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Perimenopause

  • 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.

  • 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?