Understanding PMS and Perimenopause

Not so long ago, doctors believed that women went from having regular monthly periods to gradually ceasing all menstrual cycles. Though some did admit that some women had problems with the transition in between, it was only recently did the entire medical world finally agree that the transition period could pose serious health (both mental and physical) problems towards women. Doctors finally recognized the existence of perimenopause and the number of women it hit every year.

One of the main reasons why perimenopause was ignored for so long is because of another female phenomenon known as pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS.) PMS and perimenopause can have really similar symptoms. Many doctors thought that the symptoms we now recognize as perimenopause symptoms were really just PMS symptoms. Since PMS symptoms tend to pass after a week (at the longest), doctors paid little attention to women's complaints.

Why did they get them confused? Probably because PMS and perimenopause both exhibit symptoms like anger, anxiety, bloating, body aches, mood swings, irritability, and loss of libido. These symptoms don't seem like big problems to doctors, especially if a woman admits that she is used to experiencing PMS every month. It was the coming of other perimenopause symptoms that first alerted doctors that something may be different, symptoms like crashing fatigue, hot flashes, night sweats, and insomnia.

So why do any of these symptoms (either for PMS or perimenopause) happen in the first place?

During both PMS and perimenopause, a woman's hormones fluctuate. Usually people assume that her sex hormones fluctuate, but it is important to point out that her stress hormone levels and her blood sugar hormone levels can fluctuate too. For PMS, these hormones fluctuate in order to prepare the body for the housing of a child and (later on) for the secretion of blood. For perimenopause, hormones fluctuate because the systems which prepare a woman's body for reproduction are no longer working like clockwork.

As a result of these fluctuations, a woman's body sends out signals (symptoms) that something is happening internally. Sometimes the only symptom a woman will feel is that "something is wrong" and they can't quite tell why they feel sad or upset.

For women with PMS, the symptoms usually last for a week or so. Women suffering from perimenopause, on the other hand, will find that they may have one or two symptoms present at all times. It is for this reason that most perimenopause experts advise women (usually 35 and up) to start taking notes of any feelings or symptoms they may observe. Taking note of the time of the month a symptom should be observed, as well as frequency in which certain symptoms are present can help both women and their doctors determine what is going on.

When a doctor has determined whether or not you are going through perimenopause or if you are just having acute episodes of PMS, s/he can then prescribe a treatment plan that you can follow. Many doctors recommend mild pain killers, like mefenamic acid, for the body aches you may feel. Other doctors may try to put you on birth control pills or progestin, in order to help regulate your period and alleviate the symptoms of both PMS and perimenopause. Other doctors still may recommend hormone replacement therapy (HRT, for perimenopause patients only.)

As the science of both PMS and perimenopause evolve, however, more and more doctors are suggesting more natural methods for dealing with the problems. For example, PMS has been known to lessen when a woman follows a healthy diet, exercises regularly (about 30 minutes a day), and takes up a hobby or a past time she enjoys. These three lifestyle factors can actually make PMS go away!

Because of the success of this natural method of treatment among PMS patients, many doctors are now supporting natural treatments for perimenopause as well. Apart from lifestyle changes, however, herbal remedies or natural supplements are also recommended for women going through perimenopause. There are many natural treatments that seem to work very well for women, and have been proven to have fewer side effects than HRT.

The science of both PMS and perimenopause is still evolving. Now that doctors have acknowledged perimenopause' presence, more help is coming women's way. Keep in mind that if you had very bad PMS during your youth, your chances of having long drawn out and tough perimenopause symptoms are high. However, no matter which one you're experiencing, always opt to try lifestyle changes before going for pharmaceutical cures.