perimenopause
Balancing your hormones through perimenopause
Perimenopause is a completely natural stage in a woman’s life where your hormones and your body are in a state of flux. Our hormones work in harmony so if one is out of balance, they are all affected. It represents the transitional time that starts before menopause and includes the 12 months that follow a woman’s last period. Oestrogen and progesterone levels gradually decline causing irregular periods and your cycle can shorten, lengthen, stop suddenly or become heavier or lighter. We can experience perimenopause symptoms which can feel like a rollercoaster of symptoms and emotions.
Most women start the menopause in their 40s or 50s, with the average age being 51 but some women even notice changes as early as their late 30s. The average length is around 4 years but some lucky women are only in this stage for a few months!
Some women sail through this stage of life but most have mild or debilitating symptoms. It’s common to not realise you are in perimenopause as you may think you’re too young or your symptoms are caused by something else. During the final stages of perimenopause, your body produces less oestrogen but despite this sharp drop, it is still possible to get pregnant.
Are you?
Feeling flat and lacking energy most of the time?
Suffering from disturbed sleep or have trouble getting to sleep?
Irritable, snappy or suffering from mood swings?
Struggling with embarrassing hot flushes that come out of the blue?
Fed up with night sweats that keep you awake at night?
Overwhelmed, stressed and just not feeling like your old self?
Overweight and fed up with belly fat you just can't shift?
Regularly forgetting things and having difficulty concentrating?
It’s time to take back control of your hormones, energy and life!
If this sounds like you, don’t worry, it’s not you it’s your hormones! The rollercoaster of emotions that come with fluctuating hormones during perimenopause can make you feel like you’re LOSING CONTROL….your emotions are all over the place.
You might think this is just a part of ‘getting older’ and you just have to put up with it. But let me tell you, if you get your hormones back in balance and working for you, not against you, you can start to feel like yourself again!
How well you cope during perimenopause and the severity of your symptoms is impacted by your overall health and any pre-existing conditions. Diet and nutrition play an important role and will help influence your journey through perimenopause. Blood sugar imbalances, insufficient vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, poor gut health, food intolerances, inflammation, thyroid or adrenal issues and weight issues can all disrupt our hormone balance. You may experience:
Irregular periods and breast tenderness
Heavier or lighter periods than normal
Increased PMT before periods
Hot flushes or night sweats
Mood swings or low mood
Weight gain or bloating
Dizzines or heart palpitations
Headaches, migraines or fatigue
Reduced libido or painful sex
Difficulty concentrating or forgetfulness
Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Fertility issues in women trying to conceive
So what can you do?
There is no denying the range of symptoms is quite mind-blowing! Its often quoted there are over 34 different symptoms women can experience during perimenopause so its no wonder at times it can feel overwhelming! Often adequate support is not available and we are expected to “just get on with it”.
You may not want to take HRT, may not be able to or just want to manage your way through these changes more naturally. I am here to help and guide you through the often confusing information available. The right dietary and lifestyle changes can have a huge impact on your journey through the menopause. Identifying which foods support your needs and which ones will work against you will help gets your body back in balance.