Perimenopause Glossary

What You Need to Know

There are so many words we start hearing when we are in perimenopause. I found it overwhelming and confusing trying to sort them out. Here is a list of common words used regarding perimenopause and its symptoms, and a simplified explanation of each:

(please email me if there are important terms left out of this glossary).

anemia — when the amount of red blood cells or hemoglobin (the substance in the blood that carries oxygen to organs) becomes reduced, causing fatigue that can be severe.

anovulation — absence of ovulation.

arthritis — swelling, redness, heat and pain of the joints. There are over 100 types of arthritis.

benign — noncancerous

bio-identical hormone replacement therapy — using natural sources to supplement human hormones to ease menopausal changes in hormone levels.

bladder — the organ in the human body that stores urine. It is found in the lower part of the abdomen.

bowels — also known as the intestine, which is a long tube-like organ in the human body that completes digestion or the breaking down of food. The small bowel is the small intestine and the large bowel is the large intestine.

candida — a fungus, called Candida albicans, that causes yeast infections like thrush in the mouth and throat, and in intestines and other parts of the body.

cervix — the lower, narrow part of the uterus (womb). The cervix forms a canal that opens into the vagina, which leads to the outside of the body.

chronic — long lasting, ongoing condition.

chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) — a complex disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that lasts six months or longer, and does not improve with rest or is worsened by physical or mental activity. Other symptoms can include weakness, muscle pain, impaired memory and/or mental concentration, and insomnia. The cause is unknown.

colonoscopy — a diagnostic procedure in which a flexible tube with a light source in inserted into the colon (large intestine or large bowel) through the anus to view all sections of the colon for abnormalities.

compounding — when a pharmacist or physician custom-mixes a drug according to an order from a physician, instead of dispensing medication which has been mass produced. Often used with hormonal therapy.

connective tissue — a type of body tissue that supports other tissues and binds them together. Connective tissue provides support in the breast.

coronary artery disease — also called coronary heart disease. It is the most common type of heart disease that results from atherosclerosis - the gradual buildup of plaques in the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that bring blood to the heart. This disease develops slowly and silently, over decades. It can go virtually unnoticed until it produces a heart attack.

cystitis — a bacterial infection of the bladder or lower urinary tract.

diabetes — a disease in which blood glucose (blood sugar) levels are above normal. Type 2 diabetes, also known as adult-onset or noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), is the most common form of diabetes.

dyspareunia — Painful sexual intercourse

electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) — an external, noninvasive test that records the electrical activity of the heart.

estrogen — a group of female hormones that are responsible for the development of breasts and other secondary sex characteristics in women. Estrogen is produced by the ovaries and other body tissues. Estrogen, along with progesterone, is important in preparing a woman's body for pregnancy.

fallopian tubes — part of the female reproductive system, these tubes carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus (or womb).

follicle — each month, an egg develops inside the ovary in a fluid filled pocket called a follicle. This follicle releases the egg into the fallopian tube.

follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) — a hormone produced by the pituitary gland. In women, it helps control the menstrual cycle and the production of eggs by the ovaries.

gastrointestinal — a term that refers to the stomach and the intestines or bowels.

GER (gastroesophageal reflux) — also called acid reflux, a condition where the contents of the stomach regurgitates (or backs up) into the esophagus (food pipe), causing discomfort.

glycogen — a white amorphous tasteless polysaccharide (C6H10O5)x that is the principal form in which carbohydrate is stored in animal tissues and especially muscle and liver tissue; as estrogen levels decline in perimenopause, there is less glycogen available to maintain levels of healthy bacteria in the vagina.

heart disease — the leading cause of death for women in the United States. The most common form of heart disease is coronary heart disease (CHD). The heart needs oxygen that it gets through the blood in the coronary arteries. When the arteries get smaller or clogged and can't get enough blood to the heart, you get CHD. If the blood supply is completely cut off, you can have a heart attack. The part of the heart that doesn't get oxygen begins to dies, and some of the heart muscle may be permanently damaged.

hemorrhoids — veins around the anus or lower rectum that are swollen and inflamed.

high blood pressure — also known as hypertension. A cardiovascular disease which means the blood vessels become tight and constricted, forcing your heart to pump harder to move blood through your body. These changes cause the blood to press on the vessel walls with greater force, which can damage blood vessels and organs, including the heart, kidneys, eyes, and brain. Blood pressure is considered high if it is greater than 140 over 90 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury).

hormone — substance produced by one tissue and conveyed by the bloodstream to another to effect a function of the body, such as growth or metabolism.

hormone replacement therapy (HRT) — replaces the hormones that a woman's ovaries stop making at the time of menopause, easing symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal dryness. HRT combines the female hormones estrogen and progesterone and is usually given in pill form. [A recent study has found that HRT can cause more harm than good in healthy women, and can increase a woman's risk for breast cancer, heart disease, stroke, and pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung). Talk with your health care provider to find out if HRT is best for you and about other ways to control menopause symptoms.]

hypertension — see high blood pressure.

hysterectomy — surgery to remove the uterus.

incontinence — inability of the body to control leakage of urine

indigestion — also called dyspepsia. Indigestion is a common problem that causes a vague feeling of abdominal discomfort after meals. Symptoms also can include an uncomfortable fullness, belching, bloating, and nausea. It may be triggered by eating particular foods, after drinking wine or carbonated drinks, or by eating too fast or overeating.

inflammatory bowel disease — long-lasting problems that cause irritation and ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract. The most common disorders are ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

insulin — one of many hormones that helps the body turn the food we eat into energy and helps store energy to be used later. People with diabetes mellitus, a condition in which the body does not make enough insulin, might need to inject themselves with insulin to help their bodies’ cells work properly.

interstitial cystitis — a long-lasting condition also known as painful bladder syndrome or frequency-urgency-dysuria syndrome. The wall of the bladder becomes inflamed or irritated, which affects the amount of urine the bladder can hold and causes scarring, stiffening, and bleeding in the bladder.

intestines — also known as the bowels, or the long, tube-like organ in the human body that completes digestion or the breaking down of food. They consist of the small intestine and the large intestine.

kidney stones — hard mass developed from crystals that separate from the urine and build up on the inner surfaces of the kidney.

libido — sexual drive.

luteinizing hormone (LH) — a hormone that triggers ovulation and stimulates the corpus luteum (empty follicle) to make progesterone.

lymph — the almost colorless fluid that travels through the lymphatic system and carries cells that help fight infection and disease. Lymph tissue in the breast helps remove waste.

menopause — the transition in a woman's life when production of the hormone estrogen in her body falls permanently to very low levels, the ovaries stop producing eggs, and menstrual periods stop for good.

osteopenia — the stage between normal bone density & strength and osteoporosis

osteoporosis — a bone disease that is characterized by progressive loss of bone density and thinning of bone tissue, causing bones to break easily.

ovarian cancer — cancer of the ovary or ovaries, which are organs in the female reproductive system that make eggs and hormones. Most ovarian cancers develop from the cells that cover the outer surface of the ovary, called epithelial cells.

ovarian reserve — health of the ovaries and eggs. It is an important factor in female fertility and decreases with age.

ovaries — part of a woman's reproductive system, the ovaries produce her eggs. Each month, through the process called ovulation, the ovaries release eggs into the fallopian tubes, where they travel to the uterus, or womb. If an egg is fertilized by a man's sperm, a woman becomes pregnant and the egg grows and develops inside the uterus. If the egg is not fertilize, the egg and the lining of the uterus is shed during a woman's monthly menstrual period

ovulation — the release of a single egg from a follicle that developed in the ovary. It usually occurs regularly, around day 14 of a 28-day menstrual cycle.

pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) — an infection of the female reproductive organs that are above the cervix, such as the fallopian tubes and ovaries. It is the most common and serious problem caused by sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). PID can cause ectopic pregnancies, infertility, chronic pelvic pain, and other serious problems. Symptoms include fever, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, extreme pain, and vaginal bleeding.

perimenopause — Three to 15 year period preceding menopause, when estrogen levels begin to drop. Menstrual periods may be more and more erratic during this period. However, women can get pregnant as long as they have a period.

pituitary gland — a small gland in the head that makes hormones that control other glands and many body functions including growth.

progesterone — a female hormone produced by the ovaries. Progesterone, along with estrogen, prepares the uterus (womb) for a possible pregnancy each month and supports the fertilized egg if conception occurs. Progesterone also helps prepare the breasts for milk production and breastfeeding.

progestin — a hormone that works by causing changes in the uterus. When taken with the hormone estrogen, progestin works to prevent thickening of the lining of the uterus. This is helpful for women who are in menopause and are taking estrogen for their symptoms. Progestins also are prescribed to regulate the menstrual cycle, treat unusual stopping of the menstrual periods, help a pregnancy occur or maintain a pregnancy, or treat unusual or heavy bleeding of the uterus. They also can be used to prevent pregnancy, help treat cancer of the breast, kidney, or uterus, and help treat loss of appetite and severe weight or muscle loss.

restless leg syndrome —  neurological disorder characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs and an uncontrollable urge to move when at rest in an effort to relieve these feelings. RLS sensations are often described by people as burning, creeping, tugging, or like insects crawling inside the legs.

thyroid — The thyroid is a small gland in the neck that makes and stores hormones that help regulate heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and the rate at which food is converted into energy.

ultrasound — a painless, harmless test that uses sound waves to produce images of the organs and structures of the body on a screen. Also called sonography.

urinalysis — a test that looks at urine to find out its content. Can be used to detect some types of diseases.

urinary tract infection — an infection anywhere in the urinary tract, or organs that collect and store urine and release it from your body (the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra). An infection occurs when microorganisms, usually bacteria from the digestive tract, cling to the urethra (opening to the urinary tract) and begin to multiply.

uterine fibroids — common, benign (non-cancerous) tumors that grow in the muscle of the uterus, or womb. Fibroids often cause no symptoms and need no treatment, and they usually shrink after menopause. But sometimes fibroids cause heavy bleeding or pain, and require treatment.

uterus — a woman's womb, or the hollow, pear-shaped organ located in a woman's lower abdomen between the bladder and the rectum.

uti — see urinary tract infection.

UV radiation — Ultraviolet radiation. Invisible rays that are part of the energy that comes from the sun. UV radiation also comes from sun lamps and tanning beds. UV radiation can damage the skin and cause melanoma and other types of skin cancer. UV radiation that reaches the Earth's surface is made up of two types of rays, called UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays are more likely than UVA rays to cause sunburn, but UVA rays pass deeper into the skin. Scientists have long thought that UVB radiation can cause melanoma and other types of skin cancer. They now think that UVA radiation also may add to skin damage that can lead to skin cancer and cause premature aging. For this reason, skin specialists recommend that people use sunscreens that reflect, absorb, or scatter both kinds of UV radiation.

UVA radiation —  A type of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV rays are invisible rays that are part of the energy that comes from the sun. UVA radiation also comes from sun lamps and tanning beds. Scientists think that UVA radiation may cause skin damage that can lead to skin cancer and premature aging. For this reason, skin specialists recommend that people use sunscreens that reflect, absorb, or scatter ultraviolet radiation.

UVB radiation — A type of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV rays are invisible rays that are part of the energy that comes from the sun. UVB radiation causes sunburn, and scientists have long thought that it can cause melanoma and other types of skin cancer. Skin specialists recommend that people use sunscreens that reflect, absorb, or scatter ultraviolet radiation.

vagina — the muscular canal that extends from the cervix to the outside of the body. Its walls are lined with mucus membranes and tiny glands that make vaginal secretions.

vaginismus — involuntary spasm of of pelvic floor muscles, preventing penetration, for example, tampons or intercourse

vestibulitis — (also called vulvar vestibulitis) this form of vulvodynia is characterized by pain on pressure of glands in the vagina; pain usually only happens on contact with the area, whereas vulvodynia pain may not be related to touch or pressure

vulva — opening to the vagina 

vulvodynia — vaginal pain, usually at the opening of the vagina

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