His and Her Health

I am still in my child bearing years but am a little concerned. My gyn said it could be perimenopause. I don't know what that is other than it sounds like pre menopause. I am thinking that I am too young for that and I was devastated. I still have a what I feel is a high sex drive. I want it more often than my husband. Due to business, I only see him maybe five nights a month, which is sometimes difficult for me. But as we have discussed having children and me having a tubal reversal, I stopped having my periods. At first I got excited and thought a miracle had happened and I was pregnant given the fact that I have had a tubal from a previous relationship. I immediately saw a gyn. He put me on a prescription to start my periods again and that lasted for 2 months and now 4 months later, I am no longer having them again. I don't know what to feel about this. I have had blood work done and all of that seems to have been okay or they surely would have told me I think. <P>Has anyone out there been through the same problem and been treated? What was the outcome? Any advise?<P>Thanks.

You should contact your doctor to get the results of your blood work. The term perimenopause refers to the time leading up to the cessation of menstruation. This is when estrogen production slows down, symptoms often begin - hot flashes; sleeplessness; irritability/moodiness, as well as other symptoms. During the perimenopause you still have your periods, however, they begin to change. We really don't know when perimenopause actually starts, although some women experience symptoms for ten years before their actual periods stop. Menopause officially occurs when you have not had your period for twelve consecutive months. After that, you are considered postmenopause. The terminology can be quite confusing.

Ask for a blood test-FSH. It is a hormone test. It will tell what phase you are in.

you can get an FSH test at the drugstore. I think it's a urine test - like the pregnancy tests but for menopause. Probably not highly accurate but it might give you a clue more easily and cheaply than a doctor visit.