Menopause does n't happen overnight! It usually takes several months, even several years for it to set in. And when you pay attention, you can see several distinct stages . These stages are characterized by different symptoms that can vary and evolve over time.
How to identify each of these stages? What are the associated symptoms? What are the natural solutions to get through menopause with peace of mind ?
We explain everything to you.
What is menopause?
Menopause is a transitional period in the lives of all women , which usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. During this period, menstruation (or periods ) stops and the production of hormones such as estrogen , progesterone and testosterone gradually decreases.
And it is precisely these important hormonal changes that can play tricks on us.
What are the first symptoms of menopause?
Hot flashes, mood swings, dry mucous membranes, sleep disorders, decreased libido or even joint pain...
Nearly 80% of women experience at least one of these symptoms during menopause .
However, menopause is a normal stage in a woman's life and should not affect our quality of life.
But when we know the central role of our hormones in regulating just about everything in our body (mood, weight management, vaginal microbiota, skin elasticity, fat distribution, appetite, sleep, pain... see our article on hormones ), we understand better why the hormonal drops observed during menopause can have a significant impact on women's physical and mental health.
Rest assured, this is not inevitable.
So today , we're helping you better understand the impact of hormonal changes on your body during menopause . To help you find the right solutions and experience this period with complete peace of mind.
Because understanding your body means giving yourself the means to act.
The 3 stages of menopause
The female hormonal cycle involves 3 types of hormones: estrogen , progesterone and testosterone . It is the harmony and balance between their syntheses that guarantees menstrual health and daily well-being.
But during menopause, there is a gradual decline in each of these hormones .
The body first stops making progesterone, then estrogen , and finally testosterone .
For each of these stages, the symptoms will therefore be different and the solutions to remedy them very specific.
Pre-menopause
This is the stage before menopause . On average, it occurs 2 to 5 years before menopause actually sets in and already shows a slowdown in ovarian function .
Menstrual cycles are still present but often shortened, and affected women experience increasing levels of unpleasant symptoms just before their period begins .
Irritability, sleep disturbances, breast tension, headaches, food cravings…
These symptoms, which have the common characteristic of appearing just before the arrival of the period and fading spontaneously from the first day of the period , are the sign of a drop in progesterone . The more abrupt the hormonal drop, the more the symptoms will be present because the body will not have had time to get used to these “new hormone levels ”.
Natural Treatment for Pre-Menopause
To help you and reduce your discomfort during this period, there are two particularly effective plants: Lady 's Mantle and Yarrow .
Known to boost the production of progesterone , they can provide real comfort during this period, provided they are taken at the time when your body naturally produces progesterone (i.e. between your ovulation period and the start of your period ).
Perimenopause
This stage shows the end of menstrual cycles . Cycles become more and more irregular until they stop completely .
At this point, if the drop in estrogen occurs too abruptly, it can result in hot flashes at night, irritability , sleep disturbances and a drop in libido.
These symptoms are actually a reflection of a drop in serotonin , a key neurotransmitter in regulating mood and sleep but which also plays a central role in modulating body temperature.
What is the connection between estrogen and serotonin?
The drop in estrogen causes a drop in serotonin .
Getting Through Perimenopause With a Natural Remedy
Also, to help you get through this stage and soothe these different symptoms, you can boost your serotonin synthesis using food supplements based on tryptophan (an amino acid essential for the production of serotonin) or Griffonia (a plant rich in tryptophan).
And if you do n't have a history of hormone-dependent cancer, you can also slow the drop in estrogen levels with Black Cohosh , which provides real support for the various symptoms observed at this stage of perimenopause .
Menopause
Menopause is defined as the complete cessation of menstruation for 12 consecutive months. At this point, estrogen and progesterone levels have dropped significantly and testosterone will also drop in turn.
In addition to the symptoms observed during perimenopause , the drop in testosterone results in the appearance of hot flashes during the day (in addition to the night) as well as osteoarticular pain and dry skin, reflections of significant bone demineralization.
Which plants can relieve menopause symptoms?
Sage and Tribulus , which respectively cushion the drops in estrogen and testosterone, help you get through this stage with peace of mind.
Be careful, however, these plants are also not recommended for women with a history of hormone-dependent cancers. If you are in this situation, we advise you to target the disabling symptoms directly, in particular with blackcurrant extract , which provides joint comfort thanks to its anti-inflammatory and remineralizing properties .
It is important to note that every woman experiences menopause differently , and some symptoms may be more or less severe in different women. If you are experiencing menopause symptoms, it is important to speak to a healthcare professional to discuss treatment and symptom management options .
