The answer to the following question is… Perimenopause.
Do you know which women’s health issue, that not enough people are talking about (including health professionals), can begin at 35 years of age?
You might be surprised to learn that there is no hard and fixed age when a woman will enter perimenopause, in part this is because it varies for each individual woman. And also because the symptoms of perimenopause are so very, very broad.
The term perimenopause simply means “around menopause.”
Some women see their doctor, or speak to a natural therapist about their perimenopausal symptoms. But others either tolerate the changes or, because symptoms and signs may be subtle and come on gradually, not realise at first that they’re all connected to the same thing.
And don’t rely on the old chestnut… what was it like for your Mum? Because guess what, our Mum’s and their Mum’s before them, did not talk about the changes to their health and wellbeing as they transitioned through their midlife years.
I’ve had many clients say “Oh, but my Mum breezed through Menopause” and then when they’ve sat down and had an open, honest conversation with their Mum, discovered that they absolutely did not breeze through anything! It just wasn’t talked about.
But I’m here to change that for you.
Common signs and symptoms of perimenopause can include, but are not limited to…
- irregular periods
- migraines
- mood swings
- thinning hair or hair loss
- weight gain
- vaginal dryness
- brain fog
- poor tolerance of stress
- skin texture changes
- low sex drive
- waking in a sweat at night
See what I mean by broad!
If you have any signs or symptoms that are impacting your quality of life or your overall well-being, such as hot flushes, mood swings or changes in your sexual function that concern you, please see your doctor or preferred natural therapist for support and treatment options. If you need help to do this, read my popular blog on advocating for your health in midlife here.
You do not need to suffer in silence.