Menopause
It’s menopause month and although there is more information out there many women are still left to deal with the symptoms without the support they need! We don’t often talk about this taboo subject which makes understanding this transitional time quite a lovely experience!
but that shouldn’t be the case…
Here’s a little information about the menopause and the symptoms that many women experience!
Menopause is the time that marks the transition of the end the menstrual cycle. This generally occurs from the ages of 45 to 55 years old.
Menopause is when you have stopped having a menstrual bleed for 12 months, when you’ve stopped producing the hormones that cause your menstrual period. Many women experience significant symptoms during the menopause but also the time running up to the menopause called perimenopause.
Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause, this can occur in women from the ages of 35 to 45 years old. Perimenopause is the time in which your hormones start to fluctuate, and this can result in your menstrual cycle becoming erratic and often irregular. But this is also a transitional time as it’s the lead up to menopause.
The Menopause is actually when your periods have ended and have had no menstrual cycle for a full 12 months, then you have officially reached menopause.
The symptoms of menopause can range between individuals but the most common symptoms are:
Vaginal dryness.
Hot flashes.
Chills.
Night sweats.
Sleep problems.
Mood changes.
Weight gain and slowed metabolism.
Thinning hair and dry skin
Loss of breast fullness
Women often experience many other symptoms including brain fog, fatigue, low energy and motivation, low sex drive, problems with memory and concentration, recurrent UTIs, as well as symptoms of anxiety and depression.
And although these symptoms are normal for peri menopause and menopause there are many things that can be done to help support and reduce symptoms!
Most information suggests that the drop in oestrogen levels are the reason for the symptoms and the onset of menopause but in fact there are many factors involved in menopause.
Oestrogen itself has many more roles within the body than just its involvement with our menstrual cycle, in fact oestrogen is important for the reproductive tract, the urinary tract, heart health and blood vessels, bone health, breast health, skin, hair, mucous membranes, pelvic muscles, and the brain. Symptoms associated with lowering oestrogen levels can include trouble concentrating, irritability, vaginal dryness or atrophy, hot flashes, and night sweats.
Progesterone is known for its role in preparing the body for pregnancy and regulating the menstrual cycle, but it also helps to regulate gene expression, modulate neurotransmitter systems, and activate signalling cascades. Progesterone is often called the “anti-depressant hormone” because of its mood-enhancing and anti-depressant effects. Lowering levels during menopause can cause symptoms of mood changes, sleep disturbances, anxiety, headaches and depression.
Testosterone is often thought to be the male hormone, but we produce testosterone albeit in smaller amounts. Testosterone helps with the growth, maintenance, and repair of the reproductive tissues, is important in bone mass, and human behaviours such as boosting self-esteem and libido. An imbalance of testosterone in the female body can have damaging effects on a woman's health and sex drive. Testosterone can also be affected during menopause and lowering levels can result in symptoms of low libido, low self-esteem, and significantly reduced motivation.
Although menopause is a natural transition, there are many factors that can influence symptoms and even their severity. Each woman will experience menopause very differently, so it’s never a one size fits all. Our diet, stress levels and lifestyle play a big role in the transition and our hormones, as well as risk factors for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers (1).
Studies have shown that diets high in refined carbohydrates such as pasta and bread and refined sugars, are associated with earlier menopause transition as well as more severe symptoms, whereas a diet with higher intake of vitamin B6 and zinc is associated with later age of menopause (2).
We also know that when we experience stress our adrenal glands produce hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline in response, unfortunately this is at the expense of the production of oestrogen and progesterone. This is bad news for menopausal women, as we need these hormones for our health and emotional well-being (3).
Exercise is also a vital component not only for our overall health but to manage symptoms associated with menopause. One study showed that women who lived sedentary lives had more severe menopause symptoms than active women and another study showed that including daily exercise and movement improved symptoms of hot flushes and night sweats (4).
Although there is not one specific test, we do offer some fundamental testing that can help to identify imbalances of hormones relating to perimenopause and menopause.
A Metabolic blood screen can test Thyroid hormones and antibodies, cholesterol, liver enzymes, HbA1C, Vitamin D and B12 status, ferritin and urea giving a good indication of thyroid activity, diabetes risk and important nutritional status.
The DUTCH test which is my favourite hormone test looks at the levels all the sex hormones and their metabolites, adrenal function, methylation, and oxidative stress status. This really gives a great view of your current hormone status including hormone ratios, levels and your body’s ability to detoxify hormones through the liver, it can also look at the risk factors of oestrogen driven cancers and osteoporosis.
So although we can’t escape the inevitable, we can be prepared and there are many factors that we can introduce that will reduce symptoms and really improve quality of life.
if you want to know more about how I can help you through the menopause and peri menopause then please do get in touch or book a free 15 minute discovery call!
