PERIMENOPAUSEAND THE PERIOD THAT SEEMSAS IF IT WILLNEVER STOP
Dr Steven R. Goldstein is a Perimenopause Specialist in NYC who has worked with numerous women to help them cope with the symptoms of Perimenopause. Perimenopause is a transitionary phase to menopause which can begin as early as the late thirties and as late as up to the late forties. One of the most noticeable physical symptoms of perimenopause is the irregularity of the period. Shorter periods. Longer periods. Light periods. Heavy periods. Two or three periods in a month and then…..the period that seems it will never stop.
One of Dr Goldstein’s forty year old patients said to him “I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that my period lasted for more than two weeks. I was sick of all this bleeding” the woman explained, exasperated. “I kept waiting for the last day, and there was never a last day”.
This does not necessarily mean that Perimenopause is definitely the cause. So what can you rule out? Here are several considerations.
Is it a period or is it midcycle spotting? It’s important to keep track of how much bleeding there is, and how heavy is it? Some women use menstrual calendars, where they designate each das as light, moderate or heavy.
Secondly,whatkindofbirthcontrolareyouusing?AnIUDcan bethecauseofalonger than average bleeding cycle. Is there any possibility of a miscarriage? Ongoing bleeding can be due to a polyp. Pelvic infection, especially if your abdomen hurts and you have a fever or vaginal discharge is another possibility.
Diabetes, thyroid problems, and kidney disease should always be ruled out as causes of a normal menstrual cycle that suddenly goes awry.
Age is important. If you’re over fifty and a period that never stops comes after a year or so of not menstruating, it goes by the term “postmenopausal bleeding”. In this scenario,contactwithagynecologistismandatory.Suchbleedingmustbeinvestigated. Dr Goldstein uses transvaginal ultrasound or sonohysterography instead of biopsy or Dilation and Curettage (D&C) to rule out hyperplasia (cancer).
So,is aperiodthatseems itwillneverendduetoPerimenopause? It’s themostfrequent diagnosis for bleeding that goes on longer than usual in a woman age thirty five to fifty, but blood tests, a Pap test, and a sonogramwould be first steps in determining this.And you should see a gynecologist.
If you are a woman in your late thirties or forties and having irregular periods and/or irregular bleeding then perhaps a consultation with a Perimenopause Doctor in NYC, may be in order. Dr Goldstein specializes in the use of transvaginal ultrasounds and sononysterograms to examine the uterine lining. This is important because the uterine lining tells a “story”. It doesn’t just tell of the physiology of the uterus, but of its function and can help provide more information on the gynecological health of perimenopausal women.
In private practice for over 25 years, Dr goldstein is the co-author of the book “Could it be…..Perimenopause?”. He is also a past President of the International Menopause Society, past President of the North American Menopause Society, and a Certified Menopause Practitioner.