Perimenopause, Aging & Quality of Life
Do we age and that is why we lose our hormones or do we age because we lose our hormones?
Recently there has been more interest in discussions and awareness about perimenopause. The truth is that unfortunately, for decades there has been a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding of the process. This is mainly due to a large study that was flawed in many ways and prematurely discontinued. I won’t go into detail about that but recently, the WHI has reanalyzed the trial and new studies have been performed. The main takeaways from the studies are that synthetic hormones such as those found in birth control are not safe long term in perimenopause or menopausal women however bioidentical or natural hormones are not only safe but also provide important mortality benefits.
What we know is that our hormones are responsible for our overall wellness and quality of life. There are hormone receptors in every single organ of our body. During a woman’s adult life her hormones go through a predictable pattern every month. However, in peri menopause the levels become erratic and volatile before bottoming out once menopause hits. These varying levels of hormones during the perimenopause period wreak havoc on the female body.
Majority of women will notice decreased energy, cognition and memory issues, weight gain, loss of muscle mass, sleep problems, anxiety and depression, bone loss, joint pains, hair loss, skin changes, changes in libido, etc. Not all women will have all of these symptoms but many of them will begin to creep up over time. They can begin as early as 35 years old for many women. Menopause and perimenopause is no longer just about hot flashes, it is about overall quality of life. These symptoms tend to make working women professionals cut down hours at work, decrease socializing, become more irritable, gain weight despite all the diet and exercise they do and the list goes on.
Many of these women have already discussed their symptoms with their primary care physician, had blood work done and were told “everything is normal.” Yes, it is normal- but normal for a perimenopause or menopausal woman. We want optimal. What does that mean? We want to push our levels to the highest range of normal, where we actually feel better. We want someone to listen to our symptoms and not just check blood tests. But we also want to know how we can do our part and not just rely on medications. Lifestyle changes are also important.
Eating the right foods in the right amounts provides our body with the nutrients and tools it needs to boost our own hormone production. Exercising by weight training not only pushes more energizing hormones like testosterone into our body but also strengthens our bones. Getting adequate sleep allows improved hormone production. Reducing stress reduces cortisol levels which reflexively increases our natural hormone production. Your blood tests need to not only look at detailed hormone production but also investigate those vital mineral and nutrients that can optimize your body’s functioning.
The other major benefit from hormone replacement therapy, besides symptom relief, is the mortality benefit. When a woman loses estrogen, her risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, osteoporotic fractures, and cancers significantly increases. Replacing the natural hormones that a woman has counteracts these risks.
It is important to get ahead of these symptoms as hormone replacement therapy benefits can be time sensitive when it comes to the mortality benefits. Find a physician that will listen to your symptoms and help you take control of your life.