Let's talk hormones! Ovulation - during your reproductive or fertile years - is a beautiful process that happens in the middle of your cycle and holds the miraculous possibility of bringing in new life. If that's what you desire.
It's a natural function regulated by your magnificent hypothalamus in your brain. Or by the cycles of the moon. Or by other women in your environment. Or by chronic stress. More on that last one...
After one of your ovaries releases an egg and there’s no creation of a little human…Plan B: You get a menstrual bleed 2 weeks later. It's perfectly timed...Until... The Perimenopausal years! This transition period falls between the ages of 35-55 years old and each woman’s body is incredibly unique as to when her hormone levels change.
During Perimenopause, your ovaries may or may not release an egg every month. Ovulation becomes inconsistent, irregular, and unpredictable. Just like Life. This irregularity becomes more common with increasing age and in preparation for menopause – when the menstrual cycle stops altogether. Chronic stress can and will exacerbate irregularity and can expedite an earlier menopause. Not to mention it wreaks havoc on every organ in your body, including those precious ovaries.
Perimenopause can create a cascade of physical, emotional and psychological symptoms that can feel downright chaotic and distressing at times.
Physical symptoms may include:
Change in cycle timing – shorter, longer, no cycle
Change in menstrual bleeding – heavier, lighter, no bleeding, mid-cycle bleeding
More painful cramping
More PMS symptoms
Reduced sex drive
Interrupted sleep
Vision changes and eye dryness
Hair loss and dryness
Skin elasticity loss and dryness
Weight gain, i.e. belly fat
And more..
Emotional & Psychological symptoms include:
Mood swings
Anxiety
Depression
Forgetful
Tearful
Irritability
Anger
Hesitance
Apathy
Indecisive
Perimenopause doesn’t have to be distressing, uncomfortable and agonizing.
You can learn to work with your body and adapt to where it is in a much healthier, more resilient way to create harmony during this transition of "unknown territory." What’s the best way to do this?
A. Google the answers B. Talk to your friends and see what they are doing C. Suffer and just push on through D. None of the above