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![[Dr. Barentsen]](../all_advisors/images/barentsen-ma.jpg)
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| Doctor, Are these symptoms of Menopause? | ||
| Q: Is there a relationship between perimenopause and blood pressure fluctuations? I am 48 years old and experiencing some irregularities in my menstrual period, night sweats on occasion, hot flashes once in a while. My blood pressure seems to vary a lot also. It can be right on in the a.m., high in pm (such as 140/90) and then low in the evening. Can hot flashes be related to elevated blood pressure? In my research I've read that clonidine (a drug used to treat high blood pressure) can help hot flashes? I do not want to medicate this if it's a normal part of perimenopause. A: Yes, hot flushes and instability of blood pressure are related. With clonidine moderate hot flushes can disappear. Also estrogens (in the postmenopause) can stabilize blood pressure. But without flushes I do not believe there is a relationship between instability of blood pressure and perimenopause |
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| Q: Irregular bleeding I am a 39 year old female that is having trouble with irregular bleeding. It usually occurs on the day ovulation ends and continues until my period starts. Each year for the past two years my OBGYN has not felt any abnormalities. I also experience headaches PMS symptoms. I have two children. I want to try natural supplements and I can not tolerate oral contraceptives. Do you have any suggestions? A: No, I have not. This is particular a problem to discuss with your gynecologist. |
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| Q: Early signs of perimenopause?
I am 52 years old and have always been regular, every 26-28 days, average menses 3-4 days--heavy bleeding on the second day only. I had 4 normal live births--all natural, no pain, no medication necessary. I have never experienced cramps or PMS symptoms. I had a tubal ligation 20 years ago. I am not subject to mood swings or any psychological changes during my cycle. The only signal I get that my menses is due (aside from the calendar) is that I get at least one pimple a week before my menses comes on. This past month I experienced spotting (for 2 days) one week after my normal (3-4 day) menses and then again one week later (again for 2 days). Is this the beginning of perimenopause? I have not seen an ob-gyn since I had my tubal, but I do have an internal with PAP smear and mammogram yearly by my primary physician. A: This is intermenstrual blood loss and that is a reason for further investigation. Go to see a gynecologist. Intermenstrual blood loss is not a sign of (peri)menopause |
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| Q: Does tubal ligation cause ovarian failure?
Part 1: I am 33 and had a tubal ligation almost 2 years ago. After the tubal my periods got lighter and lighter. Now I have started mid-cycle spotting then heavy menstruation which lasts 3 days then abruptly stops. Followed 2 days later by what seems like ovulation. I am concerned because I am often feel extremely fatigued & very moody. I have recently heard of something called Post tubal ligation syndrome. Are my ovaries failing because of the tubal? Can that happen 2 years later? My ob/gyn has run thyroid tests which are normal, and all my other blood work looks fine too. I have not had an FSH test done yet. I am concerned because I have always been very regular. Am I now perimenopausal? Part 2: Since I had a tubal ligation 6 months ago I have been experiencing hot flashes, itching rashes, flushing of the skin, worsening PMS symptoms. I am 42. These symptoms are new to me. I work for an allergist and the itchy rash and flushing of the skin are not a dermatological condition. My symptoms increase with stress which since I am perimenopausal seems to be more intolerable. Is there a connection with these symptoms since tubal and can perimenopause cause flushing and heat in my hands and feet as well as my face and neck? A: There is no scientific evidence that tubal ligation will interfere with ovarian function. You cannot blame the tubal ligation for your complaints. |
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| Q: Early perimenopause after chemotherapy?
I had chemotherapy at 37 while pregnant. I started my menses again and got pregnant two years later. I had a miscarriage at 14 weeks and got pregnant a month later miscarrying at 9 weeks this time. During the performance of the D&C, the doctor accidentally punctured my uterus and I bled for eight weeks. Right after that I was told that I was perimenopausal. Do you think this had anything to do with the chemo treatments? I have heard that chemo can cause a person to go into early menopause but hadn't read anything about perimenopause. What about the fact my uterus was punctured, could this have been a cause or is it purely coincidental? A: This is a very specific personal question. It depends on the kind of chemotherapy, the dose and so on. It is not unusual that ovarian function restores after chemotherapy. Puncture or perforation of the uterus has nothing to do with perimenopause. |
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| Q: Does my blood test mean I'm in menopause?
I had a blood test to determine if I was in perimenopause or menopause that gave me a result of 204. My doctor mailed me a copy of the test results but didn't explain them. There is a list of phases on the page containing follicular and min-cycle ranges and I fall into two of these ranges. Help, I am no closer to knowing now than before I paid for this expensive test. A: An interpretation of a test is a part of the consultation and a part of the fee. Ask your doctor. I do not know which test is done and what the normal values are. |
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| Q: Could this be perimenopause?
I am 36 years old and my past 3 or 4 menstrual cycles have been between 32-35 days (I am usually 28 days on the dot) and my period lasts only 2 days where it used to last 4 or 5. Could this be the beginning of menopause? A: Nobody can answer questions like this. Perhaps yes, probably no. |
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| Q: Screening for Menopause
Is there a blood test to indicate how close one is to menopause? A: No, there is no reliable test for menopause. Sometimes one is testing FSH level. But FSH can fluctuate enormously during the early perimenopause. Age, regularity of periods, flushes and FSH have to be considered all together. After that one can make a rather reliable guess. |
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| Q: Vaginal itching I am 47 and perimenopausal - missed periods, headaches, hot flashes and a host of other symptoms. I used the Combi-patch hrt for 2 1/2 months, but discontinued it as I spotted for 6 weeks straight and had severe breast soreness. I have a problem with itching in the vaginal area (though I do not have any problem with vaginal dryness or intercourse). It seems to be external and can range from the clitoral area to the rectal area. It can be extremely intense but comes and goes for days at a time. My internist prescribed Premarin cream to be used externally once or twice a week, but I am concerned about using it as I often need something more frequently than that. Do you have any suggestions? Should I be taking a soy product such as Genestein or using a progesterone cream or both. I am not certain I want to use hrt again. A: Vaginal itching can be caused by local atrophy and in that case local estrogen are a good solution. But (peri)vulvar itching can also be caused by dermatological diseases or by VIN (vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia) or by lichen sclerosus. In those situations local estrogens will not be helpful and other creams are much better like corticosteroids or androgens. But first a diagnosis is needed. |
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| Q: Many symptoms
I wonder if you can give me some insight into what is going on? I am obese, my menstrual cycles are very irregular, usually three or four months apart, but sometimes 6 months apart. I have been infertile since the birth of my son who just turned six. I take Levothyroxine 50mcg daily. My GYN just says to lose weight. I agree that losing weight would do me a a lot of good, but I also wonder if something else is going on. He tested me i to see if I was menopausal. He said that I was not, I believe he said that there was enough estrogen. I always hesitate to go to the doctor because it seems as if by the time I get to have my appointment, my symptoms have subsided for the time being, and any tests run would turn out to be negative. For about four years now. I would wake up with a headache in my right temple. I call it a hormone headache because that's what I think causes it. At first it was so severe that I had to sleep all day to get rid of it. I would liken it to a hangover. Now I can usually get rid of it in about two hours of sleep. I was experiencing extreme insomnia over the summer, not falling asleep until 2:00 or 3:00. I was also experiencing severe hot flashes with palpitations. Then I discovered a product called Healthy Woman Soy Menopause. I haven't had a sleepless night since, the hot flashes are rare and intensity reduced, and no more palpitations. However, for about the past four weeks I have been experiencing severe fatigue. I have had before but this is the longest this has lasted. I get this severe, I'm going to call it, acidy vaginal discharge. For the first day or two of this, I get a blue, yes, you read it correctly, a blue discharge. But after this, it's just plain old acidy. I don't believe this is yeast as it goes away on it's own, this discharge is eventually followed by menstruation. This particular time has been lasting about two weeks, the longest yet, and directly followed the fatigue cycle. Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated. A: This is not the place to discuss particular health problems. Anyhow,
there are no clues in your history for (peri)menopause. A very irregular menstrual cycle deserves the attention
of a gynecological endocrinologist. Sometimes obesity will come from ovarian disorder like PCO |
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