Perimenopause & Menopause: What’s Happening to Your Body & What Can You Do?
Minal Patel - Naturopath & Food Scientist | Bhimble Wellness
Did your mum ever talk about her perimenopause and menopause experience with you?
The answer to this question for me is “no.” You’re not alone if the answer is “no” for you too.
Perimenopause and menopause aren’t talked about enough. There is guilt and shame for some women in discussing their experiences because they feel like something is wrong with them.
September is Perimenopause Awareness Month so I thought it was the perfect time to talk about something that affects so many women but still isn’t talked about nearly enough.
For generations, women simply got on with it. We were expected to put up with the symptoms, push through, and carry on with life as usual.
Perimenopause and menopause can affect so many areas of our lives — our bodies, our emotions, our relationships, our work, our sleep, our confidence and even how we see ourselves. So, perhaps it’s time we started talking about it.
One of my passions is to educate on wellness and keeping the mind, body, and spirit well with natural solutions. Additionally getting healthy foundations put in place before we start suffering debilitating symptoms, serious sickness and an inability to cope with life anymore.
When I made the decision to help women struggling with symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, I didn’t actually know the full details of what menopause was. I imagined menopause was like a tap and that your period just suddenly turns off and stops at a certain age. Boy, was I wrong.
What is Perimenopause and Menopause?
Here is what actually happens, perimenopause starts and lasts for up to 5-10 years for most women. Perimenopause is like a second puberty, it can start anywhere in your late 30s to early 40s. Most women experience perimenopause around their mid-40s. After this, you transition to menopause when you haven’t had your period for 12 consecutive months.
During perimenopause, estrogen starts to fluctuate and hormones progesterone and testosterone start to fall, women can experience some intense symptoms during this time. This huge hormonal shift can lead to changes in all the different systems throughout your whole body.
When most people think about perimenopause or menopause, they think “hot flushes”. Not all women get hot flushes and there are actually a broad range of symptoms you may experience such as:
- Hot Flushes
- Night sweats
- Weight Gain Around Your Mid-section
- Heavy and irregular periods
- Rage
- Broken sleep, waking at up at 3am in the morning
- Brain Fog
- Can’t remember
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Joint Pain
- Heart Palpitations
- Thinning Hair
- Nails breaking more easily
- Skin drying
- Itchy Ears
- Lack of Libido
- Vulva and vaginal changes
If you’re experiencing many of these symptoms, it might feel like your world has turned upside down, you feel broken, overwhelmed and you don’t know what to do next. I want to let you know you’re not going crazy and you’re not alone. There is hope, you can take steps to advocate for yourself.
If you’re having symptoms, these are common (not normal) and I suggest you find the right support that works for you. You don’t have to struggle and put up with your symptoms.
Advocating For Yourself
If you start experiencing the symptoms above, go and see your general practitioner (GP) so see what your options are. If you have a GP who makes you feel unheard or dismisses your symptoms, see a new GP who will listen and take you seriously. If you are dismissed and not listened to by your GP, you can make a complaint to the Health and Disability Commissioner.
6 Ways to Advocate for Yourself in Your Health
If you’re not sure what to ask your General Practitioner (GP) or know your rights. Take some of these guidelines below into consideration.
1.Know What Matters to You
What are your goals for your health?
Think about your values, what’s most important to you? Use these to guide your decisions and look for options that feel like the right fit.
2. Ask For Support
Health: Start with your GP or explore complementary options such as a naturopath if that aligns with your values.
3. Speak Up When Something Isn’t Working
If something isn’t going well, have the conversation. Ask questions, explain what you need and look for solutions.
Not getting the support you need? Do some research and explore other options.
4. Remember: “You’re not a tree. You’re not stuck.” - Alan Watts.
If something isn’t aligned with you, you can reassess. Talk to people, do some research and explore what could work better.
5. Prepare For Important Conversations
Before meeting with your GP or practitioner, write down your key questions and what you want clarity on.
Ask: What are my options? What happens next? Can I take some time to think about it?
6. Know Your Rights
You have rights when receiving health and disability services. In New Zealand, refer to the Health and Disability commissioner website. You can learn about your rights or make a complaint through the Health and Disability commissioner if needed.
Learning to advocate for yourself in your health can help you make choices that fit you, your values and your goals. You deserve to have a voice and be happy in your career, your health and your future.
Finding the Path That Works for you
If you want to go down the route of Menopause Hormonal Therapy (MHT), previously known as Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Do some research by talking to your GP to see what your options are.
If you’re someone who prefers natural remedies, see someone like a naturopath, homeopath or another practitioner who resonates with you in that natural space.
You could see a combination of both natural and medical practitioners. Make sure all practitioners are aware of all medications, herbs, supplements, and suppositories you’re taking.
By getting the holistic support needed at this time and preparing yourself for this transition in a way that works for you, you may experience the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause less intensely.
You can also refer to my blog on Menopausal Hormone Therapy for Perimenopause and Menopause: Pros, Cons & Choosing What’s Right For You.
Changing the Narrative
The way we think about something is usually the way it manifests in our lives. Our thoughts are powerful and can change the way we experience our symptoms. If we think about menopause in an empowering way, it can help us transition into this phase more smoothly.
I love helping the women I work with feel empowered and in control, seeing menopause in a positive light and taking a gentle journey of stepping into their power.
In the documentary Menopause & Us with Robyn Malcolm, there was a segment on Māori perspectives around menopause and the idea of this stage of life as a rite of passage.
Rather than viewing menopause simply as the end of a woman’s fertile years, there is an opportunity to see this next chapter as one where women step into a different role — sharing knowledge, wisdom and guidance with younger generations.
I found that perspective incredibly powerful. Imagine if, instead of teaching girls that menopause is something to fear, we taught them that it can be a significant transition into another meaningful stage of life. Imagine if we talked about it openly with our daughters, our sisters, our friends and our partners.Imagine if women didn’t feel ashamed to say:
“I’m going through perimenopause, and this is what I’m experiencing.”
Having a positive narrative, mindset and belief in stepping into a higher and wiser power during menopause is more supportive for women. We need to change the way we talk about menopause to empower ourselves and future generations.
Are You Ready to Feel More Like Yourself Again?
If you’re struggling with hot flushes, weight gain, energy, sleep, mood, anxiety or just don’t feel like yourself lately, you don’t have to figure it out on your own.
Book a complimentary Hormonal Wellness Discovery Call.
Together, we’ll chat about what’s been going on and where you’d love some support. From there, we can explore a personalised, natural approach to help you feel more balanced, confident and in control in your body through perimenopause and menopause.
With love & understanding,
Minal xx