What's going on with your hormones?

In a classic cycle, your brain communicates with your ovaries to initiate a new cycle. It stimulates the ovaries to recruit follicles/eggs. Those follicles respond and release estrogen.

Estrogen is a lovely hormone that supports our skin, hair, sex drive, cardiovascular and bone health, mental health and so much more. It builds up our uterine lining.

When estrogen gets high enough, it triggers ovulation. After ovulation, progesterone is released which is our calming hormone. It helps balance mood, lower inflammation, supports sleep quality, and also supports our bone and heart health.

At some point in your 40s, the communication between your brain and ovaries can become less efficient; your ovaries stop listening so well. And your brain starts shouting to get a response.

This can result in an exaggerated response yet a less effective response from the ovaries.

This can mean you may not ovulate every month and you may have higher levels of estrogen. For you and your cycle, can look like heavier periods, shorter cycles, more significant mood changes around your cycle, and disturbed sleep.

Over time (and the duration of this varies from person to person), the ovaries transition from an exaggerated response to a more muted response. This can mean a longer cycle - aka longer times between periods or you're missing periods. Your estrogen and progesterone levels begin to drop.

Symptom-wise this may mean more symptoms of hormone deficiency such as night sweats, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, poor sleep, changes to mental health, and more.

Eventually, as the time between periods lengthens and you stop menstruating altogether, you hit menopause. The is defined as 1 full year since your menstrual cycle.

This period of time where your hormones feel all over the place, you’re experiencing heavy or irregular periods, etc., can feel really disruptive to your quality of life. I want you to be aware of the signs so you can seek out support.  

TAKEHOME

Key symptoms of early perimenopause:

• Shorter cycles (bleeding more frequently - i.e. every 2-3 weeks)
• Heavier periods
• Noticeable PMS - moodiness, cramping, bloating, water retention
• Hair loss
• Disturbed sleep
• Anxiety 

Key symptoms of late perimenopause:

• Longer cycles (i.e. skipping cycles)
• Lighter periods
• Hot flashes, night sweats
• Disturbed sleep
• Hair loss
• Cognitive changes

I want to be aware of changes that can happen and to know that while these changes are normal, there are really effective tools to help improve your symptoms and quality of life. If you're feeling that you need some support, let's connect and explore some of those solutions.

In health, 

Dr. Ashley Damm, ND