Perimenopause/menopause & regular exercise

[shootingstar]

Am curious to know if ladies here who cycle/exercise regularily experience great discomfort during their perimenopause / menopause? I know that this topic has been discussed and those who post tend to experience significant discomfort (ie. hot flashes, sweating, temporary memory impacts, heavy periods, etc.)

There's another group of women in this age bracket wondering if exercise helps reduce negative impact/discomfort of perimenopause/menopause.


I tried posting a poll but gave up.

So ..
Give your experiences, your age and state for the past few years how long you have been cycling/exercising regularily. (We all know that means several times per week.)

[Biciclista]

no great discomfort. Lots of hot flashes.
big deal.

:cool:

[shootingstar]

I am in perimenopause and have been for about a year.

I just experience maybe 1-2 short flashes per month. Each flash is only 5-10 min. long and usually it happens when I've just woken up and am lying in bed still. I don't sweat at all, it just feels like a flush in my face. That's all.

My periods are just getting lighter. It's a long slow goodbye. :)

So minor that's even not worth it for me to fuss at all. I hope it's like this until post-menopause.


Have been cycling regularily for past 17 years.

[Biciclista]

sounds like you'll be fine.

[shootingstar]

this post isn't really about me..though I guess maybe it started some questions.

I'm on another forum, for boomer women.. A couple of them were wondering if regular exercise reduces great discomfort during this time in life. I'm sure there are articles from the medical community weighing in on this.

Well, in my dim memory...it may not be necessarily the case for some of us here?

[Miranda]

Getting ready to have my big four o here soon *sighs with mixed emotion*.

My mother (80yo) says it takes about 10yr to go "through the change". Guess I have some years to work through yet.

Well, as I was sobbing to my GF this last Friday at lunch (hello--start of period), it's like this... First, I cry a bucket for a day. Next, I bleed a bucket for a day, then things are quite light, and level off to "me" again.

I was not able to go to spin class, or ride outside on the "bleed a bucket" day. I've tried the Instead cup, but had too much cramping (prolapse issues my gyno said). Other tampons, etc. just don't cut it to be away from the bathroom that long. Bleah.

I've sobbed while pedaling before, but it still makes me feel better. I think exercise definately helps relieve many things from that time. I think the biggie is not to expect too much of yourself performance wise though. While my body is putting it's energy into golf ball production, it's tired... doesn't want to pedal so fast. That's ok... no crying about that one. Just know it's expected.

[divingbiker]

I'm 52, had a hysterectomy 3 years ago. About 4 months ago, I started having unbearable hot flashes and night sweats, to the point where I wasn't getting any sleep at all. I was (and still am) exercising daily (bike commuting, water aerobics, running, etc).

My endocrinologist suggested Estroven (a non-prescription combination of vitamins and black cohosh and some other stuff) and within two days all hot flashes stopped. I love this stuff.

[Crankin]

My peri-meno. did last about 10 years. When I look back, I started having symptoms in my late 30s. My periods were always awful, horrible cramps on day one and pms like crazy, even though I have been exercising since my early twenties. OK, I had been cycling for about a year, maybe two when my periods stopped. So, I wasn't riding tons, maybe 1,000 miles a year and still doing step classes, etc. I was 48. For the first year, I felt great. A flash once in awhile. Then, the flashes started coming more frequently, maybe ten a day. I noticed they were worse at work, where I couldn't control the room temperature myself. I had a bad one every morning when I got up, but most of the others did not last more than 30 seconds. I just dealt with it, splashed some water on my face from my water bottle I kept on my desk. My worse symptom was vaginal dryness and pain, despite the "desire" still being there. About 4 years ago, I got an E-string, which has cured that. My flashes are pretty much gone. I still get one once in awhile, but my attitude has been, "it's part of life," just go on. But they do last for years after your periods stop.
I think dealing with the pain of riding and other sports did make me mentally tougher to deal with the menopause stuff. I know a lot of people who just lost it at the first flash and went on medication.

[OakLeaf]

I'm 49, been in perimenopause for a couple of years, haven't had a period since March.

I only started having hot flashes late this summer. After I was diagnosed with benign proliferative breast changes, I eliminated hydrolyzed soy protein from my diet, and cut way, way back on unfermented soy and alcohol. Ever since then I've been getting hot flashes that are very brief but also very frequent. On average I probably have 5-6 a day, lasting at most 2-3 minutes.

It's too early for me to be able to say whether they'll get "bad" or not. But the women I know who complain most bitterly about their hot flashes, are the same ones who might make a show of exercising but refuse to actually exert themselves, theatrically mopping their brows if they get the slightest flush in their cheeks. Right now I'm guessing that it comes down to whether you view sweat as something natural, healthy and even (sometimes) fun, or as something to be avoided at all costs. So far my hot flashes are at best a brief respite from being freezing all the time; at worst "Oh, I'm sweating again."

But I know that I've got a long way to go and I might not feel so superior a couple of years from now :cool:

Edit: Oh, and I have yet to experience one while I'm doing cardio. Don't know if that's because my body's thermal regulation system works better when it's working hard, or whether I just don't notice it. I did have a flash during a Pilates workout last week. That was probably the most "interesting" one I've had so far :rolleyes:

[Crankin]

I have only had 2 flashes while riding; one outside and one in a spin class. Yes, it was interesting.

[divingbiker]

Right now I'm guessing that it comes down to whether you view sweat as something natural, healthy and even (sometimes) fun, or as something to be avoided at all costs. So far my hot flashes are at best a brief respite from being freezing all the time; at worst "Oh, I'm sweating again."

Even if you're used to sweating hard, a really bad hot flash or night sweat is a horse of a different color. Hope you don't ever experience one!

[salsabike]

Right now I'm guessing that it comes down to whether you view sweat as something natural, healthy and even (sometimes) fun, or as something to be avoided at all costs.

Um...no. I am very active, love to sweat and always pour sweat when I'm working hard on the bike or when I was in dance class. And for a year or so I had hot flashes that felt just like someone was applying a blowtorch to my face. Believe me, whether you like to sweat---and whether you exercise---have nothing to do with that. It's a chemical event. Luckily, those don't seem to happen anymore.

[shootingstar]

Um...no. I am very active, love to sweat and always pour sweat when I'm working hard on the bike or when I was in dance class. And for a year or so I had hot flashes that felt just like someone was applying a blowtorch to my face. Believe me, whether you like to sweat---and whether you exercise---have nothing to do with that. It's a chemical event. Luckily, those don't seem to happen anymore.

Like a blowtorch...that's a good metaphor to help some of us who have not experienced the real significant hot flashes.

And I never knew menopause could drag on for 10 yrs.

Oakleaf: I still eat tofu dishes several times per month. But have never drank soymilk often at all.

[coyote]

I thought I was having hot flashes this past summer. Turns out that it really was just that hot, LOL! Now that we are having cooler weather my 'hot flashes' are gone.

[Dogmama]

Hot flashes are more like an internal heat. Just being hot is due to external circumstances. I get 8-10 in a 24 hours period. Night sweats are the worst.

Exercise can be a double edged sword. It definitely helps with anxiety & depression. It also reduces body fat. Women with lower body fat levels tend to flash more because estrogen is stored in body fat. Therefore, the dips in estrogen and resulting flashing are more pronounced in women who have lower body fat percentages.

[OakLeaf]

Okay, sorry if I offended anyone :o that really wasn't my intention. Just there are groups of women in both the gyms I teach at, that fit that profile. Talk all through class, barely exert themselves, turn the AC or fans up so high that everyone else gets joint pain and can't warm their muscles up, and blame their hot flashes. I'm actually glad to know that those aren't the only kind of people who get bad hot flashes.

But on another point... it was my cold and the little fever I'm running that sent me to the 'net this morning, where I found two interesting bits of information...

one, somewhat reassuring, that 80% of women stop having hot flashes within four years of their last period.

But also, (which you probably already knew) hot flashes do not raise core temperature, only skin temperature; it's the body trying very hard to cool itself when no cooling is needed. SO... it seems to me that there's a risk of hypothermia, especially this time of year; and if we're outdoors exerting ourselves, we should be doubly sure to wear moisture-wicking and breathable apparel, and NOT to open any zippers or remove our hats during a hot flash. I couldn't find anything directly on point in a very brief and cursory search - anybody have any input?

[Crankin]

You didn't offend me; those same women go to my gym...
Since I have never had an issue with flashes while exercising, except for the two times I mentioned, I can't comment on the hypothermia stuff. But, I do notice that since my flashes stopped pretty much, I have a much higher tolerance to cold when I am riding, especially. If I compare what I wear now to what I wore 5 years ago on colder rides, it's a world of difference. I don't notice it under non-exercise conditions, though.

[shootingstar]

Exercise can be a double edged sword. It definitely helps with anxiety & depression. It also reduces body fat. Women with lower body fat levels tend to flash more because estrogen is stored in body fat. Therefore, the dips in estrogen and resulting flashing are more pronounced in women who have lower body fat percentages.

Got any article that we could read up more on this? ie. women with lower body fat will tend to flash more if their estrogen is lower. Still would plan to engage in some form of exercise anyway.

Although my symptoms are incredibly minor, don't envy some other women who do experience it in a major way. ie. our receptionist who has flashes hot enough that she does pump the AC and it affects some offices. But she is a person that does undertake physical work in part of her job and she exercises more regularily.

Another woman I know who used to be a intensive care nurse, flashed bad enough that she turned red in face from sweating. The head honcho of the organization, asked her what was wrong...

[Possegal]

actually, differing opinions on the idea that thinner=more flashes. see study here, where more abdominal adipose = more flashes.
Menopause. 2008 May-Jun;15(3):429-34
CONCLUSION: Increased abdominal adiposity, particularly subcutaneous adiposity, is associated with increased odds of hot flashes, favoring thermoregulatory models of hot flashes. Body fat may not protect women from hot flashes as once thought.

[Dogmama]

actually, differing opinions on the idea that thinner=more flashes. see study here, where more abdominal adipose = more flashes.
Menopause. 2008 May-Jun;15(3):429-34
CONCLUSION: Increased abdominal adiposity, particularly subcutaneous adiposity, is associated with increased odds of hot flashes, favoring thermoregulatory models of hot flashes. Body fat may not protect women from hot flashes as once thought.

I did not know that. :o

[Possegal]

scientists - we're always looking to refute someone else's report. :) it looks like there is evidence on both sides, so who knows what the real answer is.

[arielmoon]

Hot flashes are more like an internal heat. Just being hot is due to external circumstances. I get 8-10 in a 24 hours period. Night sweats are the worst.

Exercise can be a double edged sword. It definitely helps with anxiety & depression. It also reduces body fat. Women with lower body fat levels tend to flash more because estrogen is stored in body fat. Therefore, the dips in estrogen and resulting flashing are more pronounced in women who have lower body fat percentages.
That is very interesting. I dont have very much body fat...

I just turned 40 but had one ovary removed 5 years ago. I started having hot flashes about 2 or so years ago and my periods are several months apart. I havent had one since August. My hot flashes seem to be rather mild and I dont notice them when doing chores at the barn or riding. Mostly they bother me when I am sitting at my desk but they do seem to be less frequent now that the weather has changed.

The night sweats were the worst- but I havent had them in quite some time. My doc wanted me to go on birth control and gave me an e-ring sample but I never used it. I had been trying various natural remedies and lotions but I couldnt tell a difference. Acupuncture helped a little as far as I can tell. I just bought some Estroven (btw I found a $3 off coupon for it online!) this week and I am hoping that helps.

[Raindrop]

I didn't have a lot of perimenopausal symptoms, probably because I always had nasty periods, (i.e. extremely heavy, lasting seven days, mood swings and mid-cycle ovary pain), so when those things started lessening, it was a relief.

Right now I haven't had a period since March, and I've been experiencing hot flashes for the last year or so. (I'd compare them to the feeling one gets when really, really embarrassed:o).

My bodyfat is very low and I am a personal trainer as well as teaching seven Spinnning/indoor cycling classes a week...not including my own workouts and weight-training so I don't know...perhaps the hot flashes would be unbearable if I wasn't so active..who knows??:confused:

I have gotten accupunture (for another issue entirely) and one of the side-effects was to have the hot flashes disappear for a month. Nice!

[divingbiker]

I just bought some Estroven (btw I found a $3 off coupon for it online!) this week and I am hoping that helps.

Hope you have the great success with Estroven that I did. Another OTC option my endocrinologist suggested was Promensil, if Estroven doesn't do the trick.

[arielmoon]

Hope you have the great success with Estroven that I did. Another OTC option my endocrinologist suggested was Promensil, if Estroven doesn't do the trick.

Thanks! I decided to try Estroven after reading this thread!

[eclectic]

I just found this thread

On an interesting note (to me anyway)

My hot flashing was exacerbating profusely last spring. Years ago the Dr. put me on BC for peri-menopause.
I decided to go off it to see what my body was doing naturally.

I went off in June and ta dah! I have only had 2 hot flashes since then!

I do watch my red wine consumption because after 1 or 2 glasses the temps definately start to go up :D

[ladyicon]

I am 51 and have only been having periods once in a while :), but I still get all the crappy feelings of having one.
When I have had night sweats it got so bad the only thing I could do to cool off was run outside. I still get hot flashes and sometimes just feel very blazee (sp?). I have also become allergic to something (still trying to figure it out). get a rash on my chest and neck.
My Dr. says that these things are normal, that my body is just dealing with a change.
I still love to ride my bike though.

[Aint Doody]

Nearly 60 years old here. I started menopause in about 1994, I think. I still have an occasional, mild hot flash. Usually it happens while I'm getting dressed in the mornings. I just run outside for a few minutes. I've always excercised in some form. Don't know if it makes a difference, but I don't ever recall having a flash while exercising.

[suzieqtwa]

I'm 55 ,and I have been on estrogen since I was 40. I went into pre menopause when I was 36. If I wasn't on a very low dose of estrogen I would get horrible hot flashes.. :eek: I guess each person is different ,but I don't think my hot flashes would ever end if I wasn't taking estrogen.