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The menopausal transition now referred to as perimenopause can start as early as aged 35 and can last for up to a decade with varying time frames. Typically, a woman is said to be in menopause (sometimes called post-menopausal) 12 months after the final menstrual period (FMP).
Certainly, from our 40’s and onwards many women start to experience a wide range of undesirable symptoms.
Symptoms that people generally attribute to this life transition include hot flushes, night sweats, abdominal weight gain, low libido and changes in menstrual cycle. However, there are many more subtle changes that can also be due to the fluctuating and ultimately declining production of oestrogen and progesterone including mood disturbances, dry skin, dull hair, brittle nails, metabolic health changes, increased cholesterol and or triglycerides, insulin resistance and elevated blood pressure.
Hot flushes or flashes can be one of the most bothersome symptoms. For some they can be mild and for others they can be quite debilitating in both their frequency and intensity. Sometimes people say they feel like they are going to self-combust! Nights sweats often accompany hot flushes, and this leads to sleep disturbances that further impact on your ability to cope and feel vital. They can also last anywhere from 12 months to several years.
The conventional medical treatment of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be beneficial in some circumstances although not for everyone either due to suitability, risk aversion or choice. If you do decide that conventional HRT is for you then please seek advice from a general practitioner (GP) and be sure to discuss whether bio-identical or body identical forms are available.
If this is not a path you wish to go down, where does that leave you when you are suffering on a daily and sometimes hourly basis. Is it a case of just riding it out and hoping you are not one of the unlucky ones where it lasts for years or are there other options?
I am here to tell you that there are lots of things that can be done to smooth this transition. This is good news as up to a decade of your life is a long time to be feeling blah.
Naturopathic treatments can be very effective in helping to reduce symptoms and in doing so improve your quality of life.
As an example, for hot flushes there are some key herbs and nutrients that can really help. Some of my favourite nutrients are magnesium and taurine and for herbs Rehmannia, ziziphus and sage would be right up there. As always though the form and dose that the nutrients and herbs are prescribed in makes all the difference. You want to make sure you are getting a formulation that your body can absorb and utilise.
Everyone is unique and what works for one person maybe different to what works for the next so seeing a qualified healthcare professional is always best.
Make an appointment by clicking on the link below
Womens Health, Natural Health, Herbal Medicine, Nutrition, Integrative Health & Nutrigenomics Services available
Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter,
NSW Australia
(02) 9469 6680
Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter
NSW Australia
(02) 9469 6680
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