The Truth About Perimenopause
My period's late again. I've been having trouble with late periods for the past six months or so. The last time I had these problems, I was in my 30's and it was the beginnings of a downward slide into a serious case of hypothyroidism.
I have an awful feeling though, if I bring it up to my current doctor, she will look at the numbers, look and my age and declare that I am entering perimenopause.
Yes, and they said this the first time my late periods started happening ten years ago. Back then, they said I was entering into early perimenopause.
What am I entering now--late perimenopause?
Ever since some knuckleheadded doctor came up with this excuse, perimenopause has become the catch-all for any problem a woman might have once she gets past the age of 40. That seems to be the magic age where everything in a woman's life has to do with a drop in hormones. The the medical symptoms of this new women's disease range from hot flashes and vaginal dryness (the most common symptoms of full-blown menopause) to things like fatigue, a decrease in mental clarity, problematic or erratic periods, loss of libido, high blood pressure and heart palpitations, depression, clots in menstruation, joint pain and aches, and weight gain.
All these symptoms can be symptoms of other major problems, such as migrane disorders, serious depression, hypo or hyper-thyroidism, mineral deficiency, endometriosis, and I'm sure a few other diseases more serious than the manufactured condition of perimenopause.
Furthermore, the most common recommendation for determining whether or not it is perimenopause is the woman's history. What, though, if your history has always been problematic? If there have been conditions such as erratic periods due to thyroid disease, adrenal disease or a pituitary tumor--three conditions very hard to determine with the basic tests most doctors offer? What if migranes have plagued you since your 20's or 30's but you've waited to get treatment for it? What if your loss of libido has to do with the fact that you're just sick of your husband? What if your depression has more to do with your life circumstances than with anything biological?
Perimenopause symptoms are far too broad and the means of diagnosis is far too vague. This makes perimenopause an easy catch-all for doctors who do not have the time, the means, the high-tech tests, nor the inclination to adequately treat women over 40 (or even, in some cases, women younger than 40).
So, I suffer again this morning with awful cramps, with breast tenderness (oh, another perimenopause symptom--funny, it used to be just a menstrual symptom), and a late period. And since I have a doctor who does not have the means or the true desire to deal with a woman in her 40's who is, for the most part, rather healthy, I'm sure I'll get the perimenopause diagnosis when I could conceivably be having further problems with my thyroid or even my adrenals.
Yes, I know medicine isn't an exact science, and doctors are people, but why is it that with women it's always either in your mind or in your uterus? There's more to each woman's illnesses and complaints than a diordered mind or a faltering uterus. Having a catch-all like perimenopause is just another convenient excuse for pushing women out of the office without adequate treatment for what might be far more serious, life complicating medical conditions.
I have an awful feeling though, if I bring it up to my current doctor, she will look at the numbers, look and my age and declare that I am entering perimenopause.
Yes, and they said this the first time my late periods started happening ten years ago. Back then, they said I was entering into early perimenopause.
What am I entering now--late perimenopause?
Ever since some knuckleheadded doctor came up with this excuse, perimenopause has become the catch-all for any problem a woman might have once she gets past the age of 40. That seems to be the magic age where everything in a woman's life has to do with a drop in hormones. The the medical symptoms of this new women's disease range from hot flashes and vaginal dryness (the most common symptoms of full-blown menopause) to things like fatigue, a decrease in mental clarity, problematic or erratic periods, loss of libido, high blood pressure and heart palpitations, depression, clots in menstruation, joint pain and aches, and weight gain.
All these symptoms can be symptoms of other major problems, such as migrane disorders, serious depression, hypo or hyper-thyroidism, mineral deficiency, endometriosis, and I'm sure a few other diseases more serious than the manufactured condition of perimenopause.
Furthermore, the most common recommendation for determining whether or not it is perimenopause is the woman's history. What, though, if your history has always been problematic? If there have been conditions such as erratic periods due to thyroid disease, adrenal disease or a pituitary tumor--three conditions very hard to determine with the basic tests most doctors offer? What if migranes have plagued you since your 20's or 30's but you've waited to get treatment for it? What if your loss of libido has to do with the fact that you're just sick of your husband? What if your depression has more to do with your life circumstances than with anything biological?
Perimenopause symptoms are far too broad and the means of diagnosis is far too vague. This makes perimenopause an easy catch-all for doctors who do not have the time, the means, the high-tech tests, nor the inclination to adequately treat women over 40 (or even, in some cases, women younger than 40).
So, I suffer again this morning with awful cramps, with breast tenderness (oh, another perimenopause symptom--funny, it used to be just a menstrual symptom), and a late period. And since I have a doctor who does not have the means or the true desire to deal with a woman in her 40's who is, for the most part, rather healthy, I'm sure I'll get the perimenopause diagnosis when I could conceivably be having further problems with my thyroid or even my adrenals.
Yes, I know medicine isn't an exact science, and doctors are people, but why is it that with women it's always either in your mind or in your uterus? There's more to each woman's illnesses and complaints than a diordered mind or a faltering uterus. Having a catch-all like perimenopause is just another convenient excuse for pushing women out of the office without adequate treatment for what might be far more serious, life complicating medical conditions.
posted by Tish Grier at 7:51 PM
2 Comments:
YES! Hallelujah that women are beginning to mention the forbidden "M" word. I'm in the same place you are, 40'ish and "peri." It sucks. Thanks for going public. You're cordially invited to read my menapause ravings:
http://dailytroll.com/wp-trackback.php/29
http://dailytroll.com/index.php?m=200412
Terry
http://www.dailytroll.com
I have to admit, I dreading the day that anything just MIGHT be off with my period. Now that I've hit the magic 3-0 marker, I know there are doctors out there who will want to slap the SAME label on it without finding out any other options.
It's just really frustrating to think we are supposedly such an "advanced" society and so much of women's health is reduced to being caused by "the womb."
Soli
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