The silent symptoms of perimenopause and menopause

It is very common for us women to think that menopause symptoms are limited to hot flashes. Indeed, this symptom is the most visible and socially recognized as a sign of menopause. However, there are many other symptoms related to perimenopause and menopause that you should be aware of, so they do not negatively impact your health and quality of life.

First of all, it is important to understand that menopause symptoms can appear around 10 years before menopause actually begins. The average age for entering menopause is generally between 50 and 55 years old. Subtracting 10 years means that the first symptoms can start between the ages of 40 and 45. Therefore, it is important to understand that menopause is not a single moment, but rather a process. This process goes through several stages, which can, consequently, bring a variety of symptoms throughout this transitional phase.

SLEEP

The most widely reported symptom among women during this stage of life is a decline in sleep quality. During perimenopause, our bodies gradually begin to reduce progesterone production, which leads to a decrease in certain neurotransmitters such as dopamine, GABA, and serotonin. This hormonal reduction can cause a gradual decline in our energy and well-being, affecting our ability to relax and even making it harder to manage stress levels. As a result, it is common to start experiencing lighter sleep and waking up more frequently during the night.

As we approach menopause and estrogen production in our ovaries decreases, we may also begin to experience night sweats, increased nighttime urination, or even wake up with numbness in the hands, arms, or legs.

DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND IRRITABILITY

It is very common during perimenopause and menopause for women to report that when faced with adversity—or even difficult moments in their lives—they are no longer able to cope as they once did. And why is that? Once again, it is because the reduction in progesterone and, subsequently, estrogen, affects the production of neurotransmitters that allow us to feel well, reduce anxiety levels, and maintain energy. Considering that sleep quality is generally reduced during this phase, it is easy to understand how a woman can develop depressive symptoms, anxiety issues, and, at times, complaints of excessive irritability.

FATIGUE AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION

Recent studies indicate that menopause is much more than a simple hormonal change in the female body. In reality, menopause involves a neuro-endocrine shift, meaning a change at both the neurological and hormonal levels in a woman’s body. In practical terms, this means that a woman’s brain undergoes a profound restructuring as she approaches menopause and during its early years. Interestingly, the female brain restructures itself at several stages of life, namely at menarche (first menstruation), during pregnancy, and when entering menopause. In other words, the female brain is organized according to reproductive life and the brain functions associated with it.

For this neurological restructuring to take place, our brain requires high levels of energy, which can result in complaints of constant fatigue (not relieved by rest or sleep), memory lapses, brain fog, and difficulty with reasoning. These complaints can fluctuate depending on a woman’s level of tiredness and stress, and may persist into the early years of menopause. The good news is that many women report feeling less anxious after this transitional phase and are better able to put the challenges they face into perspective.

These are just some of the symptoms currently known to be associated with perimenopause and menopause. Many other symptoms have been described and linked to this phase, which until recently were either unknown or not recognized as related to menopause.

Not all women will experience all of the symptoms described above, while others may. What is important is to have knowledge of these symptoms so that you can prevent and alleviate them naturally during this transitional phase of your life.

In my consultation, I can help you navigate through this phase in your life in a natural and calm way. Through dietary and nutritional support, the use of specific plants, and even simply by introducing some lifestyle changes, we can substantially improve your well-being and prepare you for a healthy menopause.