Menopause

This section is not intended to be expert medical advice such as that given by a doctor or other health professional. 

Talking about women’s health issues can be both scary and embarrassing.  From an early age, many of us were taught not to talk about things related to our emotions and our bodies.  Looking for one-on-one help on managing your menopause symptoms? Connect with Denise.

Peri-menopause & Menopause

The change, that time of life, whatever you call it the biological process of menopause is a time of anxiety and distress! Not to mention confusing and downright frustrating!

Saying adieu to your monthly cycle is only a part of menopause, a journey that may take place over many years.

With so many myths and misconceptions about menopause, it is often difficult to distinguish fact from fiction.

Great strides have been made to understand and support pregnant women however menopausal women feel as if we’ve been left in the dust or are no longer relevant. Too often we are told that the slew of symptoms we’re experiencing is nature taking its course and we should just accept them.

Nonsense! Although common, the symptoms of hormone imbalances during perimenopause through menopause are most definitely not “normal” (they call them imbalances for a reason!) and it is unnecessary to accept their unpleasantness and give up without a fight!

The confusion around menopause is exacerbated by the fact that the years prior to the actual event of menopause is fraught with fluctuating and declining hormone level as your ovaries gradually release less estrogen.

Perimenopause can last for 2-10 years but for some unlucky ladies up to as many 15 years. It typically begins in your 40’s but can start as early as your mid to late thirties.

Common Symptoms of Perimenopause

Your doctor may make a diagnosis of Perimenopause based on your symptoms. Hormone blood tests are available but often inconclusive due to fluctuating hormones. For accurate results the DUTCH Test is the most complete test that offers an extensive profile of sex, adrenal hormones, and melatonin, along with their metabolites, to identify hormonal imbalances.

The type of professional we seek care from could affect the guidance we’re given. Symptoms vary so much that even your primary care physician or gynecologist may be confused and unable to give you good advice.  They may be good in their respective areas however if they do not specialize in menopause, they are incapable of giving you good advice.  It’s just not their area of expertise.

We highly recommend that you find a provider who you trust and feel comfortable with to discuss a plan for preventive health care and any medical concerns you have.  

So, what is menopause anyway?

Menopause is literally one day in your life. It’s the twelve-month anniversary of the day your menses stopped which means that your ovaries have completely stopped releasing eggs.  The average age of menopause is 51 years give or take a few.

Menopause is a very personal experience, unique to every woman, and is more than just a medical condition.  According to WebMD, there are 34 different symptoms associated with menopause.  No wonder it’s making us a little crazy.

Brain fog, memory lapse, stress, insomnia, mood swings, hot flashes, and night sweats are the result of fluctuating hormone levels.  Why do hormones can cause such dramatic changes in our bodies?  Estrogen plays a role in almost every major part of the body; our heart, skin, hair, bones, breasts, and brain are all influenced by estrogen to some degree.

In addition to Estrogen, progesterone, all the hormones actually, impact not only our reproductive system but other parts of our body, too.  The dip in our hormone levels often results in emotional symptoms that may trigger anxiety or feelings of sadness and loss as well as anger and frustration.  Often misunderstood and underdiagnosed, migraines can be another debilitating symptom of menopause. Frequently improperly treated learn about what you need to know about migraines and menopause.

Additional Symptoms (Do these look familiar?)

With over 37.5 million women going through menopause, the fact is that most of us will experience symptoms (peri-menopause -the end of menopause) for half of our lives.  Life expectancy for women is 80 years old and perimenopause typically starts when we are in our 40’s. Any way you do the math that’s way too long to deal with menopausal symptoms wreaking havoc on our bodies, clouding our minds, and disrupting our lives!

It is possible to feel comfortable and confident in your body while going through menopause!  

5 Things you can start today to ease menopausal symptoms

1. Eat Real Food
2. Maintain a healthy weight
3. Exercise regularly 
4. Keep your bones strong
5. Get your sleep
6. Supplementation

Decreased Libido

The physical effects of falling estrogen levels including hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness can undermine your sexual desire and drive. Vaginal dryness can cause sex to be uncomfortable and even painful can undermine sexual motivation and drive, aka libido.  If that weren’t enough the age-related decrease in testosterone, although not directly related to menopause, plays a role in women’s sex drive and sexual sensation may reduce desire in midlife women, ie menopausal woman.  Lucky us!

Fluctuating hormone levels during perimenopause and menopause can also affect your mental health, which in turn, may cause a decrease in libido. See the section below on depression and anxiety.  Find tips to increase your libido here.

There are steps you can take steps at any age and any stage to keep menopause symptoms from taking over and negatively affecting your life.  Healthy lifestyle changes including diet and exercise can improve your overall health, alleviate symptoms and health of your hormones.

Managing Symptoms

Many women choose to try HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) to alleviate their symptoms. Although proven effective in relieving symptoms it may not be the best choice for a woman who has a personal or family history of female cancers.  See the section above on Breast and other female cancers.

There are many holistic methods to address the symptoms of hormone imbalances during these years. Many include lifestyle choices regarding diet, exercise, and stress reduction, as well as the use of certain supplements.

Complementary and alternative remedies (CAM) for menopausal symptoms are more acceptable and for many women the best option.

Generally, there are not many well-conducted studies or conclusive research that prove whether alternative medicine is effective in reducing menopausal symptoms.  There are, however, generations worth of personal stories and testimonials.

Types of Alternatives

A final note on managing menopausal symptoms.  It could literally be in your head. Your attitude toward menopause can have a huge impact on your experience.  Negative thoughts and beliefs about menopause can predict that you will have a more difficult time.  On the flip side the more you embrace the transition and stay positive the easier it is to make good health decisions that can alleviate symptoms.  “If you think of menopause as an ending your experience will be quite different then someone who considers it a new beginning in her life. Having a positive outlook goes a long way in helping to reduce the unpleasant symptoms associated with this stage of life,” Lorraine Miano, author of “The Magic of Menopause.”  For additional help on menopause, connect with Denise.

Key Words: Perimenopause, Menopause, Menopausal symptoms, Hot flashes, managing menopause, DUTCH test, HRT, Sexuality, Female sexual dysfunction, Estrogen deprivation, Testosterone depletion

Transitioning into menopause (perimenopause) is a confusing and turbulent time for most women. Our fluctuating hormones can cause us to experience all sorts of new emotions and symptoms.  Hello, hot flashes!  The changes we are going through may also affect the chemicals in our brain, which influence our mood.

It is not uncommon that occasionally we feel emotional, anxious and even a bit depressed.  However, feeling depressed and depression are not the same.  When estrogen levels drop hot flashes and night sweats are not far behind.  When night sweats disturb your sleep night after night you are left tired and the lack of sleep can lead to anxiety and mood swings.

Sadness or grief in response to difficult life experiences; loss of a loved one, change of job, empty nest, are natural and sometimes we describe ourselves as being “depressed.  Being sad is not the same as having depression.

Depression is a common and serious mood disorder that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act. It inhibits your ability to experience normal moods and live your life.

Mood disorders are biological illnesses believed to be caused by changes in brain chemistry and sometimes depression is inherited genetically.  Depression often presents itself when a woman is in her 20’s often followed by a wave of postpartum depression.  It is thought that women who experience depression in their younger years may be more prone to depression during menopause.

Symptoms of depression can vary from mild to severe and can include:

While menopause can cause a wave of emotions, however, severe ongoing panic, anxiety, and depression is NOT normal.  Consult your licensed medical professional.

Managing Depression and Anxiety

Doctors believe that following a healthy lifestyle is the first step in preventing mood swings reducing panic attacks.

Regular, gentle exercise can significantly reduce anxiety. Women who are going through perimenopause should pick their favorite form of exercise

• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods
• Eat a balanced, healthy diet with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
• Talk to a therapist or counselor
• Get enough sleep
• Exercise regularly
• Find healthy ways to deal with stress