Menopause is not something to be feared - menopause is a time to celebrate a new stage in our lives.
It can make us feel a little discombobulated as we navigate a whole new way of living, our hormones taking on a new pattern - a bit like when we became a teenager but instead we are now older and wiser!
I want us to celebrate and welcome this new cycle & life stage. Yes, it is true that with Perimenopause and then Menopause it can often often be marked by specific signs and symptoms, such as mood swings, hot flushes, weight gain which can in turn make us feel disconnected and feeling overwhelmed.
PERIMENOPAUSE
The peri-menopause is the start of the transition towards menopause (when the number of eggs are at a low level and the ovaries stop producing the female hormones). Although each woman's experience is different, during peri-menopause, most women will find it more difficult to become pregnant and may get irregular or heavy periods.
The peri-menopause begins some years before the menopause itself as the ovaries gradually begin to produce less of the hormone oestrogen. It usually starts a few years before a woman's last period, when she's in her 40s, but it can sometimes start earlier.
The peri-menopause lasts up until the menopause. How long the peri-menopause lasts depend on the individual; this can be anything from months to years. The peri-menopause ends when a woman has gone 12 months without having a period and so has officially reached the menopause.
Possible changes that may occur during peri-menopause include:
Hot flushes (also known as hot flashes)
Night sweats
Changes in the menstrual cycle (also skipping periods/ cycles)
Vaginal dryness
Unpredictable breast tenderness
Skin changes
Poor sleep or insomnia
Mood swings
Decreased sexual desire
Low energy levels
MENOPAUSE
The menopause is when a woman stops having her period and her ovaries lose their reproductive function.
Call it what you will - ‘the change', ’that time in her life' - it is something that all women go through. Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45-55, in the UK the average age is 51. In a small number of cases, some women become menopausal in their early 40s or even younger.
The menopause is influenced by a change in hormone levels. When a woman is fertile, her ovaries produce hormones called oestrogen and progesterone in response to other hormones (follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinising hormone (LH)).
For all women the menopause is an individual experience.
Symptoms may include:
Hot flushes (also known as hot flashes) and night sweats are the most common symptoms of the menopause
Sleeplessness or insomnia
Vaginal dryness
Irritated skin
Increase urinary frequency
Urinary incontinence
Urinary tract infections
Low mood
Reduced interest in sex
Problems with memory and concentration
Mood changes
Palpitations
Joint stiffness, aches and pains
Reduced muscle mass
Low energy levels
Every woman is an individual and symptoms can vary hugely in duration and severity.
What I have learnt over the years, and even more so as I too am of the age of moving into this new cycle, is that by making positive changes in the areas of Nutrition, Exercise & Stress management has had a great impact. Yes the next stage will still happen but I feel more in control and empowered about who I am and what I have to offer as an 'older woman'.
Reducing the stress and allowing your body and mind to be nourished has been seen to support the changes in hormones and all that it brings.
Get in touch with me and we can create a plan that is bespoke to you. I do offer a package of bulk purchases so that you receive a discounted rate.
Your health is your responsibility and you are in charge of your own well-being!
If you feel you are struggling with any aspect of your menopause journey, ask your GP for advice and help. You are not alone. Whatever the symptoms, help is available for you.