"So many women I've talked to see menopause as an ending. But I've discovered this is your moment to reinvent yourself after years of focusing on the needs of everyone else. It's your opportunity to get clear about what matters to you and then to pursue that with all of your energy, time, and talent." — Oprah Winfrey
I couldn’t agree with this statement more! That is why I am so passionate about helping women to thrive during Perimenopause not just survive!
My mission is for all women to feel empowered and knowledgeable about what they are experiencing and to feel confident to make the changes that will support them in the years leading up to menopause and beyond.
With that mission in mind and this being my first blog post in a while, it seemed useful to start with the Menopause lowdown!
I’m going to go right back to the basics and answer some common questions like;
- What the difference is between Perimenopause, Menopause, and Post Menopause?
- What is happening with your hormones?
- And, how do you know you are in Perimenopause? What are the symptoms?
However, if you’ve already done your research and you are ready to take action, take control, and start making some simple lifestyle changes that will help you feel better and healthier then you can just dive straight into my FREE 5-day Empower your Menopause Challenge
Want the Perimenopause 101?
Keep on reading
What is the difference between Perimenopause, Menopause, and Post Menopause?
Perimenopause quite simply means ‘around menopause’ so it is the time leading up to Menopause. Menopause is the point in time when you haven’t had a period for 12 months marking the end of your fertility. From that date on you are officially Post- Menopausal!
The average age of Menopause for Women in the UK is 51
but did you know that perimenopause can happen anytime in the 5-10 years before that? And that most of the symptoms that we tend to associate with Menopause happen in that Peri-menopausal period?
What is happening with your hormones?
In the years leading up to menopause, your hormones are fluctuating. Our bodily systems rely on the delicate harmonizing of hormones. Oestrogen and Progesterone both have different jobs but they work together in a beautiful symphony.
A great analogy that I read once is to think of Oestrogen as the fertilizer that you put on your grass to make it grow and Progesterone as the lawn mower that keeps the lawn from growing wild and unruly.
Once you start to age there is a decrease in both of these hormones, but they decrease at differing rates. So even though we tend to blame the lack of Oestrogen ON EVERYTHING there will be times in perimenopause when, in relation to Progesterone, your Oestrogen levels are too high, and this can lead to problems too.
Every cell in your body has Oestrogen receptors so as your hormones fluctuate this can cause some of these signs and symptoms that you have perhaps heard about (and maybe some that you haven’t!)
Common and not so common symptoms
- Skin changes
- Vaginal dryness
- Cognitive issues (memory/brain fog)
- Bladder problems
- Sleep issues
- Bone and joint issues
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Mood swings
- Headaches
- Breast swelling and tenderness.
- Fatigue
- Lack of sex drive
- Anxiety and Depression
How do you know you are in Perimenopause?
For women, over the age of 45, a blood test isn’t needed to confirm Perimenopause. A blood test that comes back with a ‘normal’ result doesn’t mean that you aren’t Perimenopausal. It’s only testing the hormones at that specific moment in time, but your lovely hormones are fluctuating wildly from one day to the next.
It’s time to get to know your body. Start to pay attention to what is going on with you. Trust in your feelings and what your body is telling you. Ask yourself these questions,
- What symptoms are you experiencing?
- What are your periods doing?
- Have they got lighter/heavier/shorter/longer?
- What age are you?
- What age did your mother go through menopause?
Please remember that all women will experience Menopause and Perimenopause differently. Some have a tough time, some sail through it and some are somewhere in between.
Menopause is a biological change that naturally happens to all women however it tends to coincide with everything else that is going on in her busy often stressful life.
We are all unique and I want to help you understand that even though that list of symptoms looks horrendous, you can do things to help minimize symptoms and help you stay cool, calm, and in control.
Perimenopause doesn’t have to be a negative experience, and I firmly believe that knowledge is power.
“When you know better, you do better”
I just love the way Oprah talks about it being a time of re-invention. A time to focus on what you want and what you need.
This can start by making simple small changes to your lifestyle and to help you with this I have created a FREE 5-day Empower your Menopause challenge so check it out here.