5 Myths of Perimenopause
Alright, GenXers – we’ve arrived.
This is it, this is the moment. Grab on and hold tight for the transition that until recently, no one was talking about. Perimenopause!
Thank goodness, icons like Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Aniston are open, transparent, and honest about their journey. We have to talk about this and find our strength and feminine energy within it.
Menopause is, by definition, one full year of no cycle and an elevated FSH level such that it shows the ovaries have fully ‘retired’ (meaning no more ovulation, no more periods, and a very big reduction in hormone production for the rest of our lives).
The average age of menopause is 51 years old in the US – but that is where our first myth appears:
Perimenopause is just the year or so before menopause.
FALSE!
Peri means ‘about’, so this statement is true in that it includes this year around full menopause. Symptoms can start showing up in the early 40s and persist for a few years after the full stoppage of your periods. Or, some women have virtually no perimenopause symptoms and their cycles just stop one day. Variation is the new norm during this time.
What are you to do?
We expect to see some shifting of the menses in the early 40’s, but not hot flashes, night sweats, etc. If that is what you are already feeling get in to discuss how to keep the best ovarian function possible (we can’t control genetics) for as long as possible to best protect your bones, brain, and heart health!
I can’t get pregnant once I’m in Perimenopause.
FALSE!
Even though chances are reduced, as long as you’re having cycles (no matter how irregular) you could ovulate and get pregnant. The Perimenopausal phase means the ovaries are taking little mini-breaks before fully retiring, which means some months they are still hard at work and ovulation can take place.
Using barrier methods, like condoms at the very least, is still important. Other options are talking to your partner about vasectomy or your physician about other birth control options. One of our favorites is an IUD, either non-hormonal or hormonal, for maximum protection and ease of use.
I have to accept that I will be an emotional wreck.
FALSE!
Emotional turmoil doesn’t have to be the norm for you. There will be some mood fluctuations, low energy, and brain fog (feeling like we can’t remember our names, etc.) it does not have to be extreme. Estrogen, Testosterone, and Progesterone all affect our sleep cycles, emotional regulation, and mood quite intensely. While they are fluctuating, there are many ways we can help keep our cool.
One method is to get good sleep. If sleep is a struggle, get some assistance immediately whether it is sleep hygiene, natural or hormone support. Make it happen.
Another thing is to really evaluate your life. Perimenopause falls into the ‘sandwich decade’. Our 40’s often include children, aging parents, relationships, heights of careers–that’s a lot of pressure on top of hormone shifts. What do YOU need, what can be trimmed, where is your self-care?
And of course, there are nutritional, herbal, supplemental, and hormone supports when lifestyle is not quite enough.
Sex is now no fun – I don’t care, and it’s painful anyway.
FALSE!
Well, true if we don’t get ahead of it, but that doesn’t have to be the case for you. Testosterone levels fall along with the fluctuations of estrogen and progesterone (the menstrual cycle hormones) and this can affect your libido, mood and interest in sex. Additionally, there is nothing that will make you feel less sexy than having irregular cycles, long cycles, or lack of lubrication production.
Do not accept this—there is natural and hormonal support for these concerns.
And last but not least—
Ripping off my clothes in a board meeting due to hot flashes is going to be a reality.
FALSE!
Not if we can help manage those highs and lows of hormone fluctuations. It may have happened to Drew Barrymore on her show, but we can help mitigate this for you. Avoiding extreme heat often means changes in how we exercise and working on removing sugars and other food items that can aggravate flashes. We can also using herbal, supplement, and hormonal supports to keep the highs and lows of this transitional period within tighter control.
We often tell our patients at Meridian clinics, “There will be fluctuations, that is the name of the game during peri-menopause but if we can get the peaks and valleys closer together, your overall experience will be more manageable. And it will go away!” Symptoms often resolve a few years into menopause, but that can be much sooner for those taking an active management role in their health!
Come in and see Drs. Fahoum, Lipscomb or Adler to find a solution that works for you. We are here to assist you in finding your power during this time of life and moving into the next act of your life with grace and power.