Introduction
Many people don’t like to talk about the menopause, but both menopause and perimenopause can have a big impact on your daily life, including relationships, social life, family life and work.
Perimenopause is when your periods become more erratic, but they have not stopped completely. Perimenopause generally starts in your 40s and ends when you have not had a period for 12 months. Then you enter menopause.
Menopause is when your periods stop altogether due to lower hormone levels. It usually affects women between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can happen earlier.
The level of oestrogen — the main female hormone — in your body rises and falls unevenly during perimenopause. Your menstrual cycles may lengthen or shorten.
There are many other symptoms with perimenopause and menopause, some of which are explored below.
Perimenopause and menopause can be managed in many ways, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT), but there is an increasing desire for natural menopause relief and non-HRT treatments.
There are many challenges in menopause, but by staying strong and active, you’ll find that some of the best years of your life are still ahead.
Endocrine System and Metabolic Changes:
The endocrine system is a network of glands and organs that produce, store, and secrete hormones.
As women approach mid-life, oestrogen levels start to fluctuate and then drop. Less progesterone is produced too. Oestrogen is related to production of serotonin, a mood-regulating neurotransmitter.
Fluctuating oestrogen and progesterone levels, plus other factors, cause serotonin production disruption, which leads to more mood swings. These hormonal imbalances can also disrupt sleep.
As oestrogen levels fall, your body can become less responsive to insulin and fluctuations in hormone levels during perimenopause mean some women experience rapid changes from high to low blood sugar levels, which can affect your metabolism and lead to weight gain.
Nervous System and Cognitive Function:
The drop in oestrogen, combined with cognitive decline, is common during the transition into menopause, including symptoms such as brain fog and forgetfulness, delayed verbal memory and reduced verbal processing speed. Thankfully, performance usually returns to normal after menopause. Mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety, are common during perimenopause and menopause too.
Excretory System and Urinary Health:
As women go through menopause, they often experience changes in their urinary function and may find that they need to use the bathroom more often, and more urgently, than before.
These changes are due to thinning of the tissues surrounding the vagina and urinary tract, which are a result of reduced oestrogen levels.
In addition, the muscles in the pelvic area become weaker with age. This can lead to urinary incontinence and other problems.
The pelvic floor muscles are responsible for supporting the bladder and controlling urination and you can do a lot to strengthen them by practising Kegel exercises.
Cardiovascular System and Heart Health:
Oestrogen has a protective effect on your heart. It helps to control your cholesterol levels and reduces the risk of fat building up in your arteries. It also helps keep your blood vessels healthy. If your oestrogen levels fall, then fat can build up in your arteries causing them to become narrower. This increases your risk of developing coronary heart disease, a heart attack or stroke.
Making healthy lifestyle choices can help to lower the risk of high cholesterol levels and heart problems.
Skeletal and Muscular Systems and Bone/ Joint Health:
Oestrogen is also important for keeping bone density stable and maintaining bone strength. When oestrogen decreases during menopause, bone density starts to go down too. With this loss of bone density comes reduced bone strength and a greater risk of breaking bones. You may also be affected by osteoporosis (brittle bone disease) and an increased risk of fractures.
Menopause may also cause joint pain that can affect the knees, shoulders, neck, elbows, or hands. Old joint injuries might begin to ache. That’s because oestrogen helps to reduce inflammation. As oestrogen levels decline, inflammation may increase, causing discomfort and menopause-related arthritis.
Skin, Hair and Mucous Membranes:
During menopause, women experience a significant decrease in collagen production – it drops by around 30 per cent. That’s because oestrogen is vital for maintaining collagen, so as oestrogen decreases, collagen does too. This can lead to dry skin, hair thinning and vaginal dryness – all of which are often-overlooked symptoms of menopause.
A Comprehensive Approach to Managing Menopause Naturally:
- Weight Management: It is vital to follow a balanced diet and do some regular exercise to maintain a healthy weight and support hormone balance. Exercise doesn’t have to be hard – low-impact exercise, such as swimming or walking, can be beneficial if you are experiencing joint pain.
- Lifestyle Changes: Cortisol, the stress hormone, tends to increase naturally during menopause, so stress management techniques such as yoga, meditation and journaling are encouraged. Talking to friends who are going through the same problems can help. Prioritising good sleeping habits and avoiding triggers such as caffeine and alcohol can also be beneficial.
- The Power of Exercise: Both cardiovascular and strength training can be beneficial for bone health, muscle mass, mood, and overall well-being. Exercise outside whenever possible – being close to nature is calming and sunshine also provides a boost to Vitamin D levels, which is good for bone health.
The Science Behind Balancing Hormones - Exploring Natural Alternatives to HRT
- There are natural ways to address the hormonal imbalances experienced during perimenopause and menopause, such as The Ozone Clinic’s Menopause Reset Treatment Package. This incorporates five different treatments and provides a holistic approach to address the hormone imbalances behind symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue, mood swings, depression and more.
- Cortisol plays a pivotal role in menopausal symptoms. When cortisol levels are fluctuating, it can disrupt the delicate balance of other hormones, including oestrogen and progesterone. This imbalance can lead to poor sleep, fatigue, stress, weight gain, mood swings, depression and anxiety. But the Menopause Reset Treatment Package is specifically designed to reduce stress and support normal cortisol levels and insulin production, by using NESA Therapy and Red Light Therapy.
- This package doesn’t just provide relief from symptoms but aims to address the root cause of hormone imbalances. Detoxification also plays a vital role in supporting hormonal balance during menopause and two of the treatments included – Ozone Sauna Therapy and Ion Foot Cleanse – promote detoxification by increasing circulation, sweating, and drawing out impurities. Finally, Shockwave Therapy is included to help to reduce joint pain and improve mobility by stimulating the healing process and reducing inflammation.
Conclusion
Reaching perimenopause is a perfect time for women to think about their health, and how to support their changing bodies so they can continue to live their best life as they get older.
There are many symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, including brain fog, disrupted sleep, weight gain, depression, anxiety, mood swings, reduced bone density, joint pain, dry skin, thinning hair and much more.
These symptoms can be managed in many ways, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT), but there are also natural ways to address the hormonal imbalances.
Following a balanced diet, getting some regular exercise, keeping stress levels in check, prioritising good sleeping habits, and talking to people with similar experiences can all help to make life much better when living through the menopause – and beyond.
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Start your journey to optimal health with a free consultation. Our functional expert, Laura Dinham can help to uncover the root causes of your symptoms and discuss the available treatment options based on your unique health needs.
References
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/perimenopause/symptoms-causes/syn-20354666
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/symptoms/
https://www.everydayhealth.com/menopause/perimenopause-vs-menopause-look-difference
https://www.endocrine.org/patient-engagement/endocrine-library/menopause
https://www.news-medical.net/health/How-Does-Menopause-Affect-the-Brain.aspx
https://theros.org.uk/blog/2021-03-22-what-s-the-menopause-got-to-do-with-bone-health/