Managing Perimenopause
Q: I have been to two doctors now and they do not find that my hormone levels have changed. I have most of the symptoms of menopause, but not the hormone change. Is it true that I can be in a pre-menopause stage? I've been told that I could be going through this for the next 5 to 10 years. I still have a menstrual flow that is very heavy and then just stops, I've skipped and it comes when it wants. Please, do not tell me to go on the pill. I can't afford the weight gain and headaches when taking them. I'm 45. Help!
--T.M.
Dr. Donnica: It sounds as if you're in "perimenopause"--that 2
to 10-year timeframe that precedes menopause and can give you all the symptoms
while still having periods (usually heavier and irregular). The question then
becomes what to do about it. In general, for non-smoking women over age 35,
I would recommend one of the very low dose birth control pills. These have been
shown NOT to cause any weight gain. Unfortunately, the only way to tell if they
will affect your headaches is to try them and see.
Other options for you include focusing on each individual symptom and finding
another treatment for that symptom. For example, if you have hot flashes, black
cohosh, clonidine and Bellergal seem to help. For sleep disturbances, your doctor
can recommend a sleeping pill. For mood disturbances, many women find relief
with one of the many SSRI's (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), which
are also used to treat depression (e.g. Sarafem, Effexor, Paxil, or Zoloft).
This is an issue you should sit down and discuss with your physician.
Good luck!
Donnica Moore MD
President, DrDonnica.com
Created: 8/20/2001 - Donnica Moore, M.D.
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