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EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) - As menopause awareness month wraps up, a local OBGYN is sharing some common misconceptions. Dr. Melissa Emmerich with Marshfield Medical Center-Eau Claire said many think pre-menopause is the stage right before menopause, but there is actually a phase in between called perimenopause. Perimenopause can last anywhere from one month to 10 years. Some women will just stop having periods. Other women will have symptoms that will start even in the 30’s or 40’s and go on for many years before they actually go through menopause. That perimenopause phase tends to be the most symptomatic. Women can experience symptoms including mood swings, muscle aches, joint aches, weight gain, and brain fog. Dr. Emmerich said perimenopause is not just about the symptoms though. It’s important to focus on the increase in cardiovascular rich that happens in this stage. “They’re going to have jumps in their cholesterol level. They’re going to be at increased risk of blockage of their arteries, and they’re going to have an increased chance of developing insulin-resistance which can gradually lead to diabetes. There’s a tendency for weight gain, the loss of skeletal muscle mass,” said OBGYN Dr. Emmerich. As you go through perimenopause, it’s important to have a healthy diet by moderating your intake of high fat, high calorie, and high sugary foods, as well as eat less calories and smaller portions to reduce gaining weight. “And then also the thing that happens is we lose muscle strength and bone density so we should be doing some type of weight lifting or resistance activity at least two or three days a week, but a very small number of women are meeting those recommendations.” Instead of just relying on Dr. Google for information on this topic, Dr. Emmerich said go to trusted medical sources such as the websites of the Menopause Society and Medline. On Tuesday, the Wisconsin Senate Committee on Health unanimously passed Senate Bill 356, better known as the Perimenopause Menopause Education Bill. The bill would require the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to partner with health care providers to educate women on the symptoms, processes, and other issues surrounding perimenopause and menopause. The next step in the legislative process is for it to be scheduled for a vote by the entire Senate body. Link to Medline: https://www.medline.com/ Link to Menopause Society: https://menopause.org/
