Study looks into symptom relief for perimenopausal women

It’s as if you wake up one morning and discover gremlins have taken over your body.

Your hormones are in a state of flux (think exaggerated premenstrual syndrome symptoms); hot flashes, insomnia, fatigue and irritability become the norm. That’s what it’s like to have perimenopause.

“If a woman is uncomfortable in her own body, she may not find other areas of her life enjoyable,” said Janice Twiss, Ph.D., assistant professor in the UNMC College of Nursing.

“If a woman is uncomfortable in her own body, she may not find other areas of her life enjoyable.” Janet Twiss, Ph.D.

As a women’s health nurse practitioner, Dr. Twiss became interested in perimenopause and menopause. She is the principal investigator on a new research study aimed at providing relief for perimenopausal symptoms.

There are about 33 million women between the ages of 40 and 54, according to 2006 United States Census data. The average duration of perimenopause ranges from one to 10 years. For many years, the area of perimenopause had not been sufficiently studied and women who were having symptoms received little health information or symptom relief.

“Through education, exercise and support groups, we hope to decrease symptoms and provide relief,” Dr. Twiss said.

Volunteers are currently being enrolled in this 12-week pilot study.

Participants must be:

• Female, between the ages of 40-55 years;
  
• On hormone therapy for less than two months or considered a candidate for hormone therapy but did not elect to use it;
  
• Experiencing hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, fatigue, and/or irregular periods; and
  
• Have had a period within the past 12 months.

Forty women will be needed for this study. They will be divided into two groups. One group will be asked to attend a facilitated support group; the other group will receive education and exercise information in addition to support group sessions. Both groups will receive pedometers and will be encouraged to exercise.

There is little predictability with perimenopausal symptoms, Dr. Twiss said. Women often experience symptoms differently. But, they often have the same complaint — the symptoms affect their quality of life.

“This can be a difficult part of a woman’s life,” Dr. Twiss said. “Health providers are still trying to understand perimenopause. As a result, many women are uninformed about their options for relief. Our goal is to provide the women with information that will empower them to make healthy decisions about treatment options.”

For more information, contact Dr. Twiss at 559-6571 or jtwiss@unmc.edu.