Perimenopause, it might be happening sooner than you think

For many women in their late 30s and early 40s they are completely unaware that they are perimenopausal. It might be a gradual sense of anxiety or never fully returning to a decent night’s sleep (often associating this with young children rather than recognising declining oestrogen levels as the culprit).

Common Perimenopause symptoms

Some very common symptoms for women in this age bracket are mood swings and low mood. During this time, women are returning to work having had children or are at the peak of their career and grappling with stress, workplace pressure and possibly looking after ageing parents. Their symptoms are often overlooked as a result of their lifestyle rather than the decreasing levels of oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone (the three major hormones in a woman’s body).

In a study conducted by the Harley Street Emporium, they found that at least 70% of menopausal women experience brain fog, mood swings, low mood or anxiety. Interestingly, of those experiencing brain function and mood symptoms under 44 years of age were more likely to suffer with mood swings, anxiety and low mood rather than brain fog.

Most of us know of temperature related (vasomotor) symptoms related to menopause and often people assume these are the most common. However, the study also found that 60% of menopausal women experience vasomotor symptoms - hot flushes, night sweats or chills.

Brain fog and memory loss can be very worrying for women as they go through menopause. A staggering 70% of women between 45-54 were concerned with memory loss, often worsening levels of anxiety. Fortunately, there is somewhat of a silver lining in that women over the age of 55 were less likely to report on memory loss and brain fog, indicating that these symptoms lessen as women progress through their menopause transition.

Many women are not receiving any treatment for their symptoms, often women feel like they are losing their minds or are worried they’re in early stages of dementia, however, in many cases, it is declining levels of oestrogen that may be the cause.

There is anecdotal evidence that testosterone can improve brain fog, and the herbal supplement lions mane is also reported to do wonders for some women. Like most menopausal symptoms, there is a significant lack of research into symptoms and treatment so it remains a case of trial and error for many women suffering with these symptoms.

What is known, however, is that HRT does improve symptoms for many women, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is also reported to significantly improve mood related symptoms and for others anti-depressants are equally beneficial.

Symptoms do not immediately disappear once a woman becomes postmenopausal, with 75% of women over 55 who suffer with vasomotor symptoms said they were still experiencing these symptoms, over time symptoms do reduce. Oestrogen is responsible for over 400 receptors in the body, given the declining levels during menopause it is no wonder at least two-thirds of women report multiple menopausal symptoms.

It is important for every woman to be armed with the knowledge and information about what is happening to her body during this time and to keep a record of what they are experiencing to ensure they get the right treatment and support during each stage of her own personal menopause journey.

Moxie Coach

Moxie Coach is a menopause coaching app offering a mood tracker, expert guidance and personalised tools to help you thrive during your menopause journey.

Download it for free today: Moxie Coach (Apple Store) - Moxie Coach (Google Play)