Some Perimenopausal Women Not Properly Diagnosed, Treated, Columnist Writes

Main Category: Menopause
Article Date: 14 Dec 2010 - 3:00 PDT

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Women in their 30s and 40s experiencing the emotional, cognitive and physiological symptoms associated with perimenopause often are prescribed antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs, but some studies suggest birth control pills that contain estrogen might be the best treatment, according to Wall Street Journal columnist Melinda Beck. Symptoms such as mood swings, memory problems, anxiety, heart palpitations and headaches can result from hormone fluctuations that occur up to 10 years before menopause, Beck writes.

The period in question -- known as perimenopause or menopausal transition -- also can be marked by erratic menstrual periods, hot flashes, vaginal dryness and bone loss. While not all women experience this, Beck notes that many doctors do not think to suggest hormone therapy as treatment and instead prescribe antidepressants or other drugs.

"During perimenopause, estrogen receptors throughout the brain are affected by changing levels of the hormone -- including regions that regulate sleep, temperature control, blood pressure and heart rate," she writes. Birth control pills or patches might provide relief by making erratic cycles more even, since estrogen effects levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, which regulate mood. Beck adds that pregnancy prevention is another benefit, as protecting against pregnancy "can be more problematic with other methods when periods have become unpredictable."

According to Beck, studies examining the effectiveness of estrogen in treating perimenopausal depression have produced mixed results. One study from the University of California-Los Angeles found that two-thirds of 2,300 women ages 45 through 57 noticed memory problems during menopausal transition, but those who began hormone therapy before their last period improved more than those who waited. Beck concludes by stating that since all women are different, a comprehensive exam from an ob-gyn or primary care physician is best to determine blood pressure, cholesterol, bone density and hormone levels (Beck, Wall Street Journal, 12/10).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families.

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