Stress + Female Hormone Imbalance = Perimenopause Weight Gain

By Penny Adams

Some call it "the middle-age spread". Others simply call it unwanted fat. Whatever the term, perimenopause weight gain is the most baffling, especially if you're diet-conscious. It is also inevitable, a normal process that women will eventually go through.

But wait! There's more.

Do you know what causes it? In order to find a "cure", you must first know why you are gaining weight. There are 2 known causes:

1. Stress. Women always fall prey to this. Anxiety, fatigue and work-related activities contribute to a stressful environment. These result in unbalanced body functions, like hunger. Some women report that they become "stress-free" after gorging themselves with chocolates, fries, cakes, etc. They say it makes them feel good. Unfortunately, their bodies pay the price as eventual weight gain will suddenly take over. The hunger is only temporary and will stop as soon as the stress overload ends. The weight gained however, is a different story.

2. Female hormone imbalance. In perimenopause, a hormone imbalance specifically between estrogen and progesterone occurs. Since estrogen is stored in fat, the body holds on to it if it feels that its estrogen level is about to experience a drastic change. This leads to perimenopause weight gain.

How to counter it? Make some changes in your lifestyle. Schedule some rest and relaxation time for you (and you alone). Take a vacation. Do restful meditation or yoga exercises. Have a routine for daily exercises like walking or jogging for a whiff of fresh air. This also gives you ample time to clear your mind of stressful clutter concerning work, family problems, etc. In this way, you will be able to give objective solutions to the greatest of problems. Combine this with a healthy diet that's rich in fiber and estrogen-like qualities (like soy, potatoes, apples, wheat, yams, etc.)

If you're into science and doctors, then your possible option would be medicine and/or surgery. Commonly used is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Unfortunately, studies have shown that this possibly increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and heart disease as well. It is best to visit your doctor so both of you can discuss other medically sound options.

Alternative medicine is most popularly used in the alleviation of perimenopause symptoms. Phytoestrogenic herbs (such as black cohosh) treat the hormonal imbalance by the herbs' components mimicking estrogen. Non-estrogenic herbs on the other hand, work by making the body produce its own estrogen. Both types create hormone balance, lessening the opportunity for increased weight gain.

We mentioned earlier that like the stage itself, perimenopause weight gain is a normal occurrence. If it doesn't bother you, then good. But if it does, then consider the ones mentioned above to help you face a wiser and healthier you.

Perimenopause weight gain is a usual cause of concern. Find out how to treat the symptoms of a female hormone imbalance by clicking on these links.

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Sept. 16 - 2010 All About _Woman _Health Article-Peri-Menopause

Perimenopause - Complete Guide to Symptoms and Treatments of the Change of Life
By Amos Grunebaum M.D.


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As women near the age of menopause, they may find themselves suffering from menopause symptoms. Menopause is defined as the lack of menstrual cycles and egg maturation, so the "change of life" as it is commonly called, is actually perimenopause. Perimenopause can begin in the late 40s and last until the late 50s or early 60s, in rare cases.
How Will Perimenopause Symptoms Progress?
The common symptoms of menopause are synonymous with perimenopause. Symptoms can last for decades with the earliest symptom being a change in menstrual cycle. Many women note lighter, less frequent periods as they enter their 40s. This is often a sign of menopause that goes unnoticed.
Lighter periods are not the only change associated with perimenopause. Some women actually have stronger periods that last longer. The change is unique to every woman, however, women fighting heavy, painful periods often seek medical attention to treat the symptoms thus masking them until later in life.
About 600,000 hysterectomies are performed every year. In cases with no cancerous medical history, the ovaries and cervix are often left behind. Hormone production continues, but perimenopause does not stop. Perimenopause is linked to the ovaries and estrogen production, not the uterus. Even when periods have stopped and the uterus is removed, women wills till go through menopause via perimenopause.
Is There a Treatment for Perimenopause?
Many women find comfort in taking contraception to control periods. Others have extenuating medical conditions that lead to a complete or partial hysterectomy. Until a woman is considered as being in menopause, there is no treatment for symptoms aside from menstrual cycle control. After menopause, contraception is often replaced with hormone or estrogen replacement therapy.
Women who enter perimenopause early may wish to seek out fertility treatment. There are only a set number of eggs available for maturation and release. Once those are gone menopause begins and natural motherhood is impossible.
Pregnancy and Perimenopause
A woman may think because she has had no menstrual cycle for a few months that she cannot get pregnant. This is not the case. It is not until a woman has passed 12 months without any bleeding, spotting, or period like discharge that she is considered barren. Until then, pregnancy can occur.
Perimenopause can be more disheartening and difficult than menopause. With changing hormone levels, emotional swings, and irregular periods, women often feel they are on the cusp of losing control. Perimenopause is a part of life nearly every woman has to live through - but once the time has passed - freedom from periods is often the best reward.
Information on Fertility and Pregnancy you can Trust.
Amos Grunebaum M.D. is a practicing obstetrician and gynecologist in one of the top 10 hospitals in the United States. In addition to providing pregnant women researched information on pregnancy at BabyMed.com, Amos specializes in perimenopause and menopause.

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Sept. 08 - 2010 All About _Woman _Health Article-Peri-Menopause

Herbs For PMS and Peri-Menopause
By Marilyn Zink

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As women get older and closer to menopause, they experience a variety of symptoms in their bodies - symptoms that can make life unpleasant and sometimes downright difficult.

These symptoms include; heavy periods, forgetfulness, fatigue, insomnia, headaches as well as symptoms like bloating associated with menstruation.

There are a number of herbs that can help make life a whole lot easier for women who are experiencing peri-menopause as well as women with symptoms of PMS. Three of these herbs are Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus castus) and Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis).

Black cohosh has been used for menopausal symptoms as well as menstrual cramping, headaches, water retention, lessened or absence of menstrual bleeding and uterine/bladder prolapse. Since black chohosh is anti-spasmodic, it tones the female reproductive tract.

However, it is also good for toning and sedating the nervous system. Many women have emotional ups and downs associated with their cycle, so black cohosh is especially useful for problems such as nervous irritability and depression. The herb also helps aching muscles and chilliness associated with the menstrual cycle for the peri-menopausal woman.

Black cohosh should not be used on its own. It is best used in a formula along with other herbs that support the female reproductive tract.

Chaste Tree is another excellent herb good for a variety of female reproductive concerns. These include uterine fibroids, endometriosis, chronic menstrual cramps, heavy bleeding, mid-cycle spotting and irregular cycles which are due to a deficiency of the corpus luteum. Chaste tree can also help with other hormonally related symptoms, such as acne, breast tenderness, fibrocystic breasts and pre-menstrual symptoms including water retention, headaches and depression.

Chaste Tree is useful for younger women as well as it has been used traditionally to treat infertility and prevent miscarriage, as well as to alleviate post-partum depression. It has been used traditionally to relive muscle spasms and pain.

Dong Quai is often used in many women's formulas. It is a warming female tonic as it enriches the blood, promotes blood circulation as well as regulating and normalizing menstruation and the menstrual cycle. Dong Quai is also a mild laxative, an anti-inflammatory and an analgesic.

Dong Quai can be used for PMS, cramps, menopausal-related symptoms, anemia, bleeding of the uterus due to stagnation as well as chronic pelvic infections. In Chinese medicine, Dong Quai is seen as a herb that 'dissolves stuckness,' which means it reduces blood clots, fibroids and other masses.

Dong quai is useful for gynecological complaints when there is pain with spasms, chills, dryness of skin and constipation due to dryness. Dong Quai is often considered the female version of ginseng and it helps women feel good.

Women who take Black Cohosh and Dong Quai should be aware that these herbs should not be consumed during pregnancy and nursing.

Marilyn Zink is the publisher.editor of The Herbal Collective magazine as well as the author of several ebooks. Learn more about herbs and herbs for women's issues from The Herbal Collective magazine. Get all the herbal health information you need at http://www.herbalcollective.ca

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August 31 - 2010 All About _Woman _Health Article-Peri-Menopause

Perimenopause Symptoms - 10 Common Symptoms of Perimenopause
By Olinda Rola


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Perimenopause symptoms are most often experienced by women in their late 30's, 40's or early 50's. The perimenopause symptoms such as fluctuating menstrual cycles can signal the slowing down of reproductive capabilities.

Perimenopause (or peri menopause) can be defined as the time before menopause. Menopause is the cessation of menstrual periods for twelve months in a row. Having symptoms of perimenopause can mean that the woman is getting closer to the age of menopause and the ending of monthly menstrual periods.

Here are common symptoms of perimenopause:

o Changes in the Menstrual Cycle (menstrual flow can be heavier or lighter, longer or shorter time between periods, irregular flow)

o Lumpy or Tender Breasts

o Water Retention, Bloating

o Problems with Sleep

o "Foggy, Fuzzy" Thinking, Difficulty Concentrating

o Anxiety, Mood Swings, Depression

o PMS

o Hot Flashes, Night Sweats

o Vaginal Dryness

o Unexplained Weight Gain

Perimenopause and menopause will affect each woman differently. Your only one of the perimenopause symptoms may be that your period stops. However, you may have one or more of the other symptoms of perimenopause. Perimenopause symptoms can be experienced by a woman for a few months or they can last for years. Since the average age of menopause is 51, symptoms of perimenopause can appear in a woman's late 30's, any time in her 40's or early 50's.

During perimenopause, many women begin experiencing their first symptoms of hormone imbalance. How does hormone imbalance happen?

According to Harvard-trained physician Dr. John Lee, perimenopause symptoms appear because ovulation occurs less frequently or not at all in the years before menopause. When a woman is healthy and ovulating, estrogen is produced during the first part of the menstrual cycle and following ovulation, progesterone is produced during the latter part of the monthly cycle.

With ovulation required for the monthly production of progesterone, if there's no ovulation, no progesterone will be produced. With declining progesterone production, perimenopause can be the time women experience the onset of hormone imbalance, causing symptoms of perimenopause.

How can a woman tell if the symptoms of perimenopause are related to hormone imbalance? One way is to take a leading womens clinic test for hormone health and related perimenopause symptoms. The health test is free and it takes just a few minutes.

Copyright 2006 InfoSearch Publishing

Take the womens hormone health test and learn more about additional menopause symptoms and perimenopause - Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch Publishing and the webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com - where you will find a variety of natural health articles for women.

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August 23 - 2010 All About _Woman _Health Article-Peri-Menopause

Weight Loss in Perimenopause - Tips to Help You Lose the Weight
By Susan Bilheimer


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What is there to say about perimenopause and weight gain ... except that it stinks. Even formerly thin women are not immune to the hormonal shifts that cause the scale to inch up. Small comfort to those who have spent a lifetime dieting and still remained overweight. But it's reassuring to know you are not alone. This, along with mood swings and hot flashes, is just about the most common complain noted by perimenopausal women. A ten pound gain is average.

It may make you feel better to know that fat cells store estrogen, which may help relieve some of the other symptoms you experience. No? Me neither.

So, why do we gain weight in perimenopause?

Well, no one is sure. But you can bet that hormonal changes, in addition to slowing metabolism and decreasing muscle tissue play a part. Not only that, but the weight seems to show up around our waist, instead of our hips or thighs, or our whole shape simply changes, so nothing fits, compounding the discomfort.

By the way, the jury is still out on whether HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) or the Pill makes you gain weight. Many women will swear that it puts 10 pounds on.

Is there something I can do about it?

Yes. Well, the obvious first answer I'm sure you know already. Diet and exercise.

BUT, I am not talking about "Diet," as in something you despise and can't wait to stop, but diet, as in a sane food plan that you can live with a day at a time for the rest of your life. Listen, cutting calories, if you started out thin, will do nothing to stop the inevitable, and may harm your health. You need a certain amount of fat on your body for good bone and heart health.

Note: If you are out of control with food, binging or purging, there are free support groups that can help you. I have a resource page with a list of the best of these groups.

Having struggled with weight, not only through perimenopause, but throughout my life, I think I've lost close to 1,000 pounds over the years. Against all odds, however, I was able to lose 55 pounds in 1997 when I was just beginning perimenopause, and have kept it off ever since.

I have to admit something to you. I didn't exercise when I lost the weight. It was all I could do to keep from binging. I also didn't want my weight loss dependent on maintaining an exercise lifestyle I probably wouldn't keep up. Now, I walk because I want to be healthy. But the fact is, I always out-ate my exercise. Exercising my weight down just never worked for me.

Here are a few tips that helped me lose the weight in 1997 (and that I continue to do):

Cut out alcohol. It's nothing but refined carbohydrates and sugar. You might as well just eat a whole pizza and a dozen donuts. Plus, alcohol just makes me want to eat even more.

Get rid of artificial sweeteners. Aside from the continuing anecdotal evidence that the stuff is bad for you in so many ways, fake sugar increases cravings. More importantly, it can cause bloating, which feels like instant weight gain. But be prepared for a hard fall when you get off artificial sweeteners. Expect cravings, mood swings, headaches, and more. It's real drug.

Eliminate sugar and flour. Nobody wants to hear this. But I was a true food addict and those foods were like heroin to me. I haven't eaten refined sugar or any type of flour since 1997 and I prefer my size 6 body to the out-of-control size 18 that I was. Plus, they are calorie intensive and provide little nutrition.

Salt is not your friend. You'll be retaining water and possibly increasing your blood pressure. But you need to start reading labels, because even purportedly healthy processed food often contains loads of salt.

You don't have to be perfect. There's a Japanese saying "Nine Times Down, Ten Times Up." If you don't keep trying you will never achieve your goal. You don't have to do things perfectly to keep moving forward. That used to send me reeling backwards. If I made a mistake, wasn't perfect, I'd use that as an excuse to beat myself up with my food plan and blow everything by eating. Few things go as planned. Especially during perimenopause when your body pretty much controls YOU!

Losing weight is never easy. But it's very simple.

And just remember, if you stick to a food plan, and not a diet that you go on and off, this could be the last time you have to lose weight.

Susan Bilheimer has established an extensive resource site for women in perimenopause to help them learn about their symptoms. You can find more information on losing weight in perimenopause on her website. Susan is currently collaborating on a book about sexual pain and relationships with Dr. Robert Echenberg, and is conducting an anonymous survey on the subject.

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August 15 - 2010 All About _Woman _Health Article-Peri-Menopause

Tests to Take Before Taking Perimenopause Treatment
By Penny Adams

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You are currently experiencing irregular periods, hot flashes, temporary memory or concentration outages, mood swings and irritability, anxiety attacks, weight gain and loss of libido. Your age is between 35 to 45 years. There are times when you are depressed - not suicidal, but thinking of death and how it revolves around you. Therefore, you conclude that you are suffering from perimenopause.

Whoa, hold your horses!

Before taking anything that you think would be good to alleviate your symptoms, you first have to be sure if you are in the stage before the Change. Perimenopause tests must be taken to rule out possible disorders like cancer, thyroid problems and the like.

Now before you stop reading, let me tell you that I know what you're thinking. I myself am scared of doctors. If I so much as see a nurse with a needle coming toward me, I wanted to rush out of the room, never to return again. So I know exactly how you feel. But I also know that if I don't get myself tested, I will never know what's wrong with me. I would never know what medicine - conventional or alternative - to take. You don't want to die by taking the wrong medication, right? I know I don't. So I try to endure whatever it is that they needed to do on me.

So what tests would your doctor do to determine if you are already in perimenopause?

- Pregnancy test. Being in perimenopause doesn't automatically disqualify you for child-bearing. This is done to make sure that you're not pregnant. You can do this yourself or you can have your doctor do it for you.

- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) test. This is a simple blood test. High FSH levels may be a sign of perimenopause.

- Estradiol (or estrogen) level test. Estrogen is not only the hormone responsible for breast development and uterus growth; it is also the one regulating the monthly period. This blood test should be done on the tenth day of the menstrual cycle. Doing so on this day gives a somewhat accurate estrogen reading.

- Thyroid-stimulating hormone test. This is done to check if an irregular period is caused by a possible thyroid problem. Again, this is another blood test. Before taking this however, please inform your doctor if you were exposed to radioactivity or had an X-ray that used iodine dye within the last 4 to 6 weeks. If so, the test results might not be accurate, so you have to wait for a couple more weeks before having this test.

When you have been cleared of these, then that is the time that you and your doctor can discuss possible treatments. Have a journal or calendar of your menstrual period and the symptoms you complain about. This would be a great help in prescribing the correct medicine for you.

If you are into alternative medicine, then have no fear. Contrary to popular belief, some doctors are already open-minded and actually recommend non-conventional remedies if only to alleviate some of the pain normal medicine can't give a solution to. Researches are already being done on the correlation of estrogen production to certain types of herbs - this goes to show that the medical community is slowly opening up to the possibility of alternative treatments.

It is good to note that perimenopause treatments are designed to remedy the signs and symptoms, not the actual perimenopause itself.

Remember: Knowledge is power. If you have sufficient knowledge of what you're going through, then you most definitely have the confidence and the power to control your life - perimenopausal or not.

Perimenopause tests is usually scary ... which is why most women would rather research about perimenopause than go to a doctor. Find out how you can alleviate suspicions via perimenopause treatment by clicking on these links.

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August 07 - 2010 All About _Woman _Health Article-Peri-Menopause

Perimenopause Pregnancy - What Are the Odds and Risks When You Are Over 35?
By Aurora Harris

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Menopause A To Z -The Definitive Guide.
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A woman's body undergoes so many changes in a woman's lifetime. Oftentimes, these changes and symptoms indicate the age of a woman or the transition stages that she goes through to wit: when a girl hits her teens-she experiences menstruation -indicating that her body is ready for childbearing. When a woman hits her late 30's onwards-she experiences the first signs of perimenopause which is defined as the process of change a woman feels leading to menopause. Perimenopause lasts no less than two years to over eight years. Then in her 50's a woman goes through her menopause-which is the end of her menstrual period. So, the various phases a woman's body goes through cannot belie her real age.

Perimenopause is the period when a woman's body experiences a decline in the production of ovum (egg supply) both in quantity and quality. This results in a change in hormones and premenstrual syndrome symptoms (PMS) that are more intense or of a different nature than previously felt. Perimenopause marks the beginning of the end-beginning of the decline of a woman's child bearing stage.

What are the odds of a woman getting pregnant when she is over 35?

The woman's ovulation and menstruation becomes irregular when a woman's supply of ova or egg continues to decline. The decline in a woman's egg supply results in diminished fertility and is most noticeable after the mid 30s.

In their 40's, the menstrual cycle of a woman becomes increasingly irregular and may do so until menopause and this also compromises fertility. Often, health-conscious women in this age group do not seek prenatal care when they become pregnant; they often assume that the skipped period which is the first sign of pregnancy is instead the first sign of menopause.

What are the risks of a woman getting pregnant when she is over 35?

As an outcome of irregular production of hormones Perimenopausal pregnancy becomes high risk-officially, pregnancies at age 35 are high risks. However, if a woman is fit and healthy, she may enjoy the energy usually associated with a younger woman, if and when she becomes pregnant at age 35 and over. Doctors say that a woman's physical well-being during pregnancy depends more on who she is than how old she is. Nevertheless, a woman should be aware of chronic conditions that complicate pregnancy where it first becomes evident. These chronic conditions can be diabetes or high blood pressure. Also, even if one is in tip top shape, starting at the age of 35, there is an increasing risk for pregnancy-specific conditions including gestational diabetes.

Pregnancies at 35 and over, have the odds of giving birth to a baby with a chromosomal problem such as Down syndrome where a baby is born with an extra chromosome. Getting pregnant during perimenopause also gives the risk of miscarriage from amniocentesis, which is a diagnostic test given to look for chromosomal defects by examining the amniotic fluid. This test calls for the fluid being removed through a needle inserted in the mother's abdomen. Although the risk is still minimal, the risk is significantly higher when compared to a woman in her twenties. Other risk a woman may encounter at perimenopause pregnancy is Placenta Previa, where the placenta grows near the cervix and causes bleeding.

Perimenopausal pregnancy when over 35 and over 40, medically speaking, is the most difficult age for pregnancy. At this decade, a woman has used up the highest-quality ova, slowing down conception. The ova that are now left in the body are those that take the longest to respond to the body's cues for release, and which also don't function well during fertilization. This condition or state of the ova further raises the risk of chromosomal abnormalities and miscarriage.

It is with interest to note however that while is now at this age that is hardest, to get pregnant, the likelihood to carry multiples - in itself another high-risk pregnancy -- even without medical intervention is not far-off. A possible reason could be that the shift in hormone levels during menopause stimulates the release of more than one egg at ovulation -- like a natural fertility drug.

Standard tests on pregnancies become risky when given to pregnant women over 35 since it entails the removal of tissue from the placenta risking a miscarriage albeit a low level.

Pregnancy after the age of 35 may worsen chronic conditions as well as early signs of aging, such as stiff, sore joints. Varicose veins may multiply and worsen. A slower metabolism may result in much weight gain, lethargy and sluggishness.

So, would you dare defy the odds and face the risks and get pregnant when you are over 35?
Later pregnancies have physical downsides as doctors are quick to point out but a list of other advantages balance the risks. For starters, greater financial stability, may enable one to focus more on motherhood. Having proven themselves professionally, women in their mid-thirties and over, may be more flexible and patient having faced more challenges in their lifetime.

Find out more about Perimenopause at his website about Pregnancy.

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