There’s been a surge of talking about perimenopause and menopause in the last 5-10 years as women are going through the change and realizing - it’s not all it was promised to be. We don’t stop menstruating and just go into bliss; hot flashes, low sex drive and vaginal dryness or bladder leakage - they’re real. Not to mention the mood changes and sleep concerns!
I don’t know about you, but when I feel like people are lying to me, I get pissed. And perimenopause has been fraught with some uncomfortable untruths that have been quietly hidden. I don’t think this was intentional, but I think we can support ourselves more fully, body, mind and soul. We’re not betraying the matriarchal lineage that came before us by not fully expressing that fears and discomfort in this time of change, and we have more resources and research than the ladies we came before us. This is also a season of grief before peace- realizing you’re aging can make you feel isolated and alone. We can be heard and we can get help! Here are some truths you can expect and some ideas to reach out to your health professionals for help regarding: 1. Your period ending is not the end, it is the beginning. Menopause begins when you haven’t had a period for 1 year. You can approach that time for up to 10 years. That’s perimenopause. As a result, there is a significant period of time where adrenaline and cortisol are shifting around in response to this shift as your hormones decrease, and will likely add to the turmoil in this time. 2. Estrogen loss creates a lot of symptoms many years before it’s evident in blood tests. You are not going crazy, your body doesn’t like the change. Estrogen receptors exist in the joints, tissues, brain, all over the body. Makes sense why this feels like a full-on assault. 3. Estrogen loss isn’t the only hormone that affects you in menopause. Little progesterone? Sleeplessness. Low testosterone? Challenges with energy and mood and libido. Low DHEA? Issues with energy and vaginal dryness. The importance is finding the right balance for you specifically - your friend will have different recommendations. It’s wonderful to commiserate, but remember your symptoms are likely different. 4. Hot flashes don’t have to be full of sweat. I’ve heard people having a hot leg, a feeling of panic coming over them in waves, getting warm to full out stripping. If they come out of nowhere and you’re not in active grief or crazy stress, it’s probably a hot flash. It’s okay to not like them, and have them supported. 5. Hormone replacement isn’t the terrifying thing that it was originally positioned to be. This is mostly because the wrong doses were applied, in the wrong form, in the wrong way, to the wrong people. Here’s what we know: - Oral estrogen taken alone leaves women vulnerable to blood clots and strokes. We don’t do that anymore. - Oral estrogen with progesterone or progestin is protective against endometrial cancers and give benefits including improved bone density, reduced/eliminated hot flashes, improved energy, improved joint pain, better sleep, supported anxiety and depression. Ladies with high blood pressure, are overweight, and have diabetes and are over 60 are not often given oral estrogen with these risk factors. - Transdermal (on the skin) estrogen with progestin or progesterone gives lower risk of stroke and clots, which still protects the uterus and other cancers, but gives the benefits of the oral as well. - Vaginal estrogen (estradiol, estrone, or estriol) has even fewer risks than all of the above and really helps with dryness vaginally which improves sexual health and reduces instances of UTI and bladder issues. So can vaginal DHEA for vaginismus, lichen sclerosis, vulvovaginal atrophy and sexual arousal disorders. 6. There are herbs that mimic estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and DHEA. Are they as strong as hormones? No, but for people who can’t do hormones that can be a great avenue to try. The body does respond to them. The hormone receptors feel happy! It’s a win-win. Note: Not all herbal formation is the same. Each one has different ratios of estrogen-like, progesterone-like…yadda yadda, you get it…herbs and so sometimes your body would prefer more estrogen-like help or other hormones. So in this way, seeing a herbalist or ND for this knowledge is important. 7. Letting go of a timeline is important. When we don’t rush ourselves to be on the other side to be “all better” then we can support our symptoms right here, right now. Who cares when menopause is over? All that matters is that you live a healthy and happy life, which means supporting your body’s symptoms. 8. You might gain weight. It will be in your mid-section first, then probably your hips. Yes, it blows. This has to do with #1 (see above). Your solution? Supporting your hormone symptoms, lifting weights, managing your diet to be more Mediterranean in nature. Reduce your carbs, increase your protein. Make sure your sleep is supported, that helps a lot. 9. You will change in personality a little, and your needs will shift. This is also normal. You are in a phase of life women recognize as “no Fs to give” or “it’s about me”. Don’t be surprised if you start to shift away from things you used to tolerate. This is also normal. Embrace the change, and love yourself in the acknowledgement that you deserve a happy and peaceful life. You will still be a wonderful you at the end of all of this. If you want all of the scientific data, check out the NAMS (North American Menopause Society) website nams.org. There are a bazillion books on the market, here are a few good ones: The Menopause Handbook - North American Menopause Society The Menopause Manifesto - Dr. Jen Gunter The New Menopause - Mary Claire Haver The Natural Menopause Handbook - Amanda McQuade Crawford Reach out if you need support from your health care professionals at Dalhousie Health & Wellness. Educate yourself and trust your symptoms! Remember, you’re not crazy, it’s just peri- and regular menopause. ~Dr. Aoife MSc, ND
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
September 2024
|