The word “hormones” probably
causes one of two images to appear in your mind –a pimple ridden teenager or an
old woman waving off hot flashes.
Neither of these apply to you, so why should you worry about hormones? Read
on to find out how your hormones may be making you sick and unable to
concentrate - even in your twenties and thirties!
We have all heard of
Menopause, but few women are aware of the symptoms involved with perimenopause
– the period of 10-15 years before you even begin menopause. Perimenopause, also referred to as
pre-menopause, may be responsible for an astonishing number of symptoms in
women as early as your late twenties! Perimenopausal hormone irregularity
happens as the delicate balance of hormones becomes out of whack, often made
worse by environmental influences, unhealthy foods, and pollutants.
Symptoms of Perimenopause
Perimenopause symptoms are
very different from menopause symptoms.
This is because menopause is triggered by low estrogen levels, while
perimenopause is triggered by high estrogen levels and low progesterone levels,
referred to as estrogen dominance. Women
who are estrogen dominant may experience a wide range of symptoms including
sore fibrous breasts, muscle pain, anxiety, irregular periods, foggy memory,
weight gain, and insomnia. Untreated
estrogen dominance may also lead to cervical cancer, heart problems, and an
increased risk for strokes.
Hormones and the Thyroid
Researchers have found that
estrogen levels have a direct effect on the thyroid; too much or too little
estrogen may cause weight gain and other thyroid problems. Regular hormone balance combined with healthy
eating habits should ensure normal weight with little fluctuation. Abnormal weight gain or weight fluctuation
may indicate a thyroid problem and could be related to perimenopause.
Why Your Mother Didn’t Warn
You
Don’t worry, she probably
isn’t keeping you in the dark on purpose! Research on perimenopause as a
separate and different experience from menopause has only surfaced in last ten
years or so. Some doctors have also
stipulated that perimenopausal symptoms are worse now than they were for prior
generations because of hormones in food and toxicity in the environment. What may be recognized as perimenopause now
may have been diagnosed as a depressive or anxiety disorder even a few years
ago. Often, women dismiss symptoms of
perimenopause as natural effects of aging.
Perimenopause and
Relationships
If stress, pain, anxiety and
weight gain aren’t relationship downers, then we don’t know what is! If you
search “perimenopause” on the internet you will find a lot of women discussing
symptoms and treatment – and also a surprising number of men! Many husbands and
boyfriends may be relieved that the symptoms their significant other are
enduring can be identified and treated.
Some websites and apps offer hormone tracking calendars that help both
men and women identify the stages in a women’s cycle and what symptoms they may
be experiencing.
Ask Your Doctor
Perimenopause symptoms can be
misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia, generalized anxiety disorder, and chronic fatigue
syndrome. If you experience symptoms you
think may be related to perimenopause, ask your doctor for a hormone level test
(done using blood or saliva) and a thyroid test. If you have a hormone imbalance, be sure to
ask your doctor about the benefits of using bio-identical hormone treatments in
place of synthetic hormone treatments, which are known to have harsh side
effects. New research has even shown
hormonal changes effecting oral health, so you may want to talk to your dentist
if you are experiencing dry mouth or symptoms of periodontal disease.
