How to Recognize and Treat Perimenopausal Symptoms

What do many women expect during menopause, the menopause (often characterized by painful changes in the body), the period leading up to a woman’s menstrual cycle and the end of her childbirth period? I don’t know. Because these changes can manifest themselves as shock, we analyzed five common symptom signs, causes, and treatment options.

Hoteri

How they feel:

“Most women report a thermal sensation that begins in the head and moves down the body,” said Dr. Nanette Santoro, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Colorado, who studies peri-menopausal and menopausal symptoms. Said. She said it often persists as the blood vessels in the body dilate and lose heat rapidly. Hote usually lasts 1 to 5 minutes and can occur both in the peri-menopausal and postmenopausal periods.

Dr. Holly Soccer, a female health expert at the Cleveland Clinic, said there are various symptoms associated with burning. Some women experience illusions and feel their skin crawling. Some people have palpitation. Hoteri is also associated with insomnia and sleep disorders.

Their causes:

According to Dr. Santoro, the cause of fever is not completely clear, but fluctuations in estrogen levels that occur during the perimenopausal period can lead to temperature changes. Menopausal transitions are characterized by estrogen levels that decline over time, but these levels fluctuate significantly until the final menstrual period. “Hormones don’t just drip slowly,” she said. “They are on a roller coaster.”

How to handle them:

Hormone therapy, which includes taking supplemental estrogen or progesterone with estrogen, is considered to be the most effective treatment available for postmenopausal burning. The FDA has also approved paroxetine, the most commonly known antidepressant drug, Paxil, to treat moderate to severe burning.

Some doctors do not recommend peri-menopausal hormone therapy and instead prescribe low-dose hormone contraception. According to Dr. Adams, hormone therapy regimens usually contain a quarter of the amount of hormones found in the lowest doses of oral contraceptives, but they are not good at contraception and controlling irregular bleeding. enough.

Depression and anxiety

How they feel:

Dr. Karen Adams, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Oregon Health & Science University, said: It can feel like PMS, or a constant case of PMS. “You don’t imagine things,” said Dr. Adams.

Women who experience anxiety can feel frustrated, awkward, and have heart palpitations. Depression is usually characterized by depression, lack of motivation, more or less sleep and eating than usual, and not enjoying activities that are usually a source of comfort.

Their causes:

“When we lose estrogen, we become more vulnerable in terms of mood,” said Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director of the North American Menopause Association and director of the Mayo Clinic Women’s Health Center.

Women who experience postpartum depression or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (severe form of PMS) are at increased risk of developing depression before and after menopause. Hote is also associated with anxiety.

How to handle them:

Depression that occurs during the transitional period of menopause responds well to estrogen, Dr. Faubion said.

If women do not respond to hormones, antidepressants may help, Dr. Adams said. Mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation techniques, and yoga can also improve mood.

Genital and urinary symptoms

How they feel:

Women may experience intermittent vaginal dryness, urine leakage, and overactive bladder during and after menopause. They sometimes report itching or burning sensations in the vagina or during urination: “Some people describe it as a razor blade or a piece of glass,” Dr. Faubion said. Sex can be painful. You can also wipe it with toilet paper or wear jeans.

Their causes:

Low estrogen levels can cause genital symptoms. “Estrogen helps maintain the health of these tissues with elasticity, blood flow and water,” said Dr. Faubion. “If you lose estrogen, you lose it all.”

How to handle them:

Unlike hot springs, genital symptoms do not go away without treatment, Dr. Santoro said. The best prescription treatments are vaginal or topical estrogens and are available with vaginal rings, creams and inserts. Many women can also relieve their symptoms by using over-the-counter vaginal moisturizers and lubricants.

Forgetfulness

How it feels:

Women may find their thoughts less clear than they once were, or have difficulty remembering words.

Cause:

Dr. Faubion said there were several possible causes. “It could basically be a withdrawal from steroids, estrogens,” she said. However, symptoms of burning, night sweats, and other menopause can interfere with sleep, and reduced rest and fragmentation can be sacrificed. Depression and other mood disorders also affect cognition.

How to handle it:

According to Dr. Adams, brain fog tends to be more problematic during the peri-menopausal period and level off after menopause. “I just know it can be reassuring,” she said.

Identifying and addressing sleep problems can also reduce fog in the brain. Night sweats and burning can be reduced by supplementing with estrogen. Avoiding caffeine, alcohol and nicotine before bed can help improve sleep. Eating early may also be beneficial: make sure your last meal is at least two hours before bedtime.

Skin and hair problems

How they feel:

Women report losing hair, growing new facial hair, and thinning and drying the skin.

Their causes:

According to Dr. Faubion, women lose about one-third of the collagen in their skin during the transitional period of menopause.

According to Dr. Adams, hair has hormonal components. Some women notice changes in their hair during pregnancy and after childbirth. Hair loss may also be associated with thyroid abnormalities and vitamin deficiency. These are not necessarily associated with menopause, but can increase with age.

How to handle them:

Taking women’s formula multivitamins daily, and taking estrogen, can help prevent hair loss. Rogaine, a thickening product offered in topical foam, has also been shown to work for women. Taking estrogen also increases skin thickness, moisture, and flexibility.

Hair loss may be associated with abnormalities in the thyroid gland, so ask your doctor to check your thyroid hormone levels. Also, talk to your doctor about new health problems that may be related to the peri-menopausal period or menopause.

These symptoms can be irritating and destructive, but “all of these can be treated,” said Dr. Adams. Menopause and the symptoms of menopause do not last forever. “It’s not your new ordinary,” she said.