What is it?
Menopause is said to begin when we go 12 months without menstruating. This means that our body is no longer producing estradiol at the same level as before (estradiol being the primary estrogen in our body).
With this change, the ovaries shift from being producers of estradiol and progesterone to primarily producing androgens. This implies a complete change in the hormonal profile of your body, and this, my friend, doesn't have to be bad, but it does have consequences...
What are those consequences?
Every menopause is different; mine will be different from yours and from your neighbor's... But we can group the main consequences into 4 categories (which will affect each woman more or less).
- Due to the lack of estrogen and progesterone at the cerebral level: Hot flashes, Irritability, Nervousness, Insomnia, Memory loss and/or Increased appetite
- Due to the lack of estrogen when synthesizing hyaluronic acid, collagen, and elastin: Dryness, Itching of the skin and mucous membranes and/or Joint pains
- Due to the increase in androgen levels: Redistribution of body fat to the abdomen, Appearance of acne and/or Hair loss
- Due to how the lack of estrogen affects bones and muscles: Loss of bone and muscle mass (this muscular weakening can lead to urinary incontinence)
What can you do to minimize this loss of estrogen?
What we can't lose sight of is that everyone experiences menopause differently; each body is different... just like you lived your first years of menstruation differently from your friends, your pregnancies (if you had them), or your postpartum periods... each one is different. But even with that in mind, there are many things you can do so that menopause doesn't hit your life like a wave that sweeps away your quality of life.
1. Physical exercise: It has been shown to improve ALL consequences derived from the loss of estrogen, without exception.
2. Hormone replacement therapy: In some cases, it is indispensable (for example, if your menopause starts before the age of 40), in other cases, it is not recommended (if you are over 60 or if there is a history of certain types of cancer in your family). For other women, it is an option they should discuss with their doctor, assess risks and benefits, and decide whether to opt for it or not.
3. Non-hormonal nutritional supplements: They are a key element in the life of any woman during menopause. They don't change the fact that your body is now different, but they will help you in the transition, and more importantly, they greatly improve your quality of life.
- Soy Isoflavones: Considered an "all-in-one" supplement. Isoflavones act as phytoestrogens and regulate estrogen levels. They have a plant origin and "trick" the body's estrogen receptors. They bind to beta receptors and therefore do not increase the risk of breast cancer (as they would if they bound to alpha receptors). Usually, you will need "something else" in addition to soy isoflavones, the good news is that they are compatible with other supplements that "complete" their action.
- Saffron and 5thp supplements: If you want to ease hot flashes, irritability, depression, and/or increased appetite.
- PEA (Palmitoylethanolamide) supplements: If what affects you the most is joint pain, a state of nervousness, and/or generalised inflammation.
- Collagen peptide supplementation: For skin and mucous membrane hydration.
- Vitamin D3 K2 supplementation: To minimize bone mass loss.
- Magnesium, L-theanine, valerian extract, glycine, 5htp, rhodiola rosea, and/or ashwagandha supplementation: To reduce irritability, nervousness, and insomnia.
But you don't need to go crazy with so many supplements; we are studying and talking to nutritionists and gynecologists who are experts in the field. We want to develop a nutritional supplement that includes all those important active ingredients and extracts and our goal is for you not to diminish your quality of life.
Meanwhile... what do you need to know? What would you like us to research? What topics would you like us to discuss in our upcoming posts? Give us ideas and comment so we know what you like or what you need.