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Perimenopause

  • What is Effective and Safe for Night Sweats in Women with Breast Cancer?

    I’m 47 and wringing the sheets every night with hot flushes. I went into menopause early because of chemotherapy for breast cancer and then had surgery to take out my uterus and ovaries because I have the bad gene (BRCA). I’m now taking the new drug that blocks estrogen production but is making my flushes worse. I’ve tried soymilk, tofu and all kinds of plant estrogens. I’m afraid of herbs because I’m told they may increase estrogen and therefore feed my cancer. And I’ve tried acupuncture-it helps about a week and then I need another treatment.

    Right now I’m fighting taking the newer anti-depressant my doctor prescribed-I’m not depressed. She says that medicine is what the Cancer Agency recommends for hot flushes. I asked my pharmacist and got a printout of its side effects-it causes sleep problems and loss of appetite. I already have them! And I’ve heard they are only likely to be 60-70% effective.

    My question is, can I try something that will help my night sweats without making me at risk my breast cancer will return? Or should I consider stopping the estrogen blocker-I don’t want to because, although it is making my flushes worse, it will prevent another bout of breast cancer. Or am I stuck feeling as wrung out as my sheets for the next dozen years?

  • Blood Clots and the Birth Control Patch

    I am almost 35 and a bit overweight so I’m concerned about blood clots with The Pill. My doctor thought that the patch called Evra would be safer, but I found some stuff on the Internet about lawsuits because Evra increases blood clots. What do you think?

  • Bewildered by Bio-Identical Hormones

    Are bio-identical hormones safe for treatment in menopause? I have no symptoms but did have a blood clot in my calf years ago when I was first pregnant. I was told then to never take estrogen. Could I safely take bio-identical hormones? I’m asking because I recently saw Suzanne Somers on the Oprah show discussing hormone replacement with bio-identical hormones. She says they are making her feel great. CBC’s “The National” last week said that drug company hormone therapy, too, is now considered safe.

  • Progesterone Therapy for Night Sweats in Perimenopause

    I’m 42, waking most nights about 1am and having bad hot flushes some nights. I had to stop the Pill because I got increasing migraines. What can I do to help my night sweats and get some good sleep without taking estrogen and making migraines worse?

  • What’s in a name?

    I’m all confused. Am I in menopause or not? If I am, how come I have regular periods? If I’m not, how come I get night sweats? I have a friend that’s menstruating and flushing like me who went to her doctor, had some blood test and was told she was “not in menopause.” Can you help me make sense of these confusing words?

  • Should I have an Endometrial Ablation for Heavy Bleeding?

    I recently read an article in More magazine about extreme bleeding, fibroids and endometrial ablation. The author had heavy bleeding and ended up having the fibroids removed and an endometrial ablation. I’m a healthy 45-year old yet I’ve been having gushing and flooding for several months. Should I have the lining of my uterus scraped away?

  • Perimenopause and Thyroid Problems—common and confusing

    When a perimenopausal woman feels tired, gains weight and has frozen-cold hands and feet, how can she tell if the cause is a low thyroid or perimenopause?

  • When should I have sex to get pregnant?

    I am a 36-year old female and we have been trying to conceive since October 2006. I know my fertile window is 3 days before ovulation the day of and after ovulation. Does that mean that you cannot fall pregnant if you engage in sexual activity a week before your next period?

  • Do I need an Endometrial Biopsy?

    My doctor is insistent that I have to have surgery-I guess a D & C or an endometrial biopsy. I’m a perfectly healthy, although a little heavy, woman in my early 50s and was sure that I was in menopause because I had been without a period for 20 months. Then I felt my libido spike, my breasts get sore and the mucus went gooey for days, and then constipation. The next morning I awoke to bleeding, just as if there had been no 20-month break. And, as recently as last week there had been another change in the mucus, but no other symptoms.

  • PCOS (AAE) and Insulin Resistance

    Two years ago I was diagnosed with PCOS by my general practitioner, who started me on Diane35® but basically did nothing else. Despite walking and working out regularly, I have continued to gain weight, and my emotional/hormonal levels seem very out of place. My waistline is increasing despite a fasting glucose test that indicated I am not diabetic. I am looking for advice as to how to find out more information about PCOS so that I can try to regain control over my menstrual health, and ultimately my weight and emotional health.