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Symptoms / Experience Changes

  • Perimenopause: The Ovary’s Frustrating Grand Finale

    Women in midlife increasingly hear the words “estrogen deficiency” spoken as the ultimate in bad news. Everyone knows that low estrogen levels cause heart disease, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s and frigidity. But as Dr. Susan Love, the influential breast surgeon, feminist advocate and now deceased author of Dr. Susan Love’s Hormone Book asserts, “If estrogen deficiency’s a…

  • Mood Swings & Depression in Menopause

    I’m wondering if my mood shifts are perhaps due to menopause. I had my last period about nine months ago. So my question is this: would estrogen therapy also help with emotional stability or should I go for the anti-depressants?

  • 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?

  • What should I expect after early surgical menopause?

    I’m 47 and had my ovaries but not my uterus removed. However, following surgery I wasn’t told what to expect, if I needed to take hormones, or what I might experience. My GP was as vague as my gynecologist. I’m having 2-3 night sweats a week, my sleep is very interrupted and have 3-6 daytime hot flushes per week but all of these things are the same as before surgery. I even still have my usual libido and good vaginal lubrication. I thought I’d lose those with my ovaries. . . .

  • 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?

  • Androgen Excess

    I am having some issues with my hormones and acne lately. My background: I started menstruating when I was 15 years old and had really heavy week long periods, but they were irregular and did not come very often. When I was about 17 I started getting big pimples on my face, my Doctor at the time told me that it was because my periods were irregular and prescribed me Diane 35. It worked. I was on Diane for 5 years. The problem now: I am now almost 22. I went off Diane at the end of February and not including the initial period, I haven’t had one since (about 6 months!). I went off Diane because of fear of long term side effects, especially considering my mother’s history of estrogen dependent cancers (atypia cells in her breasts, and ovarian cancer). Since I went off the Diane, however, my skin has gotten extremely bad and I have severe acne concentrated on my chin. I am concerned for many reasons including that I am petite and worry about osteoporosis. I am tempted to go back on Diane 35 because it helped in so many respects, but again am apprehensive… Any suggestions you might have for me would be greatly appreciated.

  • Can we Prevent Anovulatory Androgen Excess (aka PCOS)?

    Hi there. I don’t know if you can answer this or even if you will think it is a stupid question, but I am 41 and have a 12-year old daughter who got her period two years ago. I’ve struggled with PCOS since my teens and now I’m worried because I see my daughter following the same pattern. Her periods are every three or four months, she’s gaining weight rapidly, has lots of pimples and is feeling very bad about herself.  So here’s the question: Is there any way that we can stop her from getting PCOS? 

     

  • Why Does My Heart Feeling Like it is Doing Hurdles?

    I’m 46 years old, healthy and have never, ever had any heart trouble. However, three times in the last six months I’ve had to go to Emergency because my heart starts jumping and racing and I feel like I could black out. I’ve now seen two cardiologists who think they should do surgery to cut the electrical channels in my heart. But I’m young and healthy–my periods are even regular but I’m getting night sweats now and having much worse premenstrual symptoms, cramps and heavy periods. Please help! I’m scared.

  • Daily Perimenopause Diary©

    CeMCOR’s Daily Perimenopause Diary© is meant for perimenopausal women, including women with regular cycles who have hot flushes or night sweats. The Diary is available in both print and digital formats, with instructions provided. You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to read and print the PDF of the Diary with instructions. We have…

  • Hot Flushes in Menopause

    I’m 55 years old now and 10 years since my last period yet I continue to have night sweats most nights. I thought I would outgrow it. Why haven’t I?