Perimenopause Can Make Life Difficult For Women

Perimenopause, a time between a woman's reproductive years and when her menstrual cycle stops completely, can make life difficult for many women. But, relief is available.

"We can now help a perimenopausal woman better deal with physical and emotional changes by giving her new low-dose birth control pills," says Dr. Robert Zurawin, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine. "The pills help regulate her periods and supplement the estrogen she is no longer adequately producing."

According to Dr. Zurawin, perimenopause usually occurs around age 45 and can last anywhere from a few days to a few years. "Eighty percent of women go through some form of perimenopause," he says.

During perimenopause, a woman might experience irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, problems sleeping, changes in weight, skin and hair, depression, mood swings, and poor concentration.

During estrogen withdrawal, which occurs every month before a woman's period but is more pronounced during perimenopause, many women also experience menstrual migraine headaches.

"When we have given these pills to patients the headaches and the moodiness improve dramatically," Dr. Zurawin says. "This form of treatment, as well as a regular exercise program combined with a low-fat, high-fiber diet rich in calcium and vitamins, can make life more bearable for these women."

- From Baylor College of Medicine

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Courtesy of Texas Medical Center News

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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URL: http://www.tmc.edu/health_briefs/11_15_99-perimenopause.html