need help in understanding what your body is going, through talk to your doctor or gynecologist.