Defined as the absence of a mentsrual period for 12 months; usually occurs between 42 –  56 yrs of age.  Also brought on by a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) or oophorectomy (removal of ovaries).

Perimenopause

This is the phase that precedes menopause, usually during women’s 40’s:

  • progesterone levels decline
  • ovarian eggs are depleted
  • menstrual cycles are shortened or irregular
  • follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) increases

Helpful Tips to maintain health:

  • eat a healthy diet containing Omega 3’s & phytoestrogens (isoflavones)
  • practice Qi Gong to reduce symptoms
  • consume Soy Products
  • take supplements for bone health
  • consume sufficient calcium, soluble fibre, antioxidants

Tips to alleviate unpleasant symptoms:

  • Anxiety:
    • St-John’s Wort
    • L-Theanine is an extract from green tea which helps calm & decrease anxiety
  • Avoid alcohol, caffeine, smoking, spicy food & sugar: these just aggravate the symptoms
  • Hot flashes & Night sweats:
    • consume foods high in antioxidants and phytoestrogens like soy, tofu, tempeh, miso, flaxseeds, beans & cranberries
    • Red Clover isoflavones to reduce these symptoms (but takes at least one month to work)
    • Black Cohosh Extract, Evening Primrose Oil, Chaste Tree Berry & Ginseng
  • HRT (hormone replacement therapy) has more risks than benefits.
  • Sleep:
    • Melatonin
    • GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter
  • Vaginal Dryness: try vaginal Vitamin E & Hyaluronic acid suppositories
  • Waning Libido:
    • try Tribulus Leaf (Tribulus Terrestris)
    • support adrenal function with licorice root (Glycyrrhiza Glabra) & Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera)