Empower Your Menopause Journey with Project M(e)

Mysteries of Perimenopause: My Personal Journey

In this blog post, I'll share my personal experience navigating the challenges of perimenopause. I'll discuss the symptoms I faced and the role of hormones in a woman's body.

Discovering Perimenopause

My journey into perimenopause began with subtle changes I didn't initially recognize. Irregular periods, fatigue, and a decline in mental clarity were early signs. It wasn't until I started experiencing more severe symptoms, such as an increase in insecurity and difficulty concentrating that impacted my life more and more, that I realized something was off. It felt as if I was walking through mud.

One post on Instagram from Dr. Mary Claire Haver made me realize that the way I felt could be related to perimenopause.

The four hormonal stages

• Pre-menopause: the period before menopause when a woman's menstrual cycle is super regular. It starts when a young woman gets her first periods. And if you visualize the hormone cycles in this phase, hormones go up and down during a cycle, but each cycle is very similar. So if you visualize cycle after cycle, it looks like a heartbeat. You see the same fluctuation pattern every month.

• Perimenopause: this is also called the menopause transition period. This is the transition period leading up to menopause and it can last up to 10 years. The amount of estrogen generated by the ovaries begins to erratically decline. A change in your period is a frequent symptom of perimenopause. Cycles may become longer or shorter than what is typical for you or you could start skipping periods. The flow may also grow lighter or heavier. Women may also start to experience changes in her brain and cognitive function and also physical issues are getting real. If you visualize this phase, you'll see unorganized lines of ups and downs of hormones. Nothing like the neat heartbeat of the perimenopause. Perimenopause is a time of hormonal chaos.

• Menopause: this is the point in time when a woman hasn't had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. So you only know this exactly one year after your last menstrual period. The average age for menopause is 51, but anything between like 45 and 55 is considered normal. Menopause lasts only one day because after that day you become postmenopausal.

• Post-menopause: this is the period following menopause.

The Hormonal Rollercoaster

Perimenopause is a time of hormonal chaos. Estrogen levels fluctuate significantly and progesterone and testosterone decline, leading to a wide range of symptoms. On this page you will find a picture that shows in a very clear way the hormonal stages and the behavior of our hormones in each stage:

https://womenlivingbetter.org/hormonal-changes/#Santorochaos

Understanding the Hormonal Trio: Estrogen, Progesterone, and Testosterone

Three primary hormones play pivotal roles in a woman's body: estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Let's delve into each to understand their functions and impacts.

Estrogen: The Master Hormone

Estrogen is a versatile hormone with far-reaching effects beyond reproduction. It influences numerous organs and systems, including:

• Bone health

• Cardiovascular health

• Brain health

• Skin health

• and much more....

As estrogen levels fluctuate during perimenopause, women may experience a wide range of symptoms. This is because estrogen impacts so many different aspects of a woman's body.

Progesterone: The Balancing Act

Progesterone works in conjunction with estrogen to maintain hormonal balance. It plays a crucial role in:

• Mood regulation

• Memory

• Brain health

• Inflammation reduction

• Bone health

• Sleep

Progesterone levels decline earlier than estrogen, contributing to the challenges of perimenopause on different levels.

Testosterone: More Than Just Libido

While testosterone is often associated with male characteristics, it's equally important for women. It influences:

• Brain function

• Mood

• Muscle mass

• Bone health

Testosterone levels naturally decline over a woman's lifetime, and is jus as important as estrogen and progesteron.

The Importance of Hormonal Balance

The interplay between estrogen, progesterone, ánd testosterone is crucial for our overall well-being. Fluctuations in these hormones can lead to a variety of symptoms. Seeking professional guidance to understand your specific hormonal situation and explore potential treatment options can help manage these challenges effectively.

Common Perimenopause Symptoms

Many women don't know that a lot of the often described as vague symptoms they experience in their late thirties and forties can be related to perimenopause. So here is a longer (but not complete) list of symptoms in perimenopause:

• Physical symptoms:

  • Hot flushes

  • night sweats

  • irregular periods

  • body odor

  • heart palpitations

  • difficulty sleeping

  • fatigue

  • feeling dizzy or having headaches

  • dry mouth and eyes

  • sore gums

  • muscle and joint pains

  • breathing difficulties

  • bladder issues

  • vaginal dryness

  • dry or itchy skin

  • thinning hair

• Emotional symptoms:

  • low mood

  • anxiety

  • feeling tense or nervous

  • anxiety or panic attacks

  • loss of interest in most things

  • feeling unhappy or depressed

  • crying spells

  • irritability

  • mood swings

  • loss of confidence

  • reduced self-esteem

• Cognitive symptoms:

  • brain fog

  • memory problems

  • difficulty concentrating

  • low or no libido.

Seeking Professional Help

Navigating perimenopause can be overwhelming. It's essential to seek guidance from a healthcare professional who specializes in women's health. They can help you understand your symptoms and discuss treatment options.

Let's walk this path together

Even though more than half of the population will experience (peri)menopause at some point in their lives, it remains a taboo subject that people are reluctant to discuss openly. Through sharing my personal journey candidly, including both my challenges and successful changes, I aim to contribute to breaking this silence. Join me on this journey so that we can support each other and avoid suffering in isolation.

Listen to my podcast where I talk about my journey in greater detail. You can find it on Spotify and Apple Podcast. I will also share (peri)menopause related posts that caught my eye on my Instagram account.

Love, Sascha

Untangling menopause.... sharing my story, empowering yours