Perimenopause

  • Early Menopause

    I am 39 and having hot flushes and night sweats. I’ve skipped my period for the last 18 months. Does that mean I am in menopause? Help! I’m too young—what can I do?

  • Heavier Flow in Perimenopause

    I am 49 and have had a regular light period all my life. I have 3 children and do not use oral contraception. Recently I have been experiencing large clots and heavier flow. It is the clots that concern me because I have never seen this before. Should I seek the help of a gynecologist?

  • Heavy Periods After Childbirth

    I have been experiencing heavy and or flooding periods since my last child was born. It is getting difficult to work the first few days of my period due to extremely heavy bleeding, soaking pads, every 15 minutes. The clots are often as big as the palm of my hand. Is there any product you recommend to wear? I have tried every pad , doubled, tripled, inside Depends, etc. I would appreciate any suggestions.

  • Menstrual Clots

    Um, I feel rather silly asking this, but I honestly don’t know, and I can’t find any information on the net giving me the answer. How do I know if what I’m experiencing is blood clotting? I only just learned of the endometrium being the uterine lining and that it actually sheds each month. I always thought it was blood clots that I’m experiencing, but now I don’t know if it’s that or membrane or whatever it might be called with the shedding. I don’t know where to turn to find out. It’s an embarrassing subject to broach, and even more so being so incredibly ignorant. If there’s any chance you can help me or point me in the right direction, I’d greatly appreciate it.

  • Menstrual Suppression (Manipulating Menstruation with Hormonal Contraception)

    I’ve been reading and hearing about it—I wonder if you think I should try to get rid of my period by taking the Pill every day? Does it work? Is it safe?

  • Perimenopause and night sweats

    I am 49 years old, very healthy, and starting to feel better as I’m skipping periods in perimenopause. But I’m just dying with night sweats twice or three times a night—I wake up soaked and barely get back to sleep before the next one hits. What’s odd is that they tend to be very bad for a while and then get better. I’ve never had any during the day. I’m having a bad patch right now. I went to my doctor about it a couple of weeks ago and she told me to take a low dose birth control pill. I don’t even need contraception. But so far I’ve seen no benefit for my night sweats. Do I need to take it longer? The flushes just keep waking me. But now I got a period in the middle of the pack, my breasts are sore and swollen and I’ve had a wicked headache for three days. Help! What can I do?

  • Progesterone (not Estrogen) is Optimal Therapy for Hot Flushes

    I’m having really bad night sweats waking me at least once every night and sometimes three or four times. I was given estrogen therapy for them when I was still having periods and it not only didn’t help, it made my flooding and breast tenderness worse. I’m now about two years since my last period and just dying for a good night’s sleep! I tried one of those new anti-depressants and it helped a bit but didn’t take the night sweats away. In fact, I think it made my sleep worse! My doctor says estrogen is what Canadian and USA experts recommend for hot flushes. I have seen so much conflicting stuff that I don’t know what to think. All I know is that I’m scared of estrogen. Are there any other good options?

  • Should I stop checking my own breasts?

    I’m confused and more than a bit bothered! I’m a menopausal woman with a family history of breast cancer. For years I’ve been told (ordered would be more accurate!) to check my breasts each month. Recently, however, I heard some cancer specialist on the news saying I shouldn’t bother. What’s going on? Why the change in recommendations? And most of all: do you think I should stop checking my breasts?

  • Spotting Before Periods

    I’m a 36-year old woman and basically healthy but I keep having spotting before my flow. I’ve been to several doctors about it and never gotten a good answer. The only option I’ve been given for treatment is the Pill. What’s going on?

  • Why am I no longer interested?

    I’ve been with this thoughtful, loving and attractive guy for two years. We’re both in our mid-thirties, have a healthy sporty lifestyle. We each have good jobs and have made a great home together. I’ve always felt we were quite good for each other, and easily shared lots of important things, especially in bed.

    However, for some reason, I’m no longer interested in sex. For his sake I even sometimes fake it! Could it be related my increasingly bad cramps and heavier, longer flow? Or could it be because my doctor recently recommended and I started the Pill to treat my heavy flow? My guy and I were perfectly happy with condoms and spermicidal jelly before.