| If you are in your late thirties to early forties you may be experiencing signs and symptoms of perimenopause treatment options include HRT, or hormone replacement therapy. Some may say HRT has too many side effects and risks associated with it and refuse to even consider it as a treatment option.
Perimenopause is a stage in a woman's life when the eggs she was born with are running out and she will no longer be able to have a baby.
Perimenopause can last any where from two to ten years before actual menopause sets in with the average length being four years. When you have gone without a menstrual cycle for 12 whole months you are considered menopausal.
The hormones that have regulated your menstrual cycle all these years have basically gone off the deep end when you are in perimenopause and you can no longer count on them to be regular. They have a mind of their own and will surprise you with a period when you least expect it.
You will start to experience these irregular cycles and may have shorter or longer periods and it will be different every month. Some months your period will last for three days and then the next month it will seem to last forever. Premenstrual symptoms may increase as well and become more severe as time passes.
Perimenopausal symptoms can come at any time and in any combination. Hot flashes and night sweats, not being able to fall asleep or stay asleep if you do fall asleep. Mood swings that would make the Pope want to do an exorcism or peeing your pants when you cough or sneeze. All very dignified and proper, yeah, right...shut up!
If you do start to have any of these symptoms, it might be a good idea if you go see your doctor. He or she can order a blood test to tell how close you are to menopause. these tests are called FSH and LH blood tests and measure the follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels of your blood. The results of these tests will give your doctor a good indication of when you will enter menopause.
Other perimenopause treatment options include herbal medications and supplements that can alleviate symptoms and help level out the raging hormones coursing through your veins.
Herbal supplements like Black Cohosh and Ginseng, St. John's Wort and Red Clover are all effective in treating the symptoms of perimenopause. Many people also swear by supplements containing flax seed oil or fish oil, B Complex vitamins and anything with soy in it. Valerian Root has been shown to help with insomnia and anxiety. There are other products that you can purchase online. Some come in the form of pills and some come in the form of liquid. Liquid supplements may work better than pills and the one I tried actually tasted just like Tang.
It is all in what you find that actually works. You may have to experiment with different herbs in different combinations for quite a while before finding the solution to your symptoms. Eventually you will find your preferred perimenopause treatment. |