Menopause Q&A

By:
iVillage Health & Well-Being Staff Writer

What is the most common age for menopause to begin?

There is no standard answer to this question; however, the average age for American women to cease having their periods is 52. Some women will begin to experience menopausal symptoms as early as their 40s or even 30s.

What is perimenopause?

Perimenopause is the name of the stage leading up to menopause, when hormone production is starting to fluctuate and you may begin to notice other symptoms, such as hot flashes. During perimenopause you still have your periods.

Is there a test to determine if you are in your perimenopause?

Yes; there is a blood test that will determine the level of your hormones at the time the blood was drawn. The problem with this test is that during perimenopause your hormones fluctuate wildly from one day to the next. Having the test done two or three times over the period of a few weeks and averaging the results is the most reliable way of determining whether or not you are perimenopausal.

How long does this transitional stage last?

Since all women are different, it is difficult to say. Some women will breeze through it, and for others it may last for as long as 10 years.

Are there any tips for getting through this stage?

There are many things that you can do. Some women start to take hormone replacement therapy right away. Others prefer to try and get through by using natural remedies instead of drugs.

Recent findings in large-scale research studies suggest that HRT may increase a woman's risk of breast cancer, heart disease and stroke. In addition, when estrogen is prescribed alone, it may increase the risk of ovarian cancer. Consult a physician before starting any medication regimen.

Are sleeping problems a common symptom of perimenopause?

Yes. Insomnia is a common complaint during perimenopause. Insomnia, in this case, can take the form of an inability to sleep through the night. Many women find themselves waking up in the middle of the night and have difficulty going back to sleep. A night sweat or at least a warm period, during which one wants to throw off the covers, sometimes precedes these awakenings. Waking up with a pounding heart or in a state of anxiety can also be a problem for some women. It is possible that these wakenings are due to the body's inability to maintain a consistent temperature due to hormone fluctuations. As hormone levels even out, this insomnia often becomes less of a problem.

Is there anything that can be done about swelling in ankles, feet and fingers?

Eating foods that are high in potassium often helps to naturally regulate body-fluid balance. Vegetables that are high in potassium include lettuce, tomatoes, celery, cucumbers, cabbage, watercress, radishes, parsley and dandelion greens. Other foods high in potassium are edible seaweed, dried apricots, bananas, rice bran and wheat bran, wheat germ, chickpeas, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, horseradish and peaches. One of the best diuretics, strange as it may sound, is water. When you aren't getting enough water, your body thinks it needs to store all the fluids it can. This is a good time to start drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day, if you haven't already. Coffee, tea and juices should not be considered as substitutes for your water consumption.