Perimenopause: What It Is?

 

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The journey to menopause is a tricky one. From findings, some women are not even aware they are in the perimenopausal period, they think they are in the menopause.

There is a difference between the two, Perimenopause and Menopause.

Perimenopause is the period surrounding the menopause. It is the moving into menopause. While, Menopause is permanent cessation of menses.

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Now let's go into perimenopause proper!

Perimenopause is the period extending from the first signs of menopause. It is also defined as the period around menopause, lasting up to a year after the last menstrual period.

At what age does this period begin?

Researches have discovered that over a third of women go into perimenopause as young as 35. Averagely, menopause begins at 50.

These are the signs you are perimenopause.

During this period, there are some subtle changes physiologically. Some of which are;

√ Sleep disturbances

√ Anxiety of unknown origin

√ Inability to concentrate

√ Forgetfulness

√ Menstrual irregularities

√ Hot flushes/Night sweats

√ Less vagina lubrication

√ Dry skin 

√ Mood swings

When in this period, there is need to reinforce your disease prevention strategies. There are also some things you should and should not do.

What you should do are;

1. Maintain your 30minutes daily exercise.

2. Eating of balanced diets that include vitamins and minerals such as magnesium and calcium.

3. Use of oral contraceptive, which provides perimenopausal women with protection against uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, anemia and pregnancy. Yes! You can get pregnant during this period.

4. About 16% of cases of breast cancer occur in this category of women. So, self-examination and mammograms are encouraged.

How will you know you are in perimenopausal period?

Your GP can help you with that. He will perform a form of diagnostic test on you to measure the level of your follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). An increase in the level of FSH means you are in perimenopausal period.

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What of Hormone Replacement Therapy/(HRT)?

There are some controversies on the use of HRT. Simply because the risks outweigh the benefits. If you consider using it, first consult your healthcare provider.

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Anorectal Fissure

An anorectal fissure is a small tear in the thin, moist tissue (mucosa or mucus membrane) that lines your rectum and anus. The rectum is a parts of your digestive tract where stool (graves)  are stored temporarily before it's been passed out via your anus.
Causes of anorectal fissure

Common causes of anorectal fissure

👉🏻Passing large or hard stools
👉🏻Constipation and straining during bowel movements
👉🏻Chronic diarrhea (frequent passage of loose/watery stool)
👉🏻Anal intercourse (anal sex)
👉🏻Childbirth (labor)
👉🏻 inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease also known as regional enteritis
👉🏻infections such as HIV, Tuberculosis, Syphilis etc
👉🏻 Anorectal cancer  can also make you develop an anorectal fissure.

Risk factors of anorectal fissure 

Factors that may increase your risk of developing an anal fissure include:
👉🏻 Constipation: Straining during bowel movements and passing hard stools increase the risk of tearing.
👉🏻 Childbirth: Anal fissures are more common in women after they give birth.
👉🏻 Crohn's disease: This inflammatory bowel disease causes chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract, which may make the lining of the anal canal more vulnerable to tearing.
👉🏻 Anal intercourse: anal sex tends to forcefully increase the diameter of your anus which makes it to be more prone to tear.
👉🏻 Age: Anal fissures can occur at any age, but are more common in infants and middle-aged adults.
Signs and symptoms of an anorectal fissure
👉🏻 Pain: sometimes severe, during bowel movements i.e while you are passing stool/feaces. Pain also occur after bowel movements that can last up to several hours.
👉🏻 A visible crack in the skin around the anus.

Home remedies of anorectal fissure 

👉🏻 Self-Care: If your fissures are caused by constipation or diarrhea, you can change a few habits to help lessen the strain on your anus. The following are things to you prevent and treat your anorectal fissure.
👉🏻 Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of caffeine free fluids throughout the day e.g ordinary water, fruit juice etc. (Too much alcohol and caffeine can lead to dehydration.) drinks that contain caffeine includes your fanta, coke,  Pepsi etc
👉🏻 Eat a fiber-rich diet:  such as;
Wheat bran
Oat bran
Whole grains, including brown rice, oatmeal, and whole-grain pastas, cereals, and breads (wheat bread)
Peas and beans
Citrus fruits e.g oranges
Green leafy vegetables etc
👉🏻Don't ignore your urge to go to toilet: Putting off bowel movements for later can lead to constipation; stools may become harder to pass and end up causing pain and tearing.
👉🏻Don't strain or sit on the toilet too long:  This can increase pressure in the anal canal.

👉🏻Gently clean and dry your anal area after each bowel movement.

👉🏻 Avoid irritants to the skin, such as scented soaps or bubble baths.

👉🏻 Sitz baths, or hip baths, can promote healing of an anal fissure.
If after 6weeks your tear is not healing visit hospital because there's probability that your fissure is progressing to a chronic state.

Complications of anorectal fissure

👉🏻Failure to heal: An anal fissure that fails to heal within eight weeks is considered chronic and may need further treatment.
👉🏻Recurrence:  Once you've experienced an anal fissure, you are prone to having another one.
👉🏻A tear that extends to surrounding muscles: An anal fissure may extend into the ring of muscle that holds your anus closed (internal anal sphincter), making it more difficult for your anal fissure to heal. An unhealed fissure can trigger a cycle of discomfort that may require medications or surgery to reduce the pain and to repair or remove the fissure.

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