I’m mad. Really mad. The funny thing is, I don’t really have any particular reason to be. I just feel pissed. All. The. Time. 

I confessed this to a girlfriend on the weekend. I’d been pressing the seed on my sympathetic point so aggressively it would soon give me a new earring hole.

“Maybe it’s Peri,” she said casually.

“Who’s Perry?” I replied.

“Not, who,” she chuckled, “But what. Maybe you’ve entered perimenopause.”

I nearly choked on my oat flat white. “Umm, I’m not even 40!” I baulked. 

But I couldn’t get the idea out of my head, and soon all the seemingly unconnected physical anomalies I’d experienced began morphing together into one cohesive - and admittedly terrifying - picture. I missed my period last month, and definitely wasn’t pregnant. And those night sweats? Maybe not the extra blanket’s fault, after all. Oh, and the RAGE!

This week, I’m getting my hormone levels checked, just to be sure. I’d never really thought much about menopause. I’d shoved it away in the same mental box as superannuation, river cruises, bi-focal transition lenses* and tinnitus; topics to ponder at the half century mark.

As reticent as I am to completely accept the fact I may now be approaching this new hormonal stage of my life, I also feel fairly well equipped to navigate it thanks to my naturopathic background.

Once I've got a clearer snapshot of my hormone levels, I’ll be making the necessary lifestyle tweaks and introducing hormone-supporting herbs into my regimen, as well as leaning into the Ayurvedic philosophies around honouring my body’s needs and tuning into my cycle.  

If your currently experiencing some of the symptoms associated with perimenopause or want clarity on the difference between perimenopause and menopause, read on.

When does it start?

Perimenopause can begin as early as your late thirties and early forties, and lasts on average between 7-10 years before entering menopause, considered to begin when you haven't had a period consistently for 12 months. While menopause marks the end of a woman's reproductive ability, fertility is still on the cards during perimenopause, so if you're not wanting to conceive, don't get complacent with contraception!

What can I expect?

Your reproductive hormones oestrogen and progesterone will begin to fluctuate around this time, and while you might not experience all the symptoms, you're likely to notice some not-so-fun changes to your mood, cycle and sleep quality.
Think: Emotions more unpredictable than Melbourne's weather, sweating between the sheets without a certain fun activity to blame, and a constant desire to ask: "Is it just me, or is it really hot in here?" They might not all hit at the same time, and for some, the shift will be barely, if at all noticeable.

Hormonal heroes:

There's a lot you can do to support your body's hormonal balance if you do notice you're not quite your usual, hormonally balanced self. First things first! Get an snapshot of your hormone levels. If possible, compare these with any previous hormone tests, as what's 'normal' for the general population might not be what's 'normal' for you. And also be aware that a normal range is a statistical average, rather than necessarily an optimal level! So it's worth discussing with your medical team what your optimal levels should be and where your current levels are right now. 

Focus on lifestyle habits:

A study in the 2020 Journal of Neuroinflammation describes menopause as an "inflammatory event", due to the reduction of oestrogen, which leads to symptoms ranging from dry eyes and joint pain to those laughter lines which are not so funny. To counteract this, ramp up those antioxidant-rich fruits and veg and leafy greens, get moving with your favourite weight bearing and cardio activities and consider supplementation if you have any deficiencies which can't be rectified through diet alone. 

Stress Less:

Whether yin yoga's your thing or you prefer sunrise paddle-board sessions and psychedelic breathwork, it's super important - for both yourself and the sanity of those around you - to prioritise your mental health during perimenopause and beyond. Develop a go-to vagal toning toolkit of activities and techniques you can use when your sympathetic "fight or flight" system is running riot. 

Breathing rituals, meditation, chanting and singing, nature walks and ear massage are just some of the ways to communicate a feeling of safety and calm to your body, in order to switch it into a parasympathetic or "rest and digest" mode in order to support the perimenopausal shifts. 

It all sounds very un-fun, doesn't it?

But there's plenty to love about growing older, including the fact that not all of us have the privilege of doing so.

And as we begin to open up conversations around this once taboo subject, we begin to appreciate it for what it is; the next chapter of this complex, messy, surprising, incredible adventure we call life!

And on that note, I'll leave you with my favourite quotes on the topic:

“So many women I've talked to see menopause as an ending. I've discovered that this is your moment to reinvent yourself after years of focusing on the needs of everyone else.”

– Oprah Winfrey

“It’s a time of liberation.‘It’s a time of shedding the shackles of inhibition and of giving a damn. I’ve never met a more kind of rowdy bunch of irreverent people than menopausal women. When we’re left to our own devices, we are very bloody funny.” 

– Davina mcCall, Author: Menopausing

 

*Alas, my optometrist prescribed me bifocals as a 39th birthday gift last month. #gofigure.