Navigating your way through perimenopause and menopause
As women approach their midlife years, they’re faced with a new and significant change to their bodies: menopause. Often misunderstood, menopause — and its precursor, perimenopause — brings different health risks and concerns for women to manage.
Family medicine Nurse Practitioner Shelby Patterson, Beacon Medical Group Ireland Road, shares information and tips to help women navigate perimenopause and menopause.
What is menopause?
Menopause refers to the normal, natural and permanent stage in a women’s life when she no longer gets menstrual periods and cannot get pregnant. A woman is considered to be in menopause when she goes 12 consecutive months without a period.
Perimenopause refers to the transitional time leading up to menopause. “Perimenopause usually begins four years prior to the last menstrual period,” Shelby explains. “For some women, it can be around eight years prior to menopause.”
Women typically begin perimenopause between the ages of 45 and 55. In the U.S., the average age of menopause is 52 years. For some women, “the change” is a great relief; for others, the symptoms are very uncomfortable.
What to expect
During menopause, a woman’s body makes much less of two key hormones: estrogen and progesterone. This drop in hormone levels, which begins in perimenopause, can bring on a variety of symptoms.
Shelby says the symptoms can include:
- Hot flashes
- Mood swings
- Depression
- Sleep disturbances
- Brain fog
- Hair thinning
- Vaginal dryness.
Not all women experience the same symptoms or experience symptoms to the same degree. Some women may notice little difference in their day-to-day life, while others may find themselves sweating profusely even in cold weather, snapping at loved ones, having difficulty concentrating or experiencing pain during intercourse.
Changing health risks
Although progesterone and estrogen and strongly associated with fertility and reproductive health, these hormones affect other aspects of women’s health, too.
Progesterone supports thyroid function and mood, and estrogen affects bone and muscle mass, blood sugar and cholesterol levels, brain function and circulation. It also supports skin health and appearance related to collagen and moisture.
Changes in these systems, particularly the cardiovascular system, mean changes to a woman’s chances of certain health conditions. “Women’s health risks change, as there is an increased risk for heart disease and cardiovascular events, osteoporosis, dementia and skin changes,” says Shelby.
Help for menopause symptoms and risks
“Perimenopause and menopause are not illnesses. They’re a natural part of aging, so they need no treatment,” says Shelby. “However, talk to your primary care provider if you’re finding the symptoms of perimenopause or menopause difficult to manage.”
Medications can be used to address hormone levels themselves, or the symptoms that result from changing hormones:
- Hormone therapy or estrogen creams can help with hot flashes and support bone health, as well as relieve vaginal dryness.
- If you’re concerned about osteoporosis, medications are available to prevent or treat the thinning of bones.
- A variety of anti-anxiety and depression medications can help manage mood changes.
Self-care can also be an important part of symptom management. For example, exercise —particularly weight-bearing exercises — supports mood, cardiovascular health and bone density.
Your Beacon provider can offer guidance on options for supporting your specific health and well-being concerns during this transitional time in your life. Click here to find a provider or make an appointment online.
