Is it my hormones?
One of the most common questions that I get from women over 40 is whether their symptoms are caused by hormones. Whilst the average age of menopause in Australia is 51, women can experience symptoms of hormonal fluctuations for many years in the lead up to the last period. We call this time the perimenopause. The symptoms can be very varied but they can range from a change in the menstrual cycle pattern (like longer time between periods) through to hot flushes, muscle and joint pains, weight gain, sleep disturbance, fatigue, lowered libido, trouble concentrating, vaginal dryness and pain with intercourse as well as changes in your overall wellbeing and mood. Common mood changes can include anxiety, depression, irritability, lowered self esteem, feeling angry and more agitated. Women that have had a history of mental health issues as well as those that have suffered from premenstrual or postnatal mood-related disorders or who have a close female relative who had mood disorders related to hormones do seem to be more likely to suffer from perimenopausal mood changes. But women who have never had any mental health issues can also develop significant mood issues around the time of perimenopause.
I often see women that feel frustrated with these symptoms and like they haven’t really been able to get to the bottom of it all. These issues can cause a massive upheaval in a woman’s life and they seem to come just when women are dealing with multiple life stressors such as work pressures, family demands such as parenting and caring for ageing parents. And now we also have a global pandemic to include in the list!
It is important to see a doctor during this time to ensure that the symptoms are not related to another more serious medical condition. It is also important to see a doctor who is experienced in dealing with women’s issues as there are a lot of things that can be done to assist women in improving their quality of life. I find that women need adequate time to be able to explain everything that is going on with them and then to explore all the options and to enable us to work together to ensure their health is the best it can be. It is such a great time to ensure that the all aspects of health are strengthened so that women can go into this transition with a solid foundation. This means ensuring they are moving their body, eating a healthy and balanced diet, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol and managing their stress and emotions and finding connection with others around them. It is a time to ensure that they are informed and offered all the relevant health checks and screening tests.
There are many medication options to explore and it is possible to improve a woman’s quality of life significantly if they are chosen carefully with all aspects of a woman’s health taken into consideration. There are lots of resources out there to educate women about their symptoms and treatment options but it is also important to seek medical advice directly so that you can have your own individualised assessment and appropriate options explored.
These 2 websites offer reliable and up to date information:
https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/
Disclaimer: Please note that all the information on this website is general in nature. The information on the website is not intended nor suited to be personalised medical advice for any individual person. This information does not take the place of professional advice or treatment from a qualified medical professional.
If you have any health concerns, please consult with a suitably qualified healthcare professional. You should not discontinue any medical treatment, disregard medical advice or delay in seeking medical advice because of any information provided on this website. If you have any medical or health related questions, you should contact your own treating doctor.