Irregular Periods
Every two weeks, then not for two months; lasts three days, then three weeks: Menstrual mayhem is the poster symptom for perimenopause.
Do this: The surefire way to regulate your cycle is to start on very-low-dose birth control pills. Their 20 micrograms of estrogen (versus 30 to 50 in other types) offer pregnancy protection -- and bonus hot-flash reduction.
Or this: Long bleeds result when hormones tell your uterus to start a period but not to stop it. "In some cases, your doctor can prescribe progesterone pills -- either natural or synthetic -- to provide the missing signal," says Andrew E. Good, MD, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Crazy Hair
Hair concerns are common: It grows where you don't want it, or thins where you do. Blame the male hormones that stay constant as female ones decline, altering the balance.
Do this: A 2 percent solution of minoxidil for women is sold over the counter, but the FDA has okayed a 5 percent for men, and that's much more effective. So try it, says Wilma Bergfeld, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic. Apply once daily to minimize any side effects, she says. Do know that is could take six months to a year before you really notice a change.
Or this: To slow down the development of lip fuzz, chin hairs, and other unwanted growth, Bergfeld recommends a daily supplement of 30 to 100 milligrams of zinc for its antiandrogen effect.
Vaginal Dryness
Surveys show that 30 to 40 percent of perimenopausal women complain of this, Santoro says.
Do this: Lube up during sex. "There are so many natural-feeling products on the market now," says Cheryl B. Iglesia, MD, of the Washington Hospital Center, in Washington, D.C. "Just avoid any brand that contains drying alcohol." If itching and burning occur at other times of the day, use a vaginal moisturizer. Newer products like KY Liquibeads or Replens Long Lasting need to be applied only once every few days.
Or this: Your doctor may prescribe vaginal estrogen rings, creams, or tablets. "These deliver much lower doses of estrogen than systemic hormone therapy and go right to the source of your problem, so it's much safer," Iglesia says. Still, this is only for those near menopause who aren't producing much estrogen themselves.
