What only ten you may be thinking as each day can bring a new symptom that you hadn’t anticipated.

You’ve officially entered menopause when you have 12 missed periods in a row, but you can certainly see the effects long before this happens.

This typically starts around your mid-40s to mid-50s and can last for several years and begins when your ovarian function declines. When ovulation doesn’t occur regularly it leads to irregular or missed periods and the reduction of your production of oestrogen and progesterone.

Eventually, the ovaries cease production, and periods stop completely. This results in lower hormone levels, but while oestrogen will continue to be produced in the fat cells of the belly, abdomen and thighs the progesterone levels fall more steeply,

So what exactly might be going on? These are all the areas that will be affected.

1. Reproductive system

While your period may have been changing over the last several years during perimenopause, you don’t technically hit menopause until your monthly period has stopped completely, but menopause can still affect other parts of the reproductive system.

When you’re no longer going through monthly cycles, you may not have any thickening of cervical mucus toward the middle of your cycle, a symptom that often signifies ovulation.

Overall vaginal dryness, and possibly atrophy, and a lack of libido can also occur with menopause.

Supplementing with bioidentical hormones and an over-the-counter lubricant can also help.

2. Endocrine system

The endocrine system includes the hormones responsible for reproduction and for most women night sweats and hot flushes are among the most talked about effects of menopause.

They can come on suddenly at any time of day or night and last just a few seconds or for several minutes at a time.

Hormone balance is needed as well as lifestyle changes such as avoiding caffeine, spicy foods, hot drinks and alcohol – all of which can bring on a flush.

Relaxation techniques, such as meditation, yoga, aromatherapy and tai chi may help too.

3. Weight gain

Menopause causes your body to reserve energy more, which means you won’t burn calories and fat as easily which can lead to weight gain.

Because you are more likely to have shifted production of oestrogen from your ovaries into the fat cells of the belly, then this is when excess weight can show up around your middle.

Hormone balance is essential here to keep the oestrogen levels in check, and supporting  your hormones by increasing your progesterone levels can usually be helpful for hormonal weight gain.

4. Nervous system

Menopause can affect your overall mood and so you may feel happy and like yourself one day but then down the next.

You may also experience mood swings that cause irritability and low progesterone can be linked to this, but for more severe anxiety or depression a combination bioidentical formula of both progesterone and oestrogen is more effective.

5. Sleep

This can also be challenging during menopause, particularly if hot flushes and night sweats keep you up at night and can also make it difficult to fall asleep.

Because progesterone is a natural relaxant it can help with sleep issues, and if you also suffer from night sweats then getting that under control will be a priority as that definitely affects your sleep pattern.

6. Brain fog

No one really knows why, but menopause is also said to affect memory and is certainly true for many women at Menopause, including me.

Memory issues are certainly more common with age, but it’s unclear whether there’s a strict menopause connection or if another underlying cause may be at play here. Stress and anxiety always will play a part with any brain fog or memory issues so tackling that will always be a good first step.

Staying alert, keeping your brain active with puzzles, games and hobbies will also help and brain fog does seem to also be related to low progesterone levels.

7. Immune system

Even when you have a slight imbalance between hormones, it can cause a cascade of hormonal changes which can contribute to autoimmune conditions.

Progesterone is a key part of our natural immune defence system and so vital to have good levels as women are more prone to the development of autoimmune diseases.  In fact, women are 10 times more likely than men to have such conditions.

8. Cardiovascular system

Oestrogens exert a cardioprotective effect on the body but higher and unbalanced levels raise the risk for stroke and heart attack.

Oestrogen dominance, excess oestrogen not balanced by progesterone, is an increased risk at menopause for a number of conditions.

9. Skeletal and muscular systems

Menopause causes your bones to lose their density which can increase your risk of bone fractures.

Menopausal women are also at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis because if they have high oestrogen levels – this is the hormone that clears away old bone – but not good progesterone levels – the hormone needed to build new bone – then osteoporosis is an increased risk.

A loss of muscle mass during menopause may also occur at a higher rate than before, possibly due to less exercise,  and joints may also become stiff and achy.

Regular exercise can help reduce the loss of bone density and muscle mass and may also reduce symptoms of joint pain.

10. Bladder issues

A drop in hormone levels may also lead to bladder leakage and you may find you urinate more often or you leak when you laugh, work out, or sneeze.

Frequent urination can also interfere with your sleep so speak to  your doctor and again check your hormone levels.

Also urinary tract infections (UTIs) can become more common, and progesterone plays several roles in preventing vaginal and urinary tract infections. When progesterone is restored to normal physiological levels then vaginal lubrication returns and this reduces the impact of urinary tract infections.

Helpful information:

Frankly, menopause is all about change and it’s how well you adjust to it that can make a real difference. Symptoms may be problematic, but they can generally be helped and relieved by ensuring good hormone balance.

If you are not sure what your hormone balance might be then the following article can be helpful.

https://anna.blog.wellsprings-health.com/which-hormone-or-hormones-might-you-need/