Kinds of Menopause
Perimenopause
Perimenopause refers to the years leading up to the last menstrual period and marks the beginning of an irregular menstrual cycle. Skipped periods and changes in menstrual flow are often taken as signs of entering menopause. Headaches and irritability often occur, due to an estrogen/progesterone imbalance caused by decreased ovulation.
Many women have a salivary or serum hormone profile taken at this time to determine baseline levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. This information becomes helpful when dealing with hormone-related issues at a later date. See Hormones, below, for further discussion.
The above listed perimenopause symptoms and others, such as premenstrual migraine headaches, are often relieved or reduced by using 2% progesterone cream during the luteal phase (second half) of the menstrual cycle. Apply one-quarter to one-half teaspoon (25 to 50mg) 2% progesterone cream to the skin once or twice daily. Supplemental progesterone is also available. Take 50 to 100mg micronized progesterone one to three times daily from the sixteenth to the twenty-seventh day of the menstrual cycle. Progesterone may also be administered throughout the cycle, as per the recommendation of your naturopath or other health practitioner.
If perimenopause is approached with respect and support for this natural process, a women's experience with menopause will be significantly more positive. If this period is dealt with from a disease perspective requiring management and control, the experience will be much less rewarding.
