Recognising these perimenopause signs can help you handle them so much better
Knowledge is power, which is why recognising the symptoms of the perimenopause can help you handle them so much better...prepped you for the start of your periods;magazines held your hand during puberty; while your friends warned you how haywire hormones go during pregnancy and after childbirth. But there’s one hormonal rollercoaster that’s traditionally been hushed up.
Plus, the health tweaks you make now can help future-proof your body. Getting enough calcium and finding heart-healthy exercise you love will help deal with the long-term effects of oestrogen deficiency, such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.Let’s be frank, a rebranding of these years won’t magic away any unpleasant symptoms or make you 'love' your perimenopause – and that’s okay.
A change of periods is an early tell-tale sign, but because numerous oestrogen receptors are in the brain, mood swings, anxiety, irritability, and having trouble concentrating or remembering can also be the first signs of plummeting oestrogen. ‘It’s common for the perimenopause to change your moods, your emotions and your levels of motivation,’ says Dr Newson.
Whatever stage you’re at, knowledge is power and tracking your cycle in your diary or on the health settings on your phone will help you get a fuller picture. ‘If you’re experiencing other problems, make regular notes so you can see how things are changing over time,’ says Dr Newson. The new Balance app , which tracks symptoms and shows emerging patterns can be helpful, while the Greene Climacteric Scale can be an eye-opening symptom checker.
gut health? ‘Diet diversity is good for your gut, and for your estrobolome, the bacteria responsible for modulating oestrogen levels,’ says Emma. ‘Aim for 30 different plant types a week and include fermented food such as kefir, live yogurt, sauerkraut, miso and kimchi. Studies have found a plant-focused diet is linked with fewer symptoms.’As for herbal supplements, some women swear by them, but there’s little large-scale evidence to support their use.