Menopause & Perimenopause

menopause & perimenopause
An introduction to perimenopause, menopause and menopausal symptoms
by Dixie Mills, MD

Over a million women a year use our website, and most of them are trying to learn about menopause, perimenopause or other health problems arising from hormonal imbalance. So we work hard to provide a lot of help here, and in a moment we'll try to answer all your questions.

Quick definitions for menopause and hormonal balance
Menopause is just a point in time — the date on which you haven't had a menstrual period for a year. Perimenopause is the period of hormonal fluctuation that leads up to menopause; it can last from five to 15 years or longer. Early menopause does occur for a tiny fraction of women, but the term is mostly used by women — not practitioners — when symptoms occur much earlier than "normal." Medical menopause is menopause brought about by medical treatment — typically hysterectomy or cancer treatment — and an incredible 25% of women enter menopause this way.

Hormonal balance is our normal state. When we have menopausal symptoms, we are suffering from hormonal imbalance — an abnormal state. About 80% of women today experience symptoms of hormonal imbalance — more than ever before — because of the extraordinary demands made on their bodies and the inadequate support provided. Fortunately, nearly all women can find relief from the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause by restoring that balance — naturally and without drugs. And we're here to show you how.

Tips for Personal Program Success

 Create your own “fast food.” It’s easier to stick to an eating plan if the food is ready whenever you are. Set aside a little time on weekends to prepare dishes and snacks for the coming week and freeze them, so you have healthy foods there when you want to snack or get something on the table quickly.
Why do women come to us with so many unanswered questions? Why do so many women feel dissatisfied with the answers they're getting from conventional medicine?

The simple answer is that conventional medicine breaks everything down into separate parts that can be separately controlled — and that's not how the female body works. As you explore our website and find the answers you need, keep in mind that every aspect of your life affects your health — and that no symptom or health problem can be viewed (or controlled) in isolation.

So here are the resources for you in this section of our website. Read on for the answers you seek, then give us a call if you would like additional guidance.

Our most popular resources on menopause
To access an article, just choose from the list of excerpts below. To find more articles, use the search function below. Don't see a topic that's important to you? Let us know.

Menopause — ending the confusion
Conventional medicine and the sensational media have created so much confusion among women about menopause. It's helpful to shed these myths and mistruths as you begin to take control of your health.
Good news about sex and menopause — the pleasure has just begun
Marcelle Pick talks one-on-one with Dr. Christiane Northrup about sex and menopause.
Perimenopause — the beginning of hormonal change
Most women are surprised to learn how early perimenopause can start — often in your 30's — and how many symptoms it causes. Learn more about the physiological changes in your body as you start your transformation.