When the supply becomes irregular (in our early 40s) we can feel, well, less good… Luckily, there is lots and lots you can do to feel better.
“I see menopause as the start of the next fabulous phase of life as a woman.”
Have you started experiencing symptoms such as irregular menstrual cycles, night-sweats, brain fog, dryer skin, pain in your joints, sleep issues, weight gain, or simply feeling more moody and emotional? If you are somewhere between age 35-55 then chances are that this is related to your transition into menopause.
This period is called the perimenopause, and is often described as a hormonal roller-coaster, as the level of the female sex-hormone estrogen is decreasing. It is quite common to not really recognize oneself and one’s body in this period. Lots of changes and different feelings arising. And often one does not realize with the first ‘random symptoms’ that it’s the perimenopause until finally it becomes clear what is happening.
Reduced levels of estrogen affect the whole body
Estrogen affects many organs in the body, such as the uterus, vagina, bones and brain. As a result, you may experience different symptoms when the amount of estrogen decreases:
- Hot flushes, which means you suddenly become very hot
- Sudden sweating, often associated with hot flushes
- Sleeping problems
- Mood can change quickly
- Feeling ‘the blues’
- Dry mucous membranes, especially in the vagina but also in the eyes, nose and throat. Dry mucous membranes can cause itching and burning.
- Urinary problems, such as frequent urination or burning when you urinate
The average age in the Western world to reach menopause is 51. However, it is very common to experience symptoms 3-10 years before you actually stop menstruating (enter into menopause).
A lot of women are uninformed and unprepared for what will happen, and how that might affect body & brain. I regularly offer workshops on this topic to give you knowledge and equip you with tools how to handle your transition into this next phase of your life.
Check here for my upcoming workshops.