A new video is now available that aims to educate women and their doctors about perimenopause and dispel some prevalent misconceptions about it. Dr. Jerilynn Prior, a professor of endocrinology at the University of British Columbia who produced the video, wants to "turn on its head" the notion that estrogen levels drop in perimenopausal women. She says the opposite is true, with estrogen levels rising up to 30% in women before menopause.
"This misconception that physicians have is what makes it tough for women," said Prior. "For years, women have been asking questions about mid-life that their doctors couldn't answer. I've been trying for at least 5 years to teach doctors about this change." FIGURE
Prior said hormonal changes can start to occur up to 15 years before menopause, beginning as early as the late 30s for some women. She thinks active follicle-stimulating hormones cause the ovaries to go into "over-drive" during perimenopause, resulting in fluctuations in progesterone and estrogen.
The video comes with a diary that women can use to track their signs and symptoms. They are then encouraged to share the diary with their doctors to distinguish signs and symptoms due to estrogen from those related to progesterone. This will result in a more informed discussion about the most appropriate estrogen/progesterone dosage required for treatment of the symptoms over the menstrual cycle. Prior would like to see more perimenopausal women visiting family doctors instead of specialists. In the video, she discusses perimenopause with 4 women and explains how to use the diary. Information recorded in it includes details about menstrual cycles, breast tenderness, fluid retention, hot flashes and psychological changes such as mood swings and loss of interest in sex.
The Puzzle of Menopause video is available for $35 from the BC Endocrine Research Foundation, 380 - 575 West 8th Ave., Vancouver BC V5Z 1C6; 604 875 5922. Tax receipts will be issued.