Maryann, really great article on what to expect and clarification on the stages. This is going to educate a lot of women!
I wrote in one of my articles that I didn't like that "they" don't consider late reproductive years (when periods start to get wonky) as a part of perimenopause. It leaves women feeling confused about where they are. We have a huge perimenopause community now, which offers tremendous support. Some women, without confirmation from their doctors, won't seek these communities out because they don't think they are perimenopausal yet.
I had to smirk that at 49, your doctors didn't address this as perimenopause (which is, unfortunately, very typical). By 45, 50% of women are in perimenopause, so by 49, there was a good chance you had already started.
Finally, any bleeding should be considered, setting you back to day 1. The traditional definition of menopause is 365 days without a period, and that includes seeing any blood. It's also important to mention abnormal bleeding to your doctor. As you say, fibroids and polyps are common during this time and can cause problems during perimenopause.
Thanks Shelby. Those are all great points. I have an appt to see a specialist next month. We have a long way to go in helping women - and health professionals- understand these changes. And more research wouldn't hurt.
Thank you for the information on menstrual cycles leading up to menopause. I've been very regular all my life. I turn 49 this week and for the last few years, my periods are definitely shorter in duration. They used to last about 5 days and now they last 3 days.
Also, I'm pretty sure the time between periods is getting shorter. Maybe I'm getting them every 27 days instead of 29. I haven't counted but I know they are coming more often.
I started my period very young, at the age of 10 so I keep thinking menopause is around the corner, but I haven't had any other symptoms besides the shorter and more frequent periods.
My doctor says my health is fine. Low cholesterol etc. He says I'm not anemic. I am starting to lose my sharp eyesight all of a sudden, but no real uncomfortable symptoms
At 40, my periods were heavy, long cycles and endometriosis flared as well, which makes sense because estrogen was dominating the show and progesterone was falling flat.
It took years, but now at 45, I've been on progesterone cream for about 3 years and incorporated DIM/CDG to help clear out excess circulating estrogen.
I've incorporated other practices like, cycle awareness (of course ;-)), changing my lifestyle to go with my cycles instead of forcing my cycles to fit the grind of life.
My cycles went from irratic 28-35 days (mostly the latter) to now 27-31 days and the flow is now much much lighter, yet a bit wobbly. My endo pain has been gone at my 1 year anniversary of pain free with only mild cramps for 1 day.
I feel like my cycle is the healthiest its been in decades, but the perimenopause symptoms are I guess not to be avoided. LOL
It is an untethering like nothing I've ever known.
Maryann, thanks for another great article. Be sure to put this in The Women's Health Collective 365!
Great summary of the changes to expect. My cycle followed the shorter then longer pattern as well. Very happy to be comfortably settled in post-menopause now!
Nice to see you here Jenn! Yeah I'm pretty much menopausal. Have an appt to figure out my little spotting episodes. ! But I must it admit, it's pretty nice at this stage.
Maryann, really great article on what to expect and clarification on the stages. This is going to educate a lot of women!
I wrote in one of my articles that I didn't like that "they" don't consider late reproductive years (when periods start to get wonky) as a part of perimenopause. It leaves women feeling confused about where they are. We have a huge perimenopause community now, which offers tremendous support. Some women, without confirmation from their doctors, won't seek these communities out because they don't think they are perimenopausal yet.
I had to smirk that at 49, your doctors didn't address this as perimenopause (which is, unfortunately, very typical). By 45, 50% of women are in perimenopause, so by 49, there was a good chance you had already started.
Finally, any bleeding should be considered, setting you back to day 1. The traditional definition of menopause is 365 days without a period, and that includes seeing any blood. It's also important to mention abnormal bleeding to your doctor. As you say, fibroids and polyps are common during this time and can cause problems during perimenopause.
Thanks Shelby. Those are all great points. I have an appt to see a specialist next month. We have a long way to go in helping women - and health professionals- understand these changes. And more research wouldn't hurt.
Thank you for the information on menstrual cycles leading up to menopause. I've been very regular all my life. I turn 49 this week and for the last few years, my periods are definitely shorter in duration. They used to last about 5 days and now they last 3 days.
Also, I'm pretty sure the time between periods is getting shorter. Maybe I'm getting them every 27 days instead of 29. I haven't counted but I know they are coming more often.
I started my period very young, at the age of 10 so I keep thinking menopause is around the corner, but I haven't had any other symptoms besides the shorter and more frequent periods.
My doctor says my health is fine. Low cholesterol etc. He says I'm not anemic. I am starting to lose my sharp eyesight all of a sudden, but no real uncomfortable symptoms
Thanks for sharing Rhea. That's nice that they're not too heavy, which keeps the risk of iron deficiency down.
At 40, my periods were heavy, long cycles and endometriosis flared as well, which makes sense because estrogen was dominating the show and progesterone was falling flat.
It took years, but now at 45, I've been on progesterone cream for about 3 years and incorporated DIM/CDG to help clear out excess circulating estrogen.
I've incorporated other practices like, cycle awareness (of course ;-)), changing my lifestyle to go with my cycles instead of forcing my cycles to fit the grind of life.
My cycles went from irratic 28-35 days (mostly the latter) to now 27-31 days and the flow is now much much lighter, yet a bit wobbly. My endo pain has been gone at my 1 year anniversary of pain free with only mild cramps for 1 day.
I feel like my cycle is the healthiest its been in decades, but the perimenopause symptoms are I guess not to be avoided. LOL
It is an untethering like nothing I've ever known.
Maryann, thanks for another great article. Be sure to put this in The Women's Health Collective 365!
Thanks for sharing. And of course you are the expert ; )
I do wish I would've taken progesterone back in the day. I think it would've been helpful.
Great summary of the changes to expect. My cycle followed the shorter then longer pattern as well. Very happy to be comfortably settled in post-menopause now!
Nice to see you here Jenn! Yeah I'm pretty much menopausal. Have an appt to figure out my little spotting episodes. ! But I must it admit, it's pretty nice at this stage.