Understanding menopause

Did you know peri-menopause can begin by as much as 10-15 years before menopause? Peri-menopause is associated with hormone changes and fluctuations that can affect the heaviness and frequency of menstrual cycles as well as other important areas of health that we may not initially link to hormonal changes, such as brain health. The decline of progesterone in the peri-menopausal years can produce anxiety, scattered thinking, sleep interruptions and a sense of feeling out of control. This is largely due to the fact that hormones are connected to and regulate certain neurochemicals in the brain, for example, GABA which is the neurochemical of calm and sleep. Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when the ovaries stop working and hormone production stops altogether. Not only does monthly menstruation stop but because hormones play such a vital role in many different systems in the body, menopause can be linked to a bouquet of symptoms such as mood, memory, weight and sleep changes as well as loss of protection in vital areas of health such as heart, brain, bone and joint health. 

When we think of Hormonal Health, our immediate assumption is we are talking about the sex hormones; Estrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone but in fact, Hormonal Health encompasses a symphony or cascade of many different hormones working together to create harmony in the body. Hormones such as cortisol (main stress hormone), thyroid hormone (master conductor of metabolic function) and insulin (glucose regular) also all interact and influence one another so it is important to consider the entire orchestra of hormones creating harmony or disharmony in the body. Chronic stress can result in changes and depletions in certain hormones which may affect vitality, energy, memory and stress resiliency. Menopause can also be linked to changes in the functions of hormones other than estrogen and progesterone and is associated with a higher incidence of insulin resistance and disproportionate weight gain around the belly.